THE READING ROOM
News, insights and views from our team of seasoned Spa Business experts
Making sustainable spa uniforms a priority
The Spa Collaborative teamed up with Fashionizer Spa to conduct a survey on industry attitudes towards spa uniforms and sustainability. Here is what we learnt, and how we can move forward.
How can we make spa uniforms more inclusive?
When you spend at least 40 hours a week doing a physical job in the same outfit, how can we make it more adaptable to suit everyone’s individual needs?
Uplifting Women Series - 1 Handling Inappropriate Behaviour in the Treatment Room
Inappropriate behaviour comes in many forms, a racist comment, a body shaming slur, sexual harassment. The list is not exhaustive, and we need to be clear in calling it what it is. Unacceptable.
Stat.
LEADERS WE LOVE: A Q&A WITH LISA BARDEN
Lisa Barden is the Director of Barden Spa, a Board Director for the Standards Authority in Touch for Cancer Care (SATCC) and the Group Director of Spa and Wellness at Arora Group. Currently pre-opening the inspirational project at Fairmont Windsor Park developing a Spa and Wellness Concept that will marry the traditional spa therapies with meaningful, transformative wellness experiences. Lisa has previously served as Chair of the UK Spa Association and is a true advocate of wellness for all.
As a leader we love, a mentor and a true champion of the spa industry, we spoke with Lisa about her incredible career, the imminent unveiling of the Fairmont project and her hopes or the future of the industry.
A Q&A WITH RACHEL ROSELT, SPA DIRECTOR AT BULGARI LONDON
Rachel Roselt, Spa Director at Bulgari, Knightsbridge London, provides insights into leading a spa through a global pandemic. Thank you Rachel, a leader we love.
‘I hosted weekly Managers Zoom calls followed by Full Team Zoom calls, and also created a weekly newsletter based on our personal lockdown lives and wore my heart on my sleeve with complete transparency. This carried us for the 21 weeks of lockdown and created a strong bond and resilient team to the point that when we reopened on August 15th, it felt like we were never apart, however much we missed the human contact.’
THE SPA TREATMENT MENU: CREATE, EMBRACE, COMMIT
What is your treatment menu?
A definitive and consolidated listing of your spa services.
A guest communication device which should grow anticipation
A training tool to ensure your team have a comprehensive guide to your primary guest communication and your therapists are adequately trained in your offering.
A tool enabling you to introduce your spa services to those out with the spa both digitally and with a hard copy.
This list could continue however before putting too much emphasis on your menu, we need to focus on its fundamental purpose.
KIM: A YEAR AGO TODAY
Looking forward to year ahead, we spoke to Kim Cochrane, Spa Development & Operations Manager at The Spa Collaborative about what she was doing this time last year and what she is excited about for 2021.
What were you focused on professionally this time last year?
Almost to the day, I was sitting down to plan my wants and needs for the year of 2020. Every year I use a vision board to manifest and organize my goals to keep me focused for the year ahead. This was a special one as I was embarking on a new job and moving to a new company.
A CHRISTMAS FAIRY TALE
Once upon a time….
The fairly lights on the Spa approved Christmas tree twinkled and the smell of sweet orange filled the air as festive candles were lit at a furious pace. The spa printer hummed a festive Carole as it chugged out endless Gift Vouchers. Reception was a swirl of wrapping, ribbons, gift boxes, pot pourri and sparkly smiles as the booking system ground to halt and the prep room had a meltdown.
HOW TO MANAGE PACKAGING MADNESS
Drowning in Christmas packaging? We spoke with the Sustainable Spa Association’s Lucy Brialey for tips and information on managing the packaging madness over Christmas.
‘I think it is fair to admit that most of us, after the fun has died down, are exclaiming about the paper or packaging clear up, the food waste and the expense. Could there be a better way? Does a zero waste Christmas exist?
JASMINE: A YEAR AGO TODAY
We asked Jasmine Haynes, Group Concept and Operations Manager at The Spa Collaborative, to reflect on what she was doing this time last year, what she will miss and what she is very glad to say goodbye to.
What were you focused on this time last year?
I was completing in-person audits for W Costa Rica and W Fort Lauderdale which was a fantastic experience, meeting with dynamic and interesting Spa Leaders to unlock the potentials of their spa and future plans in the dreamiest of locations
LAUREN: A YEAR AGO TODAY
Reflection time for us at The Spa Collaborative. We asked CEO Lauren Moloney to look back at this time last year and talk us through the good and the not so good.
What were you focused on this time last year?
This time last year we were working on two proof of concept test sites for one of the spa concepts we were working on. It takes a lot of planning, but it paid off as they were a great success. A nice way to round off the year.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN LEADERSHIP
The ability to monitor our own and other people’s emotions and alter our behaviours and leadership style accordingly is more important than ever.
There is a fine line between managing your emotions and masking them, leadership during this period and for the foreseeable future requires us to be the master of emotional management but also be as transparent and honest as possible.
MASTERING COMMERCIAL INNOVATION IN A SPA BUSINESS
Innovation is a word which is constantly discussed in meeting rooms (zoom offices) in every business, including ours. What is often missing is the conversation that should follow.
How do we give our business the freedom to explore opportunities for true and beneficial innovation?
THE NEW REALITY OF WELLNESS
We all know the world has changed in the past year, we don’t need to revise the reasons why every single one of us has moments, days, weeks of contemplation, existential crisis and fear about what the future may hold.