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The therapist’s touch soothes and restores, supported by luxurious towels / photo: bC Softwear
“Touchless therapies may be surging in popularity, but human touch still plays an irreplaceable part in the spa experience,” says Barbara Cooke, founder of leading spa textiles supplier, BC SoftWear.
She continues: “These new touchless experiences are a great way for spas to protect their therapists’ wellbeing. Therapist burnout is increasing and spas worldwide are struggling with ongoing recruitment issues. Touchless technologies enable spas to more easily provide add-on treatments, manage guest flow and free up staff availability.
“However, I feel strongly that people primarily visit a spa because they want the wellness benefits associated with direct human contact. The power of human touch cannot be underestimated; people will always crave it. Spas are one of the few places where people can safely experience the countless benefits of a skilled therapist’s hands.”
Cooke speaks with more than 23 years experience in the spa and wellness industries, with the company she founded – BC SoftWear – a supplier of luxury textiles to leading spas worldwide, including Mandarin Oriental, Corinthia Hotels, Raffles and One and Only.
Her view on what makes a spa experience truly memorable for guests? She continues:
“At BC SoftWear, we believe the first touchpoint for a guest in a spa sets the tone for their visit; often that’s with a towel or bathrobe.
“It’s so important for that touchpoint to feel soft and deeply luxurious, as it prepares the guest for relaxing into the treatment to come, where their therapist’s touch will sooth and restore them.
“Touchless therapies certainly now have a place, but hands-on treatments will never go out of fashion; and at BC SoftWear it’s our mission to make every one of those touchpoints as memorable and luxurious as possible.”
Spa people: Tim Fu
Leading a wellness architecture project in Slovenia that’s one of the first in the world to use AI in all stages of design
Spa people: Kayley Thomas
Lush is famous for its bath bombs and retail empire, but the co-founder of its day spa concept reveals why its 19 global spa facilities are so essential
Spa people: Colin Mcilheney
We find out more about Colin Mcilheney, the man who created the ISPA US Spa Industry Study and has been analysing the sector’s performance ever since
News report: Map of luxury
New research by WATG shows emerging wealth hubs in India, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and Africa are reshaping luxury travel demand
Interview: Chris Norton
The CEO of Equinox Hotels tells Katie Barnes how the uber-cool brand is scaling its bold fusion of fitness, spa and luxury
Ask an expert...: Recovery
From cryo to compression to contrast bathing, Julie Cramer investigates why and how spas and resorts are integrating recovery packages
Research: Behind the boom
What are the hidden messages in the latest US study by ISPA? Colin Mcilheney digs beneath the surface
Research: Bigger picture
Rising salaries and shifting consumer expectations – two new surveys by the UKSA and GSG reveal the trends impacting UK spa operators
Sponsored: Lemi - Good sensations
Lemi’s Venice Head Spa combines the beauty of Italian design with fine-tuned technology to provide the ultimate top-to-toe treatment station for spas
Sponsored: G.M. COLLIN – Smooth operator
The new toner from G.M. Collin represents a ‘gold standard’ in leave-on liquid exfoliation for smooth and radiant results, without the irritation of a scrub
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin – Snow for all seasons
TechnoAlpin’s magical Snowroom installation at the Alpenrose resort brings the Austrian landscape and feel-good nature factor to its wellbeing experience
First person: Costa Blanca cure
Jane Kitchen visits Spain to compare and contrast two world-class medi-wellness clinics: well-established SHA and ambitious newcomer ZEM
Sponsored: Gharieni Group – Tech-powered recovery
The new brand in the Gharieni Group portfolio – Metawell – is delivering what today’s wellness clients are seeking most – deep recovery and mind-body renewal
Sponsored: BC Softwear – Human touch
While touchless therapies are a positive addition to spas, nothing can replace the healing power of human touch, says Barbara Cooke
Sponsored: Yon-ka – A potent blend
Yon-Ka’s new Serum Omega is a potent blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9 to target
dry, stressed-out skin and deliver a calm and nourishing client experience
Menu engineering: At your service
Self-playing gongs in Sweden, surfing therapy in Morocco and Ananda launches holistic diabetes management programme in India
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
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The therapist’s touch soothes and restores, supported by luxurious towels / photo: bC Softwear
“Touchless therapies may be surging in popularity, but human touch still plays an irreplaceable part in the spa experience,” says Barbara Cooke, founder of leading spa textiles supplier, BC SoftWear.
She continues: “These new touchless experiences are a great way for spas to protect their therapists’ wellbeing. Therapist burnout is increasing and spas worldwide are struggling with ongoing recruitment issues. Touchless technologies enable spas to more easily provide add-on treatments, manage guest flow and free up staff availability.
“However, I feel strongly that people primarily visit a spa because they want the wellness benefits associated with direct human contact. The power of human touch cannot be underestimated; people will always crave it. Spas are one of the few places where people can safely experience the countless benefits of a skilled therapist’s hands.”
Cooke speaks with more than 23 years experience in the spa and wellness industries, with the company she founded – BC SoftWear – a supplier of luxury textiles to leading spas worldwide, including Mandarin Oriental, Corinthia Hotels, Raffles and One and Only.
Her view on what makes a spa experience truly memorable for guests? She continues:
“At BC SoftWear, we believe the first touchpoint for a guest in a spa sets the tone for their visit; often that’s with a towel or bathrobe.
“It’s so important for that touchpoint to feel soft and deeply luxurious, as it prepares the guest for relaxing into the treatment to come, where their therapist’s touch will sooth and restore them.
“Touchless therapies certainly now have a place, but hands-on treatments will never go out of fashion; and at BC SoftWear it’s our mission to make every one of those touchpoints as memorable and luxurious as possible.”
Spa people: Tim Fu
Leading a wellness architecture project in Slovenia that’s one of the first in the world to use AI in all stages of design
Spa people: Kayley Thomas
Lush is famous for its bath bombs and retail empire, but the co-founder of its day spa concept reveals why its 19 global spa facilities are so essential
Spa people: Colin Mcilheney
We find out more about Colin Mcilheney, the man who created the ISPA US Spa Industry Study and has been analysing the sector’s performance ever since
News report: Map of luxury
New research by WATG shows emerging wealth hubs in India, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and Africa are reshaping luxury travel demand
Interview: Chris Norton
The CEO of Equinox Hotels tells Katie Barnes how the uber-cool brand is scaling its bold fusion of fitness, spa and luxury
Ask an expert...: Recovery
From cryo to compression to contrast bathing, Julie Cramer investigates why and how spas and resorts are integrating recovery packages
Research: Behind the boom
What are the hidden messages in the latest US study by ISPA? Colin Mcilheney digs beneath the surface
Research: Bigger picture
Rising salaries and shifting consumer expectations – two new surveys by the UKSA and GSG reveal the trends impacting UK spa operators
Sponsored: Lemi - Good sensations
Lemi’s Venice Head Spa combines the beauty of Italian design with fine-tuned technology to provide the ultimate top-to-toe treatment station for spas
Sponsored: G.M. COLLIN – Smooth operator
The new toner from G.M. Collin represents a ‘gold standard’ in leave-on liquid exfoliation for smooth and radiant results, without the irritation of a scrub
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin – Snow for all seasons
TechnoAlpin’s magical Snowroom installation at the Alpenrose resort brings the Austrian landscape and feel-good nature factor to its wellbeing experience
First person: Costa Blanca cure
Jane Kitchen visits Spain to compare and contrast two world-class medi-wellness clinics: well-established SHA and ambitious newcomer ZEM
Sponsored: Gharieni Group – Tech-powered recovery
The new brand in the Gharieni Group portfolio – Metawell – is delivering what today’s wellness clients are seeking most – deep recovery and mind-body renewal
Sponsored: BC Softwear – Human touch
While touchless therapies are a positive addition to spas, nothing can replace the healing power of human touch, says Barbara Cooke
Sponsored: Yon-ka – A potent blend
Yon-Ka’s new Serum Omega is a potent blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9 to target
dry, stressed-out skin and deliver a calm and nourishing client experience
Menu engineering: At your service
Self-playing gongs in Sweden, surfing therapy in Morocco and Ananda launches holistic diabetes management programme in India
Gran Hotel Taoro in northern Tenerife, Spain, has completed the final phase of its three-year
renovation with the debut of its Sandára Wellness Centre.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the spa business with more than 650 locations across
the US and Canada, has appointed franchise expert Carrie Walsh as CEO as the company plans
to expand.
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.
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Spa Supply Solutions Founded in 2014 by spa management expert Julie Bevilacqua, Spa Supply Solutions is a leader in spa p [more...]
