Prior to starting my health spa consulting firm, I was the spa director for glamorous celebrity filled world renowned spas. Being a director of a spa encompasses a myriad of responsibilities, most important of which may be the personal meeting and greeting of guests utilizing the facility. Of course, guest service and care is vital to the success of a spa, and if your spa caters to a sophisticated market, then meeting these guests' expectations can be a bit more challenging. But, has anyone ever revealed what really goes on inside a spa? Here's a peek at some of my experiences behind those tightly closed doors, no names, of course! READ MORE

This new "medspa" category is growing - strongly. In the USA, the most developed medspa market, the numbers more than doubled between 2004 and 2006. And in barely more than a decade medspa dollars went from zero to over one billion dollars a year. (There is as much conflict about market sizes as there is about definitions.) The medspas are themselves but one segment of a relatively new category, the day spa. Currently in the USA, revenues in 14,000 "spas" are over $12 billion a year. The spa market is growing faster than wider professional beauty services market. Indeed spa revenues compare to the $60 billion revenues in about 313,000 hair salons/beauty salons in the USA. READ MORE

For all of us, communication - both verbal and non-verbal - is an integral part of our daily world. And as the world moves faster, as our fingers do the talking, and as the sense of urgency drives our ability to knock out scores of brief, electronically transmitted messages daily, some of the valuable communication skills that our moms taught us run the risk of being overlooked. Earning an intangible Ph.D. from Mom's School of Communications, and then taking those well-honed skills out into the marketplace, can be the single most influential factor affecting a business relationship. READ MORE

Planning and executing a valuable meeting while adhering to a reasonable budget is the goal of every meeting planner. To accomplish this, many turn to Complete Meeting Packages (CMP), the conference center's niche total pricing structure which allows clients to budget an event with confidence, while offering options ranging from budget to upscale. However, today's meeting planners are savvier and striving to find unique venues or add-ins, such as an out-of-the-box team-building activity, when planning their upcoming events. READ MORE

This year is going to be one of the most exciting times in the meetings and conference industries to date. With all the changes taking place, it can also be daunting if you're not on top of the competitive arena. The following article outlines some of the most significant trends and opportunities in the industry as projected by myself and my team at ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, a leading provider of professional services to 50 conference and corporate training centers, specialty hotels, national and state parks, resorts and other tourist destinations throughout the United States. READ MORE

It has been decades since the Internet and World Wide Web first opened their virtual doors to the world, and although traditionally the meetings industry has tended to lag in adopting new technology, all of this is changing - and fast. Today's world of Blackberry addicted executives, tech-savvy meeting planners and gadget-friendly presenters are forcing conference centers to provide state-of-the-art technology as a standard practice - or else risk competition taking their business. Technology standards within the industry are advancing as quickly as new innovations emerge. Gone are the days when an overhead projector was considered high-tech; wireless connectivity has quickly become the standard. LCD Projectors, video conferencing and computers, once considered luxury pieces of equipment, are now customary. READ MORE

According to The Historic/Cultural Traveler, a weathered, but oft-quoted 2003 study by the Travel Industry Association of America and Smithsonian Magazine, more than half of U.S. adults (over 118 million people) include at least one art, history, humanities or heritage activity or event when they travel. You find them swaying to exotic music at cultural events, festivals and fairs. They're drawn to ethnic neighborhoods for authentic foods and imports. Clusters of them are seen looking skyward as they walk through historic districts on guided architectural tours. Others are involved in volunteer projects to both immerse themselves in a destination while helping to preserve it. They walk battlefields, often as knowledgeable about what took place as are local guides. The travel stories they retell are of the cultural treasures they saw and the remarkable local people they met. READ MORE

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) reported this year that customer satisfaction within the hotel industry declined over five percent from last year. The industry's final score? A not so impressive 71 out of 100. That would also be known as a "C minus," if we were still school. Sure, it's a passing grade, but below average, and far below what the industry is capable of. In other words, there is a lot to learn out there - about lodging customers and how to serve them. What if the industry as a whole could earn at least a 90? What if a single chain could score that high? Vacancies would be scarce, revenues would soar, and that chain would gain the reputation as the place to stay. The truth is, it doesn't really take a great deal of effort. In fact, your customers are saying it all the time. The trick is how to hear them. This article discusses how best to go about obtaining actionable feedback from your guests, how it can help you adn what the potential benefits could be. READ MORE

While the present-day environment may make it difficult to slow down and remove oneself from the renovation arms race, participation will provide no lasting advantage. You may have a slight edge winning the "mind" of the guest... until the guy next door completes his renovation, and it's way cooler. If you launch a parallel arms race by attempting a renovation of the human touch points of the guest experience, however, you have an opportunity to win not only the mind, but the "heart" as well. READ MORE

Hotel trade shows are complex events that require months of focused planning, preparation, and coordination. Trade shows are a great venue to showcase your business, helping to generate new and increased revenue in a variety of ways. Public relations plays a critical role in how a trade show is publicized in the media and perceived by your target audiences. A successful trade show program should have a strong public relations component, enabling the maximization of positive media coverage in relevant outlets to your business. A complete plan will have recruitment, preparation, execution, and follow-up procedures working together to highlight your business in the media. READ MORE

There is no question that the overall demand by travelers for the "extra" touches and the impact it makes on repeat business is driving hoteliers to outdo their competitors. Are hotels with the latest and greatest attracting more guests? Absolutely. Join the bandwagon or be left behind. Let's take a glance at some of the offerings from yesteryear and today. READ MORE

In Part I of our series on spa development, the importance of planning, the value of feasibility studies and avoiding design pitfalls was discussed. As mentioned previously, it is crucial to proceed cautiously when planning your spa and to ensure that there has been enough due diligence to make the most appropriate decisions regarding size, scope and potential location. As critical as it is to offer the most aesthetically pleasing and functional space through a thoughtful and comprehensive design process, it is equally important to "stage" your spa for a smooth and successful launch. This requires a focus on what the ultimate objectives will be and a definition of how the spa will ultimately operate in presenting itself for guest and public use. Questions such as how to maximize revenue and profits, and how the spa can best impact room nights and yield should be addressed. READ MORE

In order to ensure that a hotel or resort spa will offer a truly memorable experience while maximizing revenue and potential for a positive bottom line, one item is of critical importance. Perhaps the most important decision that will influence the success or failure of a spa operation is to select staff that will "make a difference". Putting it another way, will guests and other spa patrons remember their experience as one that is delineative and memorable in some way, and one they wish to share with spouses, friends or colleagues? Spas may be beautifully designed and have a wonderful and diverse menu of services; however, if the staff aren't really attuned to their customers, friendly in their demeanor and well trained, the entire spa experience can be ruined before it ever starts. In our view, staff selection and training is the make or break decision for most spas and leisure facilities. Yet, in many cases, not enough time, effort or emphasis is placed on this crucial area. READ MORE

When hoteliers like you are asked what their primary concerns are in successfully running their businesses and increasing their profit margins, some of the answers are expected: keeping guests happy, matching the competition's prices, acquiring more market share. What is unexpected is the number who cite unfair and confusing card processing fees as something they are forced to contend with as they look to grow and maintain a successful business. Consider how much of your total revenue comes from payments made on your guests' credit and debit cards. It is very possible you could increase your profit margin on every transaction by taking a closer look at the costs incurred with processing those payments. READ MORE

Most, if not all, of the major hotel companies have restaurants in their hotels. This allows for a fantastic opportunity and advantage when creating a unique banquet menu. The attitude my team has taken, is to reflect the theme of the restaurants at each property and allow this style to flow into banquets. Food and beverage directors must take great care and place major emphasis on not offering generic fare and items that seem to be on so many catering menus. READ MORE