Archive for Tag: spa consulting
Our spa management company is keeping an eye on 2019 wellness trends

March 6, 2019 | no comments | ISM News | by: Christina Stratton

Our spa management company is keeping an eye on 2019 wellness trends

As leaders in the field of spa consulting, the team here at ISM Spa makes a point of keeping up with the latest trends – not only in spa management but also in wellness and other related areas.

If you’re interested in spa management – whether day spa management or hotel spa management – you should, of course, already be aware of the ever-increasing importance of wellness. The majority of clients are as interested in strategies for wellness in their day-to-day lives as they are in wellness treatments at the spa.

At ISM Spa, our unique understanding of the spa industry and its clientele has allowed us to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to developments in wellness – both inside and outside of the spa.

A little earlier this year, we saw a report from a Forbes contributor on Wellness Trends You Have To Try In 2019, which was geared to consumers..

Our top picks from their list include:

  • Unplugging. Dr. Alka Gupta, co-director of the Integrative Health and Wellbeing program at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, told the reporter, “We are seeing a variety of apps and tools that help us monitor our use of social media. Sometimes consuming social media is important and can be helpful, but we often access this information mindlessly. I think we will continue to become more aware of the way we consume content, allowing us to unplug and avoid digital distractions that are not helpful.”
  • Finding big meaning in small rituals. “This year, we’ll all be shifting into a practice of curating moments that make us pause, appreciate and realize we deserve beautiful moments whenever and wherever we can get them,” Ashli Stockton, founder and chief executive of Sunday Forever, said.
  • Getting back to simple. “People are longing for permission to simplify, unplug and connect in meaningful ways,”  Dr. Lisa B. Nelson, director of medical education at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, says.

 

ISM Spa, a boutique spa management company based in Asheville, has designed advanced wellness experiences that are redefining the spa industry. If you want to be ahead of the next trend, one of our spa consultants would be happy to speak with you.

Success Starts Behind the Scenes – Raising the curtain on the pre-opening aspects of spa management

April 15, 2018 | no comments | ISM News | by: Christina Stratton

On opening night at the theater, you can sense the excitement. Sure, the audience is buzzing with anticipation, but the scene backstage is even more highly charged.  Each actor is dealing the opening night jitters in his or her own way.  Some pace, lips moving as they softly run through their lines again – and again.  Others seek a quiet corner – or create one with the use of headphones – and concentrate on breathing deeply and evenly. The stage hands are checking to make sure every prop is in its proper place as sound and lighting technicians work through checklists and final preparations.

The energy is hard to describe – the pressure is intense as dreams are on the verge of coming true. But the minute the lights come up on stage, it all comes together and the audience will be swept up in the story.  That’s the magic of theater.

There’s no magic involved in successful day spa management. And there are no dress rehearsals.  But, just like the world of the theater, the hard work begins long before the first customer walks through the spa door.

As one of the nation’s leading spa management companies, ISM SPA has the expertise and the vision needed to ‘direct’ the critical pre-opening process, from drafting job descriptions and hiring to writing policies and developing reporting procedures. 

Without a script to follow, the actors on a stage would walk into each other and onto each other’s lines.  And, when it comes to hotel spa management, a good plan will function like a script – directing the timing of each component of the process and ensuring all the pieces come together seamlessly.

Drawing on their years of experience, ISM SPA consultants have developed a ‘script’ that provides the structure needed to ensure the pre-opening process runs smoothly.  With our Strategic Timeline in place, your opening will be sure to get rave reviews.

Our experience with writing job descriptions and delineating duties ensures that there is no confusion about roles when the spa opens.  We’ll work with you to develop a staffing plan that makes sense and then we will recruit, hire and train an outstanding staff.  And we can write the policies, procedures and protocols that your staff members will need to follow in order to successfully bring your vision to life.

Our mission is to provide operational excellence and optimal experiences. That applies to every aspect of spa management – from the day-to-day operations of some of the country’s top spas to the lesser-known elements of the pre-opening process. 

Before a director is given the opportunity to bring a script to life on the stage, he or she will most likely have spent years working in and around the theater. Some develop experience and insight as actors, others will earn their strips by working as assistants to more knowledgeable theater professionals.

There aren’t a lot of ways to gain the knowledge and expertise needed to successfully manage the opening of a spa. That means, you won’t find many people with the skills needed to guide your project to the fabulous conclusion you are dreaming of.

Fortunately, ISM SPA management company has the depth of experience needed to transform your project from a great idea to a beautifully run and truly successful spa. Our knowledge encompasses all areas of the pre-opening process – and all facets of day spa management! Whether you need help training new employees, establishing standard operating procedures for sanitation or developing a marketing and advertising campaign to launch your new enterprise, we can help.

And, once your spa is open for business, ISM SPA can provide a full array spa consulting services to ensure your ongoing success.

The Times – They Are a Changin’ – Key trends in spa management for 2018

April 10, 2018 | no comments | ISM News | by: Christina Stratton

“A visit to some of today’s leading resort, destination and day spas demonstrates that the cookie-cutter, marble-laden pleasure palaces of the past are all but obsolete, as varying themes connected to mind-body health, cultural and environmental consciousness, and a more socially oriented public take center stage.”  So begins an article in Day Spa Magazine that predicts some of the trends and changes on tap for 2018.

As a leader in day spa management and hotel spa management, ISM SPA management company keeps a finger on the pulse of the industry. We don’t just monitor trends – we set them.

Today’s spa treatments are regarded as just one portion of the overall wellness experience; nowhere is that more evident than in ingeniously built, health-oriented resorts.  “The closer it is to its natural state—the more beautiful and healing it becomes,” spa architect Veronica Schreibeis Smith, CEO and founding principal of Vera Iconica Architecture in Jackson, Wyoming told the magazine. “This includes our built environment, and destination spas and resorts are beginning to catch on.”

While others are “catching on,” ISM SPA consultants already have experience in developing unique programming that embodies a spa’s brand attributes while maintaining a connection to the indigenous characteristics of the property’s location. And ISM SPA management company’s service execution is unmatched in the industry.

The ISM SPA approach to programming goes beyond the traditional definition of spa. Working with talented spa architects, the renowned spa management company designs a holistic environment that enhances the wellness experience is unexpected ways. By manipulating the physical and the energetic experience to achieve a desired result, ISM SPA consulting takes programming – and spa management – to a new level.  Guests who visit spas managed by ISM SPA often say they had “the best treatment of their life” or that they have been “forever transformed.”

The experts at Day Spa Magazine point out that spa technology has come a long way, and designers are taking full advantage of the opportunity to harness innovation and inject healing experiences into every aspect of a guest’s spa journey. From sound therapy chairs to sleep pods, there are a multitude of ways to outfit a space for optimal wellness.

When it comes to day spa management, the industry trendsetters at ISM SPA consulting see spa as simply one aspect of wellness. The spa management company adds to the value of its clients’ properties by operating a spa that maximizes revenues and profits while helping build a positive reputation as a service-centered destination leading to repeat visits, increased occupancy and an overall positive brand image.

Now more than ever, a facility must reflect not only societal trends, but its actual place in the world, i.e., its location, the article continues. And when it comes to a wellness destination, that starts with the building itself, Schreibeis Smith said. “Architecture built of local, natural materials mixed with the architect’s ingenuity and respect for the surrounding culture and traditions has the power to heal us, as well as envelop us in new and delightful experiences,” she explains. “The buildings seem to grow out of the landscape and become an inherent part of what allows us to enjoy the natural environment. The experience is complete when combined with local healing traditions, foods and practices that immerse us and ground us in the present moment.”

At ISM SPA management company, it’s our job and our responsibility to keep up with trends such as these.  ISM SPA provides comprehensive spa design services, from expert architectural design by leading spa architects to color selection, lighting design and custom cabinetry design. Our spa consulting expertise also extends to the design of retail space, merchandising and storage.  As your spa consultants, we have spa architect expertise and more that ensures our clients will be on the cutting-edge of trends in the industry.

Schedule a consultation with our spa consulting team today to see how you can take advantage of the latest trends as you seek to satisfy your customers and clients.

The Importance of Branding for Spa Management

April 5, 2018 | no comments | ISM News | by: Christina Stratton

As an internationally respected spa management company, ISM SPA has vast expertise in branding.

Each unique property undergoes intense evaluation to assess current branding techniques and future branding potential. As part of each hotel spa management or day spa management project, we create a unique brand concept that provides a competitive edge. Then we ardently incorporate the spa brand into every facet of the guest experience. From product and service creation to subliminal design enhancements, ISM SPA supports the brand promotion and development for our clients.

Just why is branding so important?

In a recent article, the experts at Strategy Marketing and Technology Solutions offered 10 compelling reasons:

  1. Branding promotes recognition – If your brand is consistent and easy to recognize, it can help people feel more at ease in purchasing your services or products.
  2. Standing apart from your competition – You must stand apart from your competition in the global economy.
  3. Your brand tells people your story – Your full brand experience, from visual elements to how you answer your phones, tells people who you are.
  4. Your brand motivates your staff – It tells them how to act, how to meet your goals, and how to win.
  5. Your brand generates referrals – When people like your brand, they’ll become walking advocates for your business and tell people what they like about you.
  6. Your brand helps customers know what to expect – They will be at ease knowing what to expect whenever they interact with you.
  7. Your brand represents your promise to your customer – You are your brand. Your staff is your brand.  Your marketing materials are your brand.
  8. Your brand helps you create clarity – a strong brand helps you stay focused on what is most important – your mission
  9. Your brand forms an emotional connection with your customers – Purchasing is an emotional experience and having a strong brand helps people feel good at an emotional level when they engage with the company.
  10. Your brand provides business value – A strong brand provides value to your organization far beyond your physical value.

“Your brand needs to permeate your entire organization,” the article states. “When your organization is clear on the brand and can deliver on the promise of the brand, you will see tremendous fruit while building brand loyalty among your customer base.”

When you utilize ISM SPA as your spa consultants, you will gain access to our extensive knowledge of branding and its importance. Our comprehensive approach to spa management covers:

  • Philosophy, Identity, Mission Statement, Vision, Theme, Concept, Positioning Statement – We will go back to square one to ensure that you are clearly focused on what you want your brand to be.
  • Spa Name, Logo, Signage, Uniform, Brand Identity – We will work with you to develop the ways in which you show up to your potential customers.
  • Menu of Services – We’ll help you develop the right mix of services that best represent your spa.
  • Treatment Protocols – We’ll help you ensure that your treatments meet the highest standards and are consistent in their delivery.
  • Products, Equipment – We will work with you to guarantee that only the finest products and equipment are used in your spa.
  • Custom Spa Treatments – We will help you to develop services that are unique to your location and your brand.

In short, ISM SPA Management Company offers the most comprehensive spa consulting services in the industry.  We encourage you to contact us to learn how we can help you with your branding an all other aspects of your business with our spa consulting services.