Spa Chakra has closed two of the most expensive spas in New York City — Spa Chakra on Fifth and Guerlain Spa at at The Waldorf=Astoria — and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.   Spa Chakra also operated spas in Chicago, Indianapolis and Marina del Rey, Calif., which has also closed.  A voice mail message at Spa Chakra on Fifth currently states that all Spa Chakra-operated U.S. spa locations have cease operations.  A recording at the Guerlain Spa in the Waldorf said the site Read More...

When I went to The Crossings in Austin a few years ago I was blown away by the location overlooking Texas Hill Country, the fabulous therapists, the reasonable prices, and the $20 million facility itself, built by an idealistic “Dell-ionaire” as a center for personal growth. I was pretty much aghast at the service and food. … Read Full Post Read More...

It was Sallie – colleague and fellow camper – who dragged me into the arts and crafts center my first day at Camp Reveille – Joan Lunden’s spa camp. (Joan hosts her 4 day Reveille retreat for women near the end of August each year.) Trust me, when there are spa activities available, the last thing I wanted to do was sit in a barn-like structure stringing beads or working with clay pots. But I did notice that there were a lot of women participating and they did seem to be having Read More...

Situated at the corner of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevards, the Sofitel LA is at the epicenter of everything that defines Los Angeles including Rodeo Drive, Melrose Avenue, Beverly Hills, and the nightlife of Sunset Boulevard. LeSpa at Sofitel LA pampers you in 5,000 square feet of serene bliss. This… Read More...

Century Plaza Hotel 1966 Architectural Rendering In June 2009, when the threat of demolition still loomed large, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Century Plaza Hotel & Spa (Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel and the Spa at Equinox) in Los Angeles one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic… Read More...

“As Virgos are health-oriented and always looking to better themselves, a trip to the spa may be one of their favorite activities. Spas are a refuge where they can relax, which is important for Virgos, who tend to carry around worry and anxiety when life seems a bit chaotic and out of order. The bounty of nature is in sync with Virgo’s sensibilities, because it is an earth sign and the one associated with the harvest. Therefore, treatments that incorporate natural Read More...

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On Sunday, August 22nd, the new federal gift certificate law went into effect. What does this mean to your medical spa? In essence, the new law sets a 5-year minimum term for most gift certificates sold in the U.S. and it doesn’t shorten any minimum terms required by your State law. Period. The new law is just extending the terms of expiration if they previously were less than 5 years. If your State had a minimum term of more than 5 years, such as MA (7 years), your term will not Read More...

Guest contributor: Shelby Jones, ISPA Public Relations Manager Hiring the right talent can be difficult. It’s like working a jigsaw puzzle – you have to find the piece that fits perfectly with the rest. Some companies enlist the help of recruiters and headhunters to figure it all out, but first you have to know what you’re looking for. Remember Bo Jackson’s famous “Bo Knows” Nike ads? Take a lesson from the multi-talented athlete and seek out employees who know what they’re Read More...

Roll call!  The kids aren’t the only ones going back to class.  The bell has rung and you had better be in your seat because:  It’s time for Spa School.  Where fun will earn you an A and treatments rule. Click here to learn more about #SpaWeekGossip. Grade system: Tweet smart, have fun, learn spa stuff, get an A WIN: Six A+ Students will win a spa uniform! No naughty schoolgirl attire here. PRIZE: A super-soft Sassimi Spa Robe: Double-sided, plush micropoly spa lounger Read More...

Last Thursday I had my first “adult spa camp” experience.  Joan Lunden (of Good Morning America fame) invited my colleague Sallie, COO of SpaFinder, and I to join her and 140 other women at her yearly Camp Reveille in Maine.  I haven’t been to camp since I was 13 or 14, but vaguely remember enjoying the swimming, canoeing, and camp fires (especially eating the s’mores).  I also remember that the bunks were hard, there were bugs, and I had to watch out for poison ivy. When Joan Read More...

When I became an esthetician I started noticing how many chemicals are in the skin care products we use on our face and body.  The lines at spas are generally better than cheap drug store products, but truly natural, organic lines are hard to find.  Even at spas. … Read Full Post Read More...

Yoga is anything but standard, thanks to Standard Yoga classes offered at The Standard hotels in South Beach, FL, and New York City. The program got its start in Florida and has now debuted at the Manhattan outpost of Andre Balazs’s hip brand. There, $20 classes are being held throughout the hotel, including the High Line room, the 18th floor Relax Pool room, and outdoors on the High Line Terrace and Roof Top Terrace, which offers inspiring views of the Hudson River and the trendy Read More...

Uniforms can play a unique role in enhancing the guest experience, and the ones at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, do just that. The resort is enhancing its personalized service with its collection of new staff uniforms. Each department at the resort, including the spa, has a distinct uniform that is inspired by the history and culture of Mexico. The color combinations and embroidered designs pervade a special meaning that reflects and symbolizes staff Read More...

I hate to tell you this, but your advertising sucks. That’s alright. Your competitors advertising sucks too. In the last ten years that I’ve been around medical spas, laser clincs, dermatologist practices and plastic surgery centers, I’ve seen a lot of sucky advertising. In the kingdom of the blinid, the one-eyed man is king. It’s more than just a little appropriate if you apply it to the marketing and advertisng of cosmetic practices. After all, the’re generally Read More...