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Montage Hotels & Resorts has won numerous spa awards thanks, in part, to a 264-hour training programme created by the Advanced Spa Therapy Education and Certification Council. We speak to the council’s founder
By Katie Barnes | Published in Spa Business 2012 issue 3
Half of Bramham’s time is spent on spa training at Montage, which amounts to around 100 therapists in total over the years
Anne Bramham moved to the US from Britain in 1985 and has been a spa therapist, trainer and consultant for clients such as Ritz-Carlton. Concerned by an education system that, unlike the UK, only focused on cosmetology or strictly massage, she set up the then named American Spa Therapy Education and Certification Council (ASTECC), a non-profit organisation, in 1996.
“I wanted to bridge those gaps,” says Bramahm. “I saw a need for holistic studies where therapists understand the blood, circulation and the lymphatic system and how it’s all interconnected. I also wanted to teach therapists to think outside of the box, where they’re not restricted by product-house specific techniques, and are able individualise treatments according to client needs.”
ASTECC components ASTECC classes are offered in approved schools and teaching can be carried out onsite such as at Montage resorts (see p28), at Spa Shiki in Missouri and at Toskana Therme Bad Orb in Germany. And in anticipation of more global expansion, the council recently renamed itself the ‘Advanced’ Spa Therapy Education and Certification Council.
The ASTECC curriculum consists of theoretical and practical instruction across four disciplines – hydrotherapy, soft tissue therapy, manual lymph drainage and basic chemical elements – and has 11 components.
Each certified component, accredited by the US’ National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), can be taken on its own or altogether for ASTECC’s full postgraduate Spa Therapy Certification. When launched, the full certification included 240 hours’ of training but this has gone up to 264 hours with additions such as Dr Vodder’s Spa Body Wellness course. The Vodder technique is the most well known method of lymph drainage and ASTECC worked with the Dr Vodder school of North America to create its programme focused on health through lymph drainage.
Working with Montage Half of Bramham’s time is dedicated to training at Montage – a relationship that started in the pre-opening phase of the group’s first spa in Laguna Beach in late 2002.
Uniquely, Montage insists all therapists performing its signature Surrender treatment go through ASTECC’s full Spa Therapy Certification. The initial intake consisted of 14 therapists but, as Montage grew and opened two more spas, Bramham estimates numbers are now closer to 100. Classes are usually scheduled for one week a month when therapists will spend 30 hours in the classroom. They also have to complete around 30 hours of hands-on practice a month, while evaluation is ongoing.
In 2006, ASTECC launched a Train the Trainer programme at Montage where certificate graduates are coached to teach one component at a time until they’re approved to lead the whole certificate. “It’s taken our first full trainers three years to graduate,” says Bramham. But with only one fully-qualified trainer at Laguna Montage currently in place, this is a key area for development. “We’re now introducing a new aspect where trainers can specialise in just one discipline such as hydrotherapy,” adds Bramham.
“Montage has been wonderful in embracing education and they’ve rewritten the approach to spa by enthusing staff. It means they can deliver a therapeutic experience to address the guests immediate needs and shift them forward – and they do this with a great space and great facilities with all the finer touches. Does it pay off? Absolutely. They’ve had clients who come back again and again – I know of one guest who stayed at the hotel for three months just for the spa!”
To read more about ASTECC and Montage see Spa Business, issue 1, 2006, p54.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2012 issue 3
Ask an expert: Corporate wellness
Wellness programmes for corporate employees is a lucrative and growing market. What can spas do to tap into this possible new revenue generator?
Training: Anne Bramham
ASTECC is the sole spa training organisation working with Montage. Founder Anne Bramham explains what makes them stand out
Resort spa: Castles & dreams
Jennifer Harbottle looks round The Chateau – an organic wellness resort modelled on a French castle but located in the Malaysian rainforest
Mother & Baby spas: Latching on
Independent, wealthy women are redefining motherhood. Mari Stevens investigates this new emerging group
City focus – Chicago: Chicagoland
Lisa Starr takes a look at a cross-section of spas in Chicago and how they differentiate themselves in the thriving urban spa location
Summit review: Outside the box
The sixth Global Spa & Wellness Summit in Aspen hosted a number of expert speakers. Katie Barnes reports
Spa tourism – Madeira: Madeiran Marvel
The Portuguese island of Madeira holds much promise as a wellness destination. Anni Hood finds out about its spa tourism strategy
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environments. [more...]
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Montage Hotels & Resorts has won numerous spa awards thanks, in part, to a 264-hour training programme created by the Advanced Spa Therapy Education and Certification Council. We speak to the council’s founder
By Katie Barnes | Published in Spa Business 2012 issue 3
Half of Bramham’s time is spent on spa training at Montage, which amounts to around 100 therapists in total over the years
Anne Bramham moved to the US from Britain in 1985 and has been a spa therapist, trainer and consultant for clients such as Ritz-Carlton. Concerned by an education system that, unlike the UK, only focused on cosmetology or strictly massage, she set up the then named American Spa Therapy Education and Certification Council (ASTECC), a non-profit organisation, in 1996.
“I wanted to bridge those gaps,” says Bramahm. “I saw a need for holistic studies where therapists understand the blood, circulation and the lymphatic system and how it’s all interconnected. I also wanted to teach therapists to think outside of the box, where they’re not restricted by product-house specific techniques, and are able individualise treatments according to client needs.”
ASTECC components ASTECC classes are offered in approved schools and teaching can be carried out onsite such as at Montage resorts (see p28), at Spa Shiki in Missouri and at Toskana Therme Bad Orb in Germany. And in anticipation of more global expansion, the council recently renamed itself the ‘Advanced’ Spa Therapy Education and Certification Council.
The ASTECC curriculum consists of theoretical and practical instruction across four disciplines – hydrotherapy, soft tissue therapy, manual lymph drainage and basic chemical elements – and has 11 components.
Each certified component, accredited by the US’ National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), can be taken on its own or altogether for ASTECC’s full postgraduate Spa Therapy Certification. When launched, the full certification included 240 hours’ of training but this has gone up to 264 hours with additions such as Dr Vodder’s Spa Body Wellness course. The Vodder technique is the most well known method of lymph drainage and ASTECC worked with the Dr Vodder school of North America to create its programme focused on health through lymph drainage.
Working with Montage Half of Bramham’s time is dedicated to training at Montage – a relationship that started in the pre-opening phase of the group’s first spa in Laguna Beach in late 2002.
Uniquely, Montage insists all therapists performing its signature Surrender treatment go through ASTECC’s full Spa Therapy Certification. The initial intake consisted of 14 therapists but, as Montage grew and opened two more spas, Bramham estimates numbers are now closer to 100. Classes are usually scheduled for one week a month when therapists will spend 30 hours in the classroom. They also have to complete around 30 hours of hands-on practice a month, while evaluation is ongoing.
In 2006, ASTECC launched a Train the Trainer programme at Montage where certificate graduates are coached to teach one component at a time until they’re approved to lead the whole certificate. “It’s taken our first full trainers three years to graduate,” says Bramham. But with only one fully-qualified trainer at Laguna Montage currently in place, this is a key area for development. “We’re now introducing a new aspect where trainers can specialise in just one discipline such as hydrotherapy,” adds Bramham.
“Montage has been wonderful in embracing education and they’ve rewritten the approach to spa by enthusing staff. It means they can deliver a therapeutic experience to address the guests immediate needs and shift them forward – and they do this with a great space and great facilities with all the finer touches. Does it pay off? Absolutely. They’ve had clients who come back again and again – I know of one guest who stayed at the hotel for three months just for the spa!”
To read more about ASTECC and Montage see Spa Business, issue 1, 2006, p54.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2012 issue 3
Ask an expert: Corporate wellness
Wellness programmes for corporate employees is a lucrative and growing market. What can spas do to tap into this possible new revenue generator?
Training: Anne Bramham
ASTECC is the sole spa training organisation working with Montage. Founder Anne Bramham explains what makes them stand out
Resort spa: Castles & dreams
Jennifer Harbottle looks round The Chateau – an organic wellness resort modelled on a French castle but located in the Malaysian rainforest
Mother & Baby spas: Latching on
Independent, wealthy women are redefining motherhood. Mari Stevens investigates this new emerging group
City focus – Chicago: Chicagoland
Lisa Starr takes a look at a cross-section of spas in Chicago and how they differentiate themselves in the thriving urban spa location
Summit review: Outside the box
The sixth Global Spa & Wellness Summit in Aspen hosted a number of expert speakers. Katie Barnes reports
Spa tourism – Madeira: Madeiran Marvel
The Portuguese island of Madeira holds much promise as a wellness destination. Anni Hood finds out about its spa tourism strategy
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.
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...]
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Capsix Founded in 2016 by Carole Eyssautier, PhD in AI, François Eyssautier, robotics engineer, and Stéphan [more...]
