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
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...]
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
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.
Aditya Saluja, an industry leader in luxury wellness hospitality, has been
appointed as
commercial director of spa and wellness for the spa management division of
Minor Hotels,
MSpa International.
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...]
