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Spa Business will launch The Spa and Wellness Hall of Fame on 3 May to celebrate the pioneers of our industry, with Deborah Szekely the first inductee, as we celebrate her 100th birthday
Deborah Szekely will be the first WellHOF inductee / Photo: Rancho la Puerta
In this issue of Spa Business we profile the wonderful Deborah Szekely, who celebrates her 100th birthday on 3 May this year. Jane Kitchen travelled to Rancho la Puerta in Mexico to talk to Deborah for our special interview which you can read on page 36.
We all rightly acknowledge Deborah as the ‘godmother’ of spa for many reasons, from her entrepreneurial spirit and business achievements, to her personal philosophies and commitment.
In an age where many in the industry preach about wellness, but do not themselves live a well life, she has walked the talk and has the incredible health, vitality and life force to show for it.
Deborah has pursued a lifelong quest for knowledge, coupled with a mission to educate that sees her lecturing each week to share her century of learnings with all who wish to hear it.
My time at Rancho la Puerta has been hugely enriched by her lectures and it’s clear those present feel they’re in the presence of greatness and privileged to have their minds opened by her fresh, challenging, invaluable perspectives.
Celebrating the wisdom of the tribe is an essential part of building healthy, vibrant and enduring communities and over the last few years it has become apparent to all of us at Spa Business that we’re witnessing history in the making, as our industry maps out its course and drives forward. We believe pioneers such as Deborah who are doing this work must be celebrated and acknowledged, so we create our own mythology as an industry, celebrate our achievements and create a positive record of the great work being done.
As a result, I’m delighted to announce that the Spa Business team is gearing up to launch a global Hall of Fame for the industry, so we can recognise the work of our industry pioneers, while also enshrining their collective wisdom in a central library that we can all be proud of.
I’m delighted to share with you that Deborah Szekely will be the first inductee into The Spa and Wellness Hall of Fame and that Andrew Gibson is to chair the organisation, which will go by the name of WellHOF, with a website at www.wellHOF.org.
We’ll be making further announcements in the coming weeks and I look forward to working with you on this exciting project.
Liz Terry, Spa Business editorial director [email protected]
@elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2022 issue 1
"When you know you're doing things right, you have power" – Deborah Szekely talks to Spa Business
Spa People: Zoe Wall
Zoe Wall talks about driving the global spa and wellness agenda at Kerzner
New opening: Healing oasis
Zoya, a new integrative health and wellbeing retreat, is opening in the Middle East, as Megan Whitby reports
Interview: Deborah Szekely
As the 'godmother of spa' approaches her 100th birthday, Jan Kitchen travelled to Rancho La Puerta to find out more about her extraordinary life
First Person: Siempre Mejor!
After 82 years, Rancho La Puerta is
still beloved among guests around
the world, who return year after
year for a dose of holistic wellbeing.
Jane Kitchen spent a week at the
Mexican resort to discover how the
spirit of ‘Siempre mejor!’ or ‘Always
better!’ lives on in the 21st century
Sponsored: Phytomer: Celebrating the sea
The story surrounding Phytomer is one of a unique wellness vision, a loyal family, remarkable marine science and pioneering skincare. We talk to deputy general manager Mathilde Gédouin-Lagarde as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary
GWS: Boston strong
If you missed the GWS – or even if you were there – Jane Kitchen's detailed report will give you endless useful actionable insights
Promotion: Yon-ka: Plant power
Benefiting from its founders’ passion for plants, Yon-Ka’s new brand identity reflects its past and its continued research into the healing power of plants which enables the company to craft innovative formulas that deliver results
First person: Paradise at Preidlhof
Lisa Starr travelled to Italy to interview Patrizia Bortolin for Spa Business and experience all that Preidlhof has to offer
Q&A: Patrizia Bortolin
Lisa Starr talks to the award winning visionary
who’s injecting new vigour into Preidlhof
Promotion: Reconnect with ISPA
After a two-year absence, ISPA’s annual Conference offers its
members an opportunity to reconnect and to learn more about
the available tools that can help them recharge their businesses
Q&A: Daniele Vastolo
Chiva-Som has opened a major new property in Qatar, with treatments focused on Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine. We talk to the GM
Research: Human nature
Anne Dimon reports on the latest research insights from the Wellness Tourism Association
Saunas: Aufguss
The first aufguss sauna experience in the US has opened in Las Vegas, as Cassandra Cavanah reports
Software: Getting (Hyper) personal
Software that drives generational marketing can create hyper-personalised offerings, as Karen Maxwell discovers
Supplier showcase: Art of Cryo: Best of both worlds
Art of Cryo is blending its high-performance cryotherapy
solutions with intermittent vacuum therapy to offer a
complete and effective whole-body wellness experience
Promotion: Comfort Zone
From 2022, Comfort Zone’s products are going plastic-neutral, certified by Plastic Bank
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
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engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
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Spa Business will launch The Spa and Wellness Hall of Fame on 3 May to celebrate the pioneers of our industry, with Deborah Szekely the first inductee, as we celebrate her 100th birthday
Deborah Szekely will be the first WellHOF inductee / Photo: Rancho la Puerta
In this issue of Spa Business we profile the wonderful Deborah Szekely, who celebrates her 100th birthday on 3 May this year. Jane Kitchen travelled to Rancho la Puerta in Mexico to talk to Deborah for our special interview which you can read on page 36.
We all rightly acknowledge Deborah as the ‘godmother’ of spa for many reasons, from her entrepreneurial spirit and business achievements, to her personal philosophies and commitment.
In an age where many in the industry preach about wellness, but do not themselves live a well life, she has walked the talk and has the incredible health, vitality and life force to show for it.
Deborah has pursued a lifelong quest for knowledge, coupled with a mission to educate that sees her lecturing each week to share her century of learnings with all who wish to hear it.
My time at Rancho la Puerta has been hugely enriched by her lectures and it’s clear those present feel they’re in the presence of greatness and privileged to have their minds opened by her fresh, challenging, invaluable perspectives.
Celebrating the wisdom of the tribe is an essential part of building healthy, vibrant and enduring communities and over the last few years it has become apparent to all of us at Spa Business that we’re witnessing history in the making, as our industry maps out its course and drives forward. We believe pioneers such as Deborah who are doing this work must be celebrated and acknowledged, so we create our own mythology as an industry, celebrate our achievements and create a positive record of the great work being done.
As a result, I’m delighted to announce that the Spa Business team is gearing up to launch a global Hall of Fame for the industry, so we can recognise the work of our industry pioneers, while also enshrining their collective wisdom in a central library that we can all be proud of.
I’m delighted to share with you that Deborah Szekely will be the first inductee into The Spa and Wellness Hall of Fame and that Andrew Gibson is to chair the organisation, which will go by the name of WellHOF, with a website at www.wellHOF.org.
We’ll be making further announcements in the coming weeks and I look forward to working with you on this exciting project.
Liz Terry, Spa Business editorial director [email protected]
@elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2022 issue 1
"When you know you're doing things right, you have power" – Deborah Szekely talks to Spa Business
Spa People: Zoe Wall
Zoe Wall talks about driving the global spa and wellness agenda at Kerzner
New opening: Healing oasis
Zoya, a new integrative health and wellbeing retreat, is opening in the Middle East, as Megan Whitby reports
Interview: Deborah Szekely
As the 'godmother of spa' approaches her 100th birthday, Jan Kitchen travelled to Rancho La Puerta to find out more about her extraordinary life
First Person: Siempre Mejor!
After 82 years, Rancho La Puerta is
still beloved among guests around
the world, who return year after
year for a dose of holistic wellbeing.
Jane Kitchen spent a week at the
Mexican resort to discover how the
spirit of ‘Siempre mejor!’ or ‘Always
better!’ lives on in the 21st century
Sponsored: Phytomer: Celebrating the sea
The story surrounding Phytomer is one of a unique wellness vision, a loyal family, remarkable marine science and pioneering skincare. We talk to deputy general manager Mathilde Gédouin-Lagarde as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary
GWS: Boston strong
If you missed the GWS – or even if you were there – Jane Kitchen's detailed report will give you endless useful actionable insights
Promotion: Yon-ka: Plant power
Benefiting from its founders’ passion for plants, Yon-Ka’s new brand identity reflects its past and its continued research into the healing power of plants which enables the company to craft innovative formulas that deliver results
First person: Paradise at Preidlhof
Lisa Starr travelled to Italy to interview Patrizia Bortolin for Spa Business and experience all that Preidlhof has to offer
Q&A: Patrizia Bortolin
Lisa Starr talks to the award winning visionary
who’s injecting new vigour into Preidlhof
Promotion: Reconnect with ISPA
After a two-year absence, ISPA’s annual Conference offers its
members an opportunity to reconnect and to learn more about
the available tools that can help them recharge their businesses
Q&A: Daniele Vastolo
Chiva-Som has opened a major new property in Qatar, with treatments focused on Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine. We talk to the GM
Research: Human nature
Anne Dimon reports on the latest research insights from the Wellness Tourism Association
Saunas: Aufguss
The first aufguss sauna experience in the US has opened in Las Vegas, as Cassandra Cavanah reports
Software: Getting (Hyper) personal
Software that drives generational marketing can create hyper-personalised offerings, as Karen Maxwell discovers
Supplier showcase: Art of Cryo: Best of both worlds
Art of Cryo is blending its high-performance cryotherapy
solutions with intermittent vacuum therapy to offer a
complete and effective whole-body wellness experience
Promotion: Comfort Zone
From 2022, Comfort Zone’s products are going plastic-neutral, certified by Plastic Bank
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England
with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’
concept.
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of
total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth
in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real
Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional
dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social
connection.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Blue Rakun Blue Rakun spaces are thoughtful, intuitive,
and designed around real human
behaviour, taking into [more...]
