Do you have a strong opinion, or disagree with somebody else’s point of view on topics related to the spa industry? If so, Spa Business would love to hear from you. Email your letters, thoughts and suggestions to [email protected]
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Interview: Lee David Stephens
Thai-based management company
MSpa runs 44 spas with 450 staff. The
General Manager talks to Katie Barnes
about a recent deal with Per Aquum
and its rapid expansion
Interview: Kathryn Moore
MSpa’s operations director is creating
a brand new wellness concept and a
fast track spa manager programme
Company Profile Promotion: GOCO Hospitality
After just four years of operation GOCO Hospitality is regarded as a global leader
in wellness hospitality segment of the industry. With 22 projects on its books,
spanning three continents, we look at what underpins the company’s success
Company profile promotion: Comfort Zone
The Comfort Zone spa brand has been newly revamped and revitalised to better communicate its core offerings as a natural, scientific and soul-centred skincare and lifestyle brand
Green: Being green
Ecocert’s new Being label is the first
public-facing green certification for
spa operations, eco-friendly
Promotional Feature: Part 4 - Pre-Opening
Opening a spa successfully is all about planning. Gary
Henkin, president of WTS and Doug Chambers, principal
of Blu Spas, share their experience of pre-opening
Company Profile Promotion: Aromatherapy Associates
Global product company Aromatherapy Associates knows how
to make treatments and retail work in a spa environment and
partners with operators to make a real point of difference
Industry survey: Price to pay
A GSWS report on global therapist pay focuses on differing salary composition, benefit and commission structures. Lisa Starr takes a closer look
Spa Retreat: Running on juice
Juice Master founder Jason Vale tells
Kate Cracknell about its retreats and
how juicing can help prevent disease
Interview: Wee Wei Ling
Neena Dhillon meets the founder of
St Gregory: the spa brand owned by Pan
Pacific that’s just opened a wellness
floor in Singapore’s ‘hotel in a garden’
Research: Moving target
A McKinsey study highlights the fast-changing
spending patterns of China’s
luxury consumers. Leonor Stanton
finds out what this means for spas
Advertisement Promotion: A gift from Ez-Runner...
Vouchers can be used as a stand-alone system integrated into your website or added as a module of Ez-Runner’s leisure management software to control your spa facility
Cellulite Machines Trending In The UAE Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, regional spa director UAE, Minor International It was interesting to read how skincare analysis machines are becoming popular in spas (see SB13/2 p94) – in the UAE we’re seeing a rise in machine-based treatments but with a focus on the body. Such machines include LPG and VelaShape which work in similar ways to target cellulite breakdown, body contouring, fluid retention and to firm up the muscles.
Our customers, with busy lifestyles, want quick fixes and technology keeps getting better. Cavitation is something that people aren’t too aware of. It uses low frequency, ultrasound vibrations that are designed to eventually dissolve cellulite into liquid. I’ve found it one of the most effective in treating cellulite, but it’s also expensive – my three sessions cost AED300-AED400 (US$82-US$109, €62-€82, £52-£69) each.
It’s claimed that Lipoglaze uses cryotherapy to crystalise fat and reduce it by up to 26 per cent. However, it’s another step up in expense – the one-off treatment is AED4,000 (US$1,100, €822, £694), and takes up to six weeks to see the results and leave skin red for sometime after. Meanwhile, the very latest arrival is i-Lipo, which uses low level lasers to trigger a chemical signal to break. It’s so new I’ve yet to try it.
Units can cost AED40,000-AED300,000 (US$10,900-US$81,700, €8,200-€61,600, £7,000-£52,650), but if they’re placed in the right spa and awareness is high they pay for themselves quickly and clients normally sign up for a course of five to 15 sessions.
Most of the machines have clinical trials behind them, but nothing in life is a guarantee and various body types respond differently. Rather than being viewed as a one-time fix, we believe they work best in combination with a healthy diet and a regular fitness programme. Even though results can vary, it’s clear that these machines are definitely around to stay and are likely to get better by the year.
There’s a high demand for treatments like Liopglaze, which freezes fat, in the Middle East
What’s In A Name? Steve Capellini, spa therapist, consultant and author, Royal Treatment Enterprises What does ‘spa’ mean? As debated in your magazine (see SB12/4 p26), does it mean wellness or pampering? Therapy or indulgence? Unfortunately, in my hometown of Miami, it’s increasingly used to signify Asian massage parlours. Meanwhile, for millions of others, the word spa signifies not much more than a hair salon with a massage room.
For those who work in the industry, ‘spa’ means so much more – it signifies healing, rejuvenation, meaningful connections and, more than anything, hope. One enterprise that’s given me hope is Himalayan Healers (see SB07/2 p44). Founded in 2006 by American Rob Buckley, this is the first massage school in Nepal where ‘untouchables’ from the lowest social orders are taught the art of touch and find good jobs in spas. Buckley’s selfless work has dramatically improved over a hundred people’s lives in the most dire circumstances. He worked with what he had amidst poverty, corruption, and ill-health to create something truly beautiful.
It’s an inspiring example of how we can work with what we’ve got to create something that lives up to that hope.
In Nepal, the word spa can mean ‘hope’
Equal Treatment For People With Cancer Naomi Quarrell, spa manager, Gaia Retreat & Spa Cancer is so diverse with so many variables. This is a time that support is needed most and I was pleased to see the topic covered in Spa Business (see SB13/2 p24)
We don’t treat our cancer guests any differently to others: everyone’s treated on an individual basis and equally cared for. Spas shouldn’t shy away from discussing the cancer as it assists the therapist to give the best support and most appropriate treatment.
Training and experience is a major factor in client and therapist confidence, so we have practitioners specifically trained to support those dealing with cancer.
There are a number of treatments they can enjoy including massage, beauty treatments, Chinese medicine, hypnotherapy, spiritual healing, oncology massage and lymphatic drainage. Sometimes the greatest comfort can come through touch alone.
However, it’s important to know the limitations and make these clear. We take guidance from the guest’s GP. In most cases a doctor’s certificate isn’t required, but there are always exceptions to the rule and so these would be assessed on an individual basis.
If spas are open to this market, they need to let it be known that they welcome cancer sufferers, although it’s important that they make the distinction of not being a medical facility, with medical staff on site. Olivia Newton-John, an ambassador for cancer awareness worldwide, is one of our directors at Gaia (see SB10/3 p46), but has also opened her own cancer and wellness hospital in Melbourne and it is important for us to maintain the distinction.
Gaia, in Australia, openly welcomes guests who have or have had cancer
Do you have a strong opinion, or disagree with somebody else’s point of view on topics related to the spa industry? If so, Spa Business would love to hear from you. Email your letters, thoughts and suggestions to [email protected]
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Interview: Lee David Stephens
Thai-based management company
MSpa runs 44 spas with 450 staff. The
General Manager talks to Katie Barnes
about a recent deal with Per Aquum
and its rapid expansion
Interview: Kathryn Moore
MSpa’s operations director is creating
a brand new wellness concept and a
fast track spa manager programme
Company Profile Promotion: GOCO Hospitality
After just four years of operation GOCO Hospitality is regarded as a global leader
in wellness hospitality segment of the industry. With 22 projects on its books,
spanning three continents, we look at what underpins the company’s success
Company profile promotion: Comfort Zone
The Comfort Zone spa brand has been newly revamped and revitalised to better communicate its core offerings as a natural, scientific and soul-centred skincare and lifestyle brand
Green: Being green
Ecocert’s new Being label is the first
public-facing green certification for
spa operations, eco-friendly
Promotional Feature: Part 4 - Pre-Opening
Opening a spa successfully is all about planning. Gary
Henkin, president of WTS and Doug Chambers, principal
of Blu Spas, share their experience of pre-opening
Company Profile Promotion: Aromatherapy Associates
Global product company Aromatherapy Associates knows how
to make treatments and retail work in a spa environment and
partners with operators to make a real point of difference
Industry survey: Price to pay
A GSWS report on global therapist pay focuses on differing salary composition, benefit and commission structures. Lisa Starr takes a closer look
Spa Retreat: Running on juice
Juice Master founder Jason Vale tells
Kate Cracknell about its retreats and
how juicing can help prevent disease
Interview: Wee Wei Ling
Neena Dhillon meets the founder of
St Gregory: the spa brand owned by Pan
Pacific that’s just opened a wellness
floor in Singapore’s ‘hotel in a garden’
Research: Moving target
A McKinsey study highlights the fast-changing
spending patterns of China’s
luxury consumers. Leonor Stanton
finds out what this means for spas
Advertisement Promotion: A gift from Ez-Runner...
Vouchers can be used as a stand-alone system integrated into your website or added as a module of Ez-Runner’s leisure management software to control your spa facility
Cellulite Machines Trending In The UAE Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, regional spa director UAE, Minor International It was interesting to read how skincare analysis machines are becoming popular in spas (see SB13/2 p94) – in the UAE we’re seeing a rise in machine-based treatments but with a focus on the body. Such machines include LPG and VelaShape which work in similar ways to target cellulite breakdown, body contouring, fluid retention and to firm up the muscles.
Our customers, with busy lifestyles, want quick fixes and technology keeps getting better. Cavitation is something that people aren’t too aware of. It uses low frequency, ultrasound vibrations that are designed to eventually dissolve cellulite into liquid. I’ve found it one of the most effective in treating cellulite, but it’s also expensive – my three sessions cost AED300-AED400 (US$82-US$109, €62-€82, £52-£69) each.
It’s claimed that Lipoglaze uses cryotherapy to crystalise fat and reduce it by up to 26 per cent. However, it’s another step up in expense – the one-off treatment is AED4,000 (US$1,100, €822, £694), and takes up to six weeks to see the results and leave skin red for sometime after. Meanwhile, the very latest arrival is i-Lipo, which uses low level lasers to trigger a chemical signal to break. It’s so new I’ve yet to try it.
Units can cost AED40,000-AED300,000 (US$10,900-US$81,700, €8,200-€61,600, £7,000-£52,650), but if they’re placed in the right spa and awareness is high they pay for themselves quickly and clients normally sign up for a course of five to 15 sessions.
Most of the machines have clinical trials behind them, but nothing in life is a guarantee and various body types respond differently. Rather than being viewed as a one-time fix, we believe they work best in combination with a healthy diet and a regular fitness programme. Even though results can vary, it’s clear that these machines are definitely around to stay and are likely to get better by the year.
There’s a high demand for treatments like Liopglaze, which freezes fat, in the Middle East
What’s In A Name? Steve Capellini, spa therapist, consultant and author, Royal Treatment Enterprises What does ‘spa’ mean? As debated in your magazine (see SB12/4 p26), does it mean wellness or pampering? Therapy or indulgence? Unfortunately, in my hometown of Miami, it’s increasingly used to signify Asian massage parlours. Meanwhile, for millions of others, the word spa signifies not much more than a hair salon with a massage room.
For those who work in the industry, ‘spa’ means so much more – it signifies healing, rejuvenation, meaningful connections and, more than anything, hope. One enterprise that’s given me hope is Himalayan Healers (see SB07/2 p44). Founded in 2006 by American Rob Buckley, this is the first massage school in Nepal where ‘untouchables’ from the lowest social orders are taught the art of touch and find good jobs in spas. Buckley’s selfless work has dramatically improved over a hundred people’s lives in the most dire circumstances. He worked with what he had amidst poverty, corruption, and ill-health to create something truly beautiful.
It’s an inspiring example of how we can work with what we’ve got to create something that lives up to that hope.
In Nepal, the word spa can mean ‘hope’
Equal Treatment For People With Cancer Naomi Quarrell, spa manager, Gaia Retreat & Spa Cancer is so diverse with so many variables. This is a time that support is needed most and I was pleased to see the topic covered in Spa Business (see SB13/2 p24)
We don’t treat our cancer guests any differently to others: everyone’s treated on an individual basis and equally cared for. Spas shouldn’t shy away from discussing the cancer as it assists the therapist to give the best support and most appropriate treatment.
Training and experience is a major factor in client and therapist confidence, so we have practitioners specifically trained to support those dealing with cancer.
There are a number of treatments they can enjoy including massage, beauty treatments, Chinese medicine, hypnotherapy, spiritual healing, oncology massage and lymphatic drainage. Sometimes the greatest comfort can come through touch alone.
However, it’s important to know the limitations and make these clear. We take guidance from the guest’s GP. In most cases a doctor’s certificate isn’t required, but there are always exceptions to the rule and so these would be assessed on an individual basis.
If spas are open to this market, they need to let it be known that they welcome cancer sufferers, although it’s important that they make the distinction of not being a medical facility, with medical staff on site. Olivia Newton-John, an ambassador for cancer awareness worldwide, is one of our directors at Gaia (see SB10/3 p46), but has also opened her own cancer and wellness hospital in Melbourne and it is important for us to maintain the distinction.
Gaia, in Australia, openly welcomes guests who have or have had cancer
People taking GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound
may be losing weight, but they’re also becoming less physically active, according to new
research presented at the ENDO 2026 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Global retreat trade show, Synergy The Retreat Show, has launched a resource called The
Source, which hosts an open-access online Transformation Series programme.
The Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) charity has announced its first five-
day Living with Cancer and Beyond retreat, which will be held at Carden Park Hotel and Spa in
Cheshire, UK, between 1 and 5 September.
Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, has opened in Greece, with a renovated and
rebranded wellness offering called Ansana Wellness and Spa.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection property in Hawaii, US, has opened its
22,000 sq ft indoor-outdoor Spa at Mauna Kea as the final step in the property’s overall
renovation, which has cost more than US$180 million (€166 million, £140 mill
The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced
it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House
Hotel in St Albans, UK.
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
Wellness 2026 research report.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
