Women of wellness – Keller (far left), Fiske and Jones (centre) and Locker (far right)
With the gender pay gap, the fight for women’s equality and the #metoo movement in the spotlight, a conference for female powerhouses could not be more timely or topical. Cue the inaugural Women in Wellness Leadership Conference by American Spa magazine. Held on 6 March, two days before International Women’s Day, in New York, the event attracted 230 spa professionals from across the US and beyond.
Keynote highlights Recharging and reinvention were the focus of three keynote sessions. “Many people who get into the spa business are looking for healing themselves,” said Emme, a model, TV personality and women’s advocate whose infectious zest and joie de vivre inspired women to be more accepting of themselves and others in relation to body image, self-esteem and overcoming negative thought.
Lesley Jane Seymour, former editor of women’s magazine More, spoke about the importance of reinvention and preparing for unexpected opportunities for change. Since leaving More in 2016, she’s set up the Covey Club – an on and offline hub for the 40-plus set. “Ageing isn’t a disease. It’s not something you can outrun or outsmart. It will happen to you,” she said. “After starting Covey Club, I’m learning that I don’t have to build consensus. And I’m still learning that I can try anything I want that’s new.” Seymour plans to launch spa retreats for her subscribers – something they’ve been very vocal about needing to incorporate into their lives.
Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of women’s investment platform Ellevest addressed the need for women to create a financial future through smart investing and planning. The room was filled with laughter thanks to her unique style of storytelling, along with a not so funny anecdote about losing her life’s savings and job when the market crashed in 2008.
What the attendees say Between keynotes, breakout sessions ran with topics ranging from brand building to embracing feminine traits. Dana Campbell, CEO of Optimize Corps, who led a session on transcending burnout said: “Taking control of our lives and careers is one of the best ways to improve our overall happiness and to make an impact in the world.”
Discussions were also held throughout lunch, with 24 tables focusing on different subjects. Sara Jones, editor of Spa & Wellness Mexicaribe, encouraged women to join the Global Wellness Institute’s Women in Leadership Initiative (see p20). Meanwhile, spa PR Debra Locker focused on how to manage toxic working environments and brand and wellness activist Joanna Roche hosted the topic of cultural sustainability and self-care.
Of the day, Michelle Gamble, VP global business development for the Global Wellness Summit, said: “It was an extraordinary event on so many levels – inspiration, information and connections with women I admire and respect. I’m already looking forward to next year!”
Fellow attendee Glenny Legendre, executive VP of sales and marketing for LaFlore Probiotic Skincare agreed. “I came to the conference to celebrate my years of friendships with women in the spa and wellness industry, get a little work in and make new friends,” she said. “My takeaways are threefold: to take control of my financial destiny; to commit to indie beauty as a vendor; and to create a partnership with a potential new spa partner for our brand that I met here at the conference.”
Not to be forgotten are the men who came to support Women in Wellness – several of whom were sponsors. Michael Pugliese, CEO of Circadia noted: “as a male owner of a skincare brand, I feel it’s incredibly important to support this event – unlike any of its kind – that focuses on the women of our industry.”
Empowerment and inspiration Julie Keller Callaghan, editor in chief and publisher of American Spa, who’s behind the event said inspiration for it first came when she was inundated with more than 400 nominations for the magazine’s Women in Wellness Awards last year.
“I’ve been at American Spa for 14 years – what I love most about the industry are the women in it,” she said. “I’ve always been empowered and inspired by you. I wanted to put something positive in the universe.”
In her closing remarks Keller Callaghan added, “I hope that everyone left today with powerful tools to help them grow and evolve and be better leaders and better people and to spread the word of women empowerment and wellness.”
Join American Spa’s Women in Wellness Leadership Group on Facebook for ongoing updates and news about future conferences and events.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
People profile: Garrett Mersberger
Garrett Mersberger on the overhaul of Kohler Waters’ flagship spa in Europe, plus his vision for ISPA following his appointment as chair of the association
Spa programmes: On the menu
Underwater yoga, healing breathwork and genetics all feature in Spa Business’ brand new series revealing the latest treatments, programmes and retreats in spas
Promotional feature: Zimmer MedizinSysteme
Cold therapy is suddenly all the rage, but Zimmer MedizinSysteme’s icelab takes it a step further, creating a cold sauna for the whole body. Rainer Bolsinger explains more about this cutting-edge therapy
Promotional feature: The Tides: pure Dutch nature inside
Modern living might be tough on our minds and bodies, but newly-launched Dutch wellness and self-care brand The Tides offers just the antidote with a new class of pure, raw products and treatments
Women of wellness – Keller (far left), Fiske and Jones (centre) and Locker (far right)
With the gender pay gap, the fight for women’s equality and the #metoo movement in the spotlight, a conference for female powerhouses could not be more timely or topical. Cue the inaugural Women in Wellness Leadership Conference by American Spa magazine. Held on 6 March, two days before International Women’s Day, in New York, the event attracted 230 spa professionals from across the US and beyond.
Keynote highlights Recharging and reinvention were the focus of three keynote sessions. “Many people who get into the spa business are looking for healing themselves,” said Emme, a model, TV personality and women’s advocate whose infectious zest and joie de vivre inspired women to be more accepting of themselves and others in relation to body image, self-esteem and overcoming negative thought.
Lesley Jane Seymour, former editor of women’s magazine More, spoke about the importance of reinvention and preparing for unexpected opportunities for change. Since leaving More in 2016, she’s set up the Covey Club – an on and offline hub for the 40-plus set. “Ageing isn’t a disease. It’s not something you can outrun or outsmart. It will happen to you,” she said. “After starting Covey Club, I’m learning that I don’t have to build consensus. And I’m still learning that I can try anything I want that’s new.” Seymour plans to launch spa retreats for her subscribers – something they’ve been very vocal about needing to incorporate into their lives.
Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of women’s investment platform Ellevest addressed the need for women to create a financial future through smart investing and planning. The room was filled with laughter thanks to her unique style of storytelling, along with a not so funny anecdote about losing her life’s savings and job when the market crashed in 2008.
What the attendees say Between keynotes, breakout sessions ran with topics ranging from brand building to embracing feminine traits. Dana Campbell, CEO of Optimize Corps, who led a session on transcending burnout said: “Taking control of our lives and careers is one of the best ways to improve our overall happiness and to make an impact in the world.”
Discussions were also held throughout lunch, with 24 tables focusing on different subjects. Sara Jones, editor of Spa & Wellness Mexicaribe, encouraged women to join the Global Wellness Institute’s Women in Leadership Initiative (see p20). Meanwhile, spa PR Debra Locker focused on how to manage toxic working environments and brand and wellness activist Joanna Roche hosted the topic of cultural sustainability and self-care.
Of the day, Michelle Gamble, VP global business development for the Global Wellness Summit, said: “It was an extraordinary event on so many levels – inspiration, information and connections with women I admire and respect. I’m already looking forward to next year!”
Fellow attendee Glenny Legendre, executive VP of sales and marketing for LaFlore Probiotic Skincare agreed. “I came to the conference to celebrate my years of friendships with women in the spa and wellness industry, get a little work in and make new friends,” she said. “My takeaways are threefold: to take control of my financial destiny; to commit to indie beauty as a vendor; and to create a partnership with a potential new spa partner for our brand that I met here at the conference.”
Not to be forgotten are the men who came to support Women in Wellness – several of whom were sponsors. Michael Pugliese, CEO of Circadia noted: “as a male owner of a skincare brand, I feel it’s incredibly important to support this event – unlike any of its kind – that focuses on the women of our industry.”
Empowerment and inspiration Julie Keller Callaghan, editor in chief and publisher of American Spa, who’s behind the event said inspiration for it first came when she was inundated with more than 400 nominations for the magazine’s Women in Wellness Awards last year.
“I’ve been at American Spa for 14 years – what I love most about the industry are the women in it,” she said. “I’ve always been empowered and inspired by you. I wanted to put something positive in the universe.”
In her closing remarks Keller Callaghan added, “I hope that everyone left today with powerful tools to help them grow and evolve and be better leaders and better people and to spread the word of women empowerment and wellness.”
Join American Spa’s Women in Wellness Leadership Group on Facebook for ongoing updates and news about future conferences and events.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
People profile: Garrett Mersberger
Garrett Mersberger on the overhaul of Kohler Waters’ flagship spa in Europe, plus his vision for ISPA following his appointment as chair of the association
Spa programmes: On the menu
Underwater yoga, healing breathwork and genetics all feature in Spa Business’ brand new series revealing the latest treatments, programmes and retreats in spas
Promotional feature: Zimmer MedizinSysteme
Cold therapy is suddenly all the rage, but Zimmer MedizinSysteme’s icelab takes it a step further, creating a cold sauna for the whole body. Rainer Bolsinger explains more about this cutting-edge therapy
Promotional feature: The Tides: pure Dutch nature inside
Modern living might be tough on our minds and bodies, but newly-launched Dutch wellness and self-care brand The Tides offers just the antidote with a new class of pure, raw products and treatments
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a
digital platform that will provide professionals with strategic guidance on how to build
transformational leisure experiences that drive profit.
