Just 12 months after joining Hilton Head Health as CEO, Michael Tompkins is on the move again – but not without leaving his mark.
The ISPA chair explains to Rhianon Howells about the difference a year makes and why his new role could be his most exciting yet
By Rhianon Howells | Published in Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Moving on: Tompkins’ new projects focus on medical wellness and immersive experiences
As a spa and wellness industry veteran of more than 15 years, Michael Tompkins – chair of the International Spa Association (ISPA) – might not have seen it all, but he’s certainly seen a lot. So it speaks volumes that PALM, a concierge medical practice/wellness centre set to open this December in Missouri, has not just managed to surprise him. It has, in his own words, blown him away.
Standing for Personalised Advanced Lifestyle Medicine, PALM is the brainchild of cardiologist Dr Lauren Munsch Dal Farra and is, says Tompkins, “a true integrative wellness practice” combining general medical services and cutting-edge medical technologies with alternative therapies, lifestyle programming, nutrition, fitness and spa services all under one roof. In fact, so impressed is Tompkins with the concept that, after just a year as CEO of South Carolina-based weight loss retreat Hilton Head Health (HHH), he’s joining the company as co-CEO along with owner and founder Munsch Dal Farra.
Tompkins first came across PALM while serving as CEO of Tucson-based destination spa Miraval, where he spent seven years before joining Hilton Head Health (HHH) in July 2014.
Alongside his role at Miraval, Tompkins was (and still is) a partner of Huffman Hospitality Concepts and has juggled his day job with consulting work for spa and wellness projects over the past few years.
PALM was one such client, and may have remained just that, had Tompkins not taken the decision earlier this year to return home to St Louis to be closer to family. The distance from HHH to his home made it impossible to remain as CEO, while the first PALM centre is located in Ladue, just six miles from downtown St Louis. The move came at the perfect time and despite the unexpectedness of it Tompkins could not be more excited.
Essentially a concierge medical practice with a completely integrated spa, PALM already has a number of physicians on board, including a cardiologist, neurologist, headache specialist, psychiatrist, functional medical practitioner and two general practitioners. A dermatologist is due to join shortly after opening. As well as a number of dual-use rooms, which will be used by both doctors and massage therapists, the centre will have a DEXA scanner, two hyperbaric chambers, a cryotherapy chamber, infra-red saunas and a salt room, as well as a full range of spa and fitness facilities.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen a product like this anywhere,” says Tompkins. “And I so hope it works as we plan, because it’s going to be the next thing in true healthcare.”
Wellness journey It’s fair to say that Tompkins’ understanding of what constitutes “true healthcare” has evolved over the course of his career. A registered nurse for 15 years, he became disillusioned with patient care in American hospitals and left to become a landscape gardener. But after a few months, the role of nursing director at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires caught his eye. He got the job, loved it and over the course of seven years worked his way up to the role of associate managing director at the Lenox property (gaining his licence in massage therapy along the way).
After Canyon Ranch, he confesses that he “chased the money”, overseeing the build and operations of Turning Stone Resort and Casino in New York state. Shortly afterwards, Miraval came calling and in 2007 he became vice president and general manager of the Tucson-based destination spa and later CEO.
During his seven years at Miraval he guided the business through a number of milestones, including the creation of the Andrew Weil, MD Integrated Wellness Center; The Villas at Miraval, one of the fastest-selling luxury lifestyle real estate developments in the country; and, in May 2012, the new Life in Balance Spa with strategic partner Clarins (see SB12/4 p60). But when KSL Capital announced it was buying a controlling stake in the company from Revolution in 2014 (see SB15/1 p30), Tompkins decided it was time to move on and resigned from his post in June just before the deal was announced.
A month later, John Schmitz, the owner of HHH invited him to look around. “I went there for a week, lost 9lbs, and fell in love with the programming,” says Tompkins. He was smitten, he says, because, “number one, it works, and number two, there was an incredible sense of community that I had not experienced at any other resort.”
Losing well Opened in 1976 HHH started life as “a fat farm where people came and they walked a lot,” says Tompkins. “It transitioned when it was sold to the current owner about 18 years ago. He started to build programming models that included exercise and nutrition as well as a behavioural component.”
Over the past year HHH has undergone another period of transition under Tompkins’ stewardship. A renovated restaurant – complete with demonstration kitchen – was added, as well as the new, standalone 3,000sq ft (279sq m) Indigo spa, with six treatment rooms and a salon. Existing fitness facilities were upgraded and a 30-room inn is in the pipeline.
In addition, Tompkins repackaged the programmes to attract new market segments without alienating the old. Guests can now choose from two programmes: Lose Well and Live Well.
Lose Well is the resort’s core weight loss offering, requiring a minimum 30-day stay and a commitment to sticking with the programme or risk being asked to leave and instead move to the Live Well programme (according to Tompkins, this happens maybe every other month). While the programme involves a fairly scientific approach to weight management – everything is monitored, from blood work to fitness levels to caloric intake, and measured (pounds and inches) – it also places an emphasis on emotional support, not only from staff but also from the guests themselves, who are placed in small groups for the duration of their stay.
The Live Well programme, meanwhile, is more akin to a typical destination spa offering. Guests can stay for one night or several and can take their pick of services. It’s the more popular option and accounts for 70 per cent of business.
These changes, combined with a new website and marketing strategy, have already had an impact on the business. According to Tompkins, the resort saw double-digit growth last year, with the same projected for this year.
But when reflecting on his tenure at HHH, it’s the resort’s human impact of which he sounds most proud. It’s clear the HHH programme works: women on a 30-night stay typically lose 10-20lbs, while men lose 15-30lbs, and Tompkins himself lost an impressive 43lbs during his year as CEO. However, it’s HHH’s success in facilitating real lifestyle change that really gives it an edge.
An independent study which was published by the University of South Carolina in April showed that 62 per cent of Lose Well guests maintain a wellness-based lifestyle after they leave. “[That makes HHH] completely different from any of the other weight loss programmes out there,” says Tompkins.
Immersive concept Although sorry to leave HHH so soon, Tompkins is nonetheless excited about the future – not only about his role at PALM, but also about a number of other wellness projects he has underway, including two with US film director and cinematographer Louis Schwartzberg.
The first of these is Moving Art, an immersive room concept which uses time-lapse cinematography of natural images projected onto floor-to-ceiling screens to create moods suited to the space, such as waterfall imagery in a water-based treatment room (see SB14/1 p102).
Because Schwartzberg shoots using 4K digital film, the images are clearer than the human eye can see, says Tompkins – so clear that they actually look real.
A second collaboration Tompkins is working on with Schwartzberg – along with a third partner, an LA-based “think-tank product design company” called Boombang – is a concept called Aura. An immersive pod, the product is designed to engage four of the five senses by combining Schwartzberg’s visuals with their corresponding sound, smell and touch. For example, images of the sea might be accompanied by the smell of salt, the sound of waves and a gentle breeze. The technology also incorporates sound vibration techniques. The result, says Tompkins, is a truly relaxing and meditative experience.
At present, the partners are seeking financing for the concept, but Tompkins has confidence in its potential – not only as an authentic addition to any wellness offering, but also as a business investment. “Louis has the largest collection of film shot in 4K anywhere in the world, because he’s been shooting for more than 35 years, so there’s endless content that can be put in the pod,” he says. “So there’s a revenue source for the sale of the pod itself, which has a competitive retail price, including a certain number of downloads. And then [there’s a revenue source] for subscriptions [so customers] can download new experiences.”
And, of course, he continues to serve the industry as ISPA chair – a role he’s held since 2014 after two years as vice chair.
“I’ll continue to serve as long as ISPA’s board and its members will allow that,” he says. “And I have to say I’m extremely excited at the opportunity to align with global partners to bridge the international piece. This year, I’ve tried to go to every single event out there and not just within the States… I spoke at the Professional Spa and Wellness Convention in London and I’ve done everything from Live Love Spa to Green Spa Network events. Every one I attend inspires [and convinces] me more that I’ve chosen the right field to be in.”
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Letters:
Concerns raised over massage-on-demand vetting systems
Interview: Michael Tompkins
What’s next for Michael Tompkins as he takes a step back at Hilton Head Health? Rhianon Howells finds out
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Leading skincare brand Dr Burgener Switzerland combines natural ingredients with advanced technology to produce exceptional results – and the company sees customisation as the way forward for each of its spa clients
Trends: Workplace wellness
Neena Dhillon looks at two award-winning employee wellness programmes and asks how spas can get involved in this burgeoning market
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA International has always been a leader in the global spa business but has never been averse to change. The CEO and son of its founder explains how the company he joined 22 years ago is adapting to meet the challenges facing the industry today
Research: Onwards & upwards
ISPA research shows the US spa sector has reached new heights. Colin McIlheney analyses the findings
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
Spa concept: Eforea 2.0
Hilton has refreshed its spa concept to make it more appealing to hoteliers. But what’s changed? Jane Kitchen finds out
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the company is helping spa operators become more efficient with space-saving but stylish spa equipment and accessories
Trends to watch “Massage-on-demand services are going to continue to be a trend and grow in a much bigger way. I also think medical or medi-spas will continue to diversify and [that we’ll see growth in the number of] healthcare entities incorporating alternative therapies and spa, creating a new market segment. And I think, because of massage-on-demand and the medical spas pieces that are coming out, that the day spa market will change; it will be interesting to see how it does.”
Challenges to look out for “The number one challenge is [creating] a qualified pool of candidates to lead and expand our organisations and our industry; we don’t have enough people. I also think that the rise in massage-on-demand services will cause the cost of labour to go up, in an area where operators are trying to limit the cost of labour simply because they want to have a profitable entity.
“[The challenge with the growth of] medical spas and wellness-based [medical] facilities is how that will relate to spa. How is it done so that it’s a cohesive, non-disjointed industry during that growth – so that the chaos doesn’t outweigh the benefits?”
Rhianon Howells is a business journalist and the consulting editor of Spa Business magazine
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
Just 12 months after joining Hilton Head Health as CEO, Michael Tompkins is on the move again – but not without leaving his mark.
The ISPA chair explains to Rhianon Howells about the difference a year makes and why his new role could be his most exciting yet
By Rhianon Howells | Published in Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Moving on: Tompkins’ new projects focus on medical wellness and immersive experiences
As a spa and wellness industry veteran of more than 15 years, Michael Tompkins – chair of the International Spa Association (ISPA) – might not have seen it all, but he’s certainly seen a lot. So it speaks volumes that PALM, a concierge medical practice/wellness centre set to open this December in Missouri, has not just managed to surprise him. It has, in his own words, blown him away.
Standing for Personalised Advanced Lifestyle Medicine, PALM is the brainchild of cardiologist Dr Lauren Munsch Dal Farra and is, says Tompkins, “a true integrative wellness practice” combining general medical services and cutting-edge medical technologies with alternative therapies, lifestyle programming, nutrition, fitness and spa services all under one roof. In fact, so impressed is Tompkins with the concept that, after just a year as CEO of South Carolina-based weight loss retreat Hilton Head Health (HHH), he’s joining the company as co-CEO along with owner and founder Munsch Dal Farra.
Tompkins first came across PALM while serving as CEO of Tucson-based destination spa Miraval, where he spent seven years before joining Hilton Head Health (HHH) in July 2014.
Alongside his role at Miraval, Tompkins was (and still is) a partner of Huffman Hospitality Concepts and has juggled his day job with consulting work for spa and wellness projects over the past few years.
PALM was one such client, and may have remained just that, had Tompkins not taken the decision earlier this year to return home to St Louis to be closer to family. The distance from HHH to his home made it impossible to remain as CEO, while the first PALM centre is located in Ladue, just six miles from downtown St Louis. The move came at the perfect time and despite the unexpectedness of it Tompkins could not be more excited.
Essentially a concierge medical practice with a completely integrated spa, PALM already has a number of physicians on board, including a cardiologist, neurologist, headache specialist, psychiatrist, functional medical practitioner and two general practitioners. A dermatologist is due to join shortly after opening. As well as a number of dual-use rooms, which will be used by both doctors and massage therapists, the centre will have a DEXA scanner, two hyperbaric chambers, a cryotherapy chamber, infra-red saunas and a salt room, as well as a full range of spa and fitness facilities.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen a product like this anywhere,” says Tompkins. “And I so hope it works as we plan, because it’s going to be the next thing in true healthcare.”
Wellness journey It’s fair to say that Tompkins’ understanding of what constitutes “true healthcare” has evolved over the course of his career. A registered nurse for 15 years, he became disillusioned with patient care in American hospitals and left to become a landscape gardener. But after a few months, the role of nursing director at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires caught his eye. He got the job, loved it and over the course of seven years worked his way up to the role of associate managing director at the Lenox property (gaining his licence in massage therapy along the way).
After Canyon Ranch, he confesses that he “chased the money”, overseeing the build and operations of Turning Stone Resort and Casino in New York state. Shortly afterwards, Miraval came calling and in 2007 he became vice president and general manager of the Tucson-based destination spa and later CEO.
During his seven years at Miraval he guided the business through a number of milestones, including the creation of the Andrew Weil, MD Integrated Wellness Center; The Villas at Miraval, one of the fastest-selling luxury lifestyle real estate developments in the country; and, in May 2012, the new Life in Balance Spa with strategic partner Clarins (see SB12/4 p60). But when KSL Capital announced it was buying a controlling stake in the company from Revolution in 2014 (see SB15/1 p30), Tompkins decided it was time to move on and resigned from his post in June just before the deal was announced.
A month later, John Schmitz, the owner of HHH invited him to look around. “I went there for a week, lost 9lbs, and fell in love with the programming,” says Tompkins. He was smitten, he says, because, “number one, it works, and number two, there was an incredible sense of community that I had not experienced at any other resort.”
Losing well Opened in 1976 HHH started life as “a fat farm where people came and they walked a lot,” says Tompkins. “It transitioned when it was sold to the current owner about 18 years ago. He started to build programming models that included exercise and nutrition as well as a behavioural component.”
Over the past year HHH has undergone another period of transition under Tompkins’ stewardship. A renovated restaurant – complete with demonstration kitchen – was added, as well as the new, standalone 3,000sq ft (279sq m) Indigo spa, with six treatment rooms and a salon. Existing fitness facilities were upgraded and a 30-room inn is in the pipeline.
In addition, Tompkins repackaged the programmes to attract new market segments without alienating the old. Guests can now choose from two programmes: Lose Well and Live Well.
Lose Well is the resort’s core weight loss offering, requiring a minimum 30-day stay and a commitment to sticking with the programme or risk being asked to leave and instead move to the Live Well programme (according to Tompkins, this happens maybe every other month). While the programme involves a fairly scientific approach to weight management – everything is monitored, from blood work to fitness levels to caloric intake, and measured (pounds and inches) – it also places an emphasis on emotional support, not only from staff but also from the guests themselves, who are placed in small groups for the duration of their stay.
The Live Well programme, meanwhile, is more akin to a typical destination spa offering. Guests can stay for one night or several and can take their pick of services. It’s the more popular option and accounts for 70 per cent of business.
These changes, combined with a new website and marketing strategy, have already had an impact on the business. According to Tompkins, the resort saw double-digit growth last year, with the same projected for this year.
But when reflecting on his tenure at HHH, it’s the resort’s human impact of which he sounds most proud. It’s clear the HHH programme works: women on a 30-night stay typically lose 10-20lbs, while men lose 15-30lbs, and Tompkins himself lost an impressive 43lbs during his year as CEO. However, it’s HHH’s success in facilitating real lifestyle change that really gives it an edge.
An independent study which was published by the University of South Carolina in April showed that 62 per cent of Lose Well guests maintain a wellness-based lifestyle after they leave. “[That makes HHH] completely different from any of the other weight loss programmes out there,” says Tompkins.
Immersive concept Although sorry to leave HHH so soon, Tompkins is nonetheless excited about the future – not only about his role at PALM, but also about a number of other wellness projects he has underway, including two with US film director and cinematographer Louis Schwartzberg.
The first of these is Moving Art, an immersive room concept which uses time-lapse cinematography of natural images projected onto floor-to-ceiling screens to create moods suited to the space, such as waterfall imagery in a water-based treatment room (see SB14/1 p102).
Because Schwartzberg shoots using 4K digital film, the images are clearer than the human eye can see, says Tompkins – so clear that they actually look real.
A second collaboration Tompkins is working on with Schwartzberg – along with a third partner, an LA-based “think-tank product design company” called Boombang – is a concept called Aura. An immersive pod, the product is designed to engage four of the five senses by combining Schwartzberg’s visuals with their corresponding sound, smell and touch. For example, images of the sea might be accompanied by the smell of salt, the sound of waves and a gentle breeze. The technology also incorporates sound vibration techniques. The result, says Tompkins, is a truly relaxing and meditative experience.
At present, the partners are seeking financing for the concept, but Tompkins has confidence in its potential – not only as an authentic addition to any wellness offering, but also as a business investment. “Louis has the largest collection of film shot in 4K anywhere in the world, because he’s been shooting for more than 35 years, so there’s endless content that can be put in the pod,” he says. “So there’s a revenue source for the sale of the pod itself, which has a competitive retail price, including a certain number of downloads. And then [there’s a revenue source] for subscriptions [so customers] can download new experiences.”
And, of course, he continues to serve the industry as ISPA chair – a role he’s held since 2014 after two years as vice chair.
“I’ll continue to serve as long as ISPA’s board and its members will allow that,” he says. “And I have to say I’m extremely excited at the opportunity to align with global partners to bridge the international piece. This year, I’ve tried to go to every single event out there and not just within the States… I spoke at the Professional Spa and Wellness Convention in London and I’ve done everything from Live Love Spa to Green Spa Network events. Every one I attend inspires [and convinces] me more that I’ve chosen the right field to be in.”
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Letters:
Concerns raised over massage-on-demand vetting systems
Interview: Michael Tompkins
What’s next for Michael Tompkins as he takes a step back at Hilton Head Health? Rhianon Howells finds out
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Leading skincare brand Dr Burgener Switzerland combines natural ingredients with advanced technology to produce exceptional results – and the company sees customisation as the way forward for each of its spa clients
Trends: Workplace wellness
Neena Dhillon looks at two award-winning employee wellness programmes and asks how spas can get involved in this burgeoning market
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA International has always been a leader in the global spa business but has never been averse to change. The CEO and son of its founder explains how the company he joined 22 years ago is adapting to meet the challenges facing the industry today
Research: Onwards & upwards
ISPA research shows the US spa sector has reached new heights. Colin McIlheney analyses the findings
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
Spa concept: Eforea 2.0
Hilton has refreshed its spa concept to make it more appealing to hoteliers. But what’s changed? Jane Kitchen finds out
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the company is helping spa operators become more efficient with space-saving but stylish spa equipment and accessories
Trends to watch “Massage-on-demand services are going to continue to be a trend and grow in a much bigger way. I also think medical or medi-spas will continue to diversify and [that we’ll see growth in the number of] healthcare entities incorporating alternative therapies and spa, creating a new market segment. And I think, because of massage-on-demand and the medical spas pieces that are coming out, that the day spa market will change; it will be interesting to see how it does.”
Challenges to look out for “The number one challenge is [creating] a qualified pool of candidates to lead and expand our organisations and our industry; we don’t have enough people. I also think that the rise in massage-on-demand services will cause the cost of labour to go up, in an area where operators are trying to limit the cost of labour simply because they want to have a profitable entity.
“[The challenge with the growth of] medical spas and wellness-based [medical] facilities is how that will relate to spa. How is it done so that it’s a cohesive, non-disjointed industry during that growth – so that the chaos doesn’t outweigh the benefits?”
Rhianon Howells is a business journalist and the consulting editor of Spa Business magazine
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.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
