When my brother and I were kids, my mother would always fill our backpacks with new coloring books and reading material before we headed to the airport for cross-country flights. She had just one caveat: We were never allowed to open them until we were on the plane. While I now see it as a shrewd way to keep small children under control for long airborne hours, it’s a tradition I still maintain.

So before visiting family for the holidays late last year, I stopped at the airport newsstand and picked up a few magazines to peruse on the plane. Given that I now work for one, there aren’t many titles I don’t automatically read each month. However, I ended up with one that—oddly enough—I hadn’t checked out before: Spa. As in, the magazine that wellness-minded consumers read to incorporate more elements of your facility into their everyday lives. It seemed like a great way to conduct research into the demographics visiting your spa, and the more I know about the people you’re serving, the better I can serve you.

Spa’s enthusiasm for beauty and wellness was obvious, and the magazine addressed implementing spa fundamentals as wide-ranging as décor or food offerings into readers’ routine. (That’s nothing but flattering.) But my interest was truly piqued when I turned to a section titled “Readers’ Choice: Your Favorite Spas,� which awards the magazine’s Silver Sage prize to a wide range of facilities across numerous categories. At first, I was surprised to see groupings such as “Favorite Green/Eco Spas� populated by honorees such as Canyon Ranch and Rancho La Puerta. It’s not that those facilities aren’t deserving; after all, Canyon Ranch in Miami Beach, Florida, was named Top Resort in our 2010 DAYSPA Top Honors, which similarly recognizes outstanding facilities. But I can think of a dozen day spas across the United States that are much greener before arriving at any resort or destination spas. The same thing happened on subsequent pages—subject areas such as spa cuisine and affordability were filled by the same big names over and over.

I finally got a clue as to the thinking behind these awards when I turned to the page with the “Favorite Day Spas� listing. (Yep, out of 27 categories, this was the only one that explicitly said “day spa.�) The winners included the all-star Glen Ivy Hot Springs in the top spot; as well as the chains Burke Williams, Bliss Spas and Spa Nordstroms (as in the department store). Only in last place did I see a spa that we cover on a semiregular basis New York City’s Oasis Day Spas, which also happened to win our 2010 DAYSPA Diamond Top Honor.

In a magazine that’s devoted to showing its readers how to incorporate the spa lifestyle, only one award honors the types of facilities that are easiest to visit on a day-to-day basis—and Spa certainly isn’t the only publication to do so in this manner. However, something’s off about that to me.

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After treating herself to a mani/pedi at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World, Michelle Larsen of Orlando, Florida, got something a little more valuable than time to herself. She purchased a polish from the Essie Loves Diamonds by Judith Ripka collection from Essie Cosmetics—a limited-edition set of three colors infused with diamond dust—and found the one bottle out of the many distributed worldwide that held an actual diamond. (Ripka is an award-winning jewelry designer.)

The spa service was Larsen’s first mani/pedi after giving birth to twins, and after finding the gem, her thoughts weren’t far from her children. “I will probably put the diamond in a setting for my little girl,” she says. “I was completely surprised and so excited when I saw that there was a diamond in my polish, I couldn’t believe I actually won.”

“The joy and happiness that women feel from getting a mani/pedi is so wonderful, and that is why we created these colors and this chance to win—we wanted to add something even more special for one woman,” says Essie Weingarten, founder and president of Essie Cosmetics. “We are thrilled that such an amazing woman and mother found the diamond, and we are so happy for her.”

The three colors, as seen above, are Queen of Hearts, Put a Ripka Ring on It and Heart My JR Jewels.

Late last year, the massive CityCenter project in Las Vegas opened to the public. Construction began in 2006 on the area located between New York New York Hotel & Casino and the Bellagio near the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The complex includes a number of hotels, casinos and condominiums as well as a 500,000-square-foot entertainment and shopping complex—and a county fire station. It’s the largest private development of its kind in the world, topping out at $8.5 billion.

Undertaking a huge aspect of CityCenter’s development was Noel Asmar of Spa Uniforms, whose duties fit the scale of the project. Asmar and her team provided garments for employees in the areas of housekeeping, spa, fitness, front services, banquet porters, pool cocktails and cabana hosts. The project required 20,000 customized uniforms, all manufactured in less than 90 days—though some were also subject to last-minute changes and details. “We made sure we were available at odd hours and on weekends to ensure that questions were answered and solutions were provided in a timely manner,” Asmar says.

Two years of collaboration with the CityCenter team led to a personalized plan for the complex’s needs. Asmar and her Spa Uniforms team delved into their catalog, utilizing 60 different styles and 15 colors for the full CityCenter wardrobe. Each garment includes an RFID tracking chip so the CityCenter team can locate it—whether it’s in the laundry, alterations or on a staff member.

Spa Uniforms are also found in the complex’s The Spa at ARIA, which is operated by MGM Mirage. It’s that corporation’s largest spa in the world at 60 treatment rooms, and the overall theme in that facility is modern luxury.

“CityCenter selected collections from all of our uniform divisions,” Asmar says. “We are very proud to be a part of such a groundbreaking and creative enterprise.”

One New York spa owner is organizing a nationwide effort to raise money for earthquake victims. Here’s how you can help.

We’ve all seen the devastating images and read the harrowing news reports from the aftermath of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti’s capital earlier this month. Rescue and relief efforts are being organized around the globe. Bruce Schoenberg is determined to make the spa industry a leader in those efforts.

The co-owner of Oasis Day Spas in New York City and Dobbs Ferry, NY, is organizing Healing Arts for Haiti, and he’s asking spa owners from around the United States to join him. “The goal is first and foremost to help the people of Haiti,” Schoenberg says. “It’s also important for our industry to get involved. We’re in the wellness and healing business. It’s our duty to give back.”

Healing Arts for Haiti will be held February 12 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan, where Schoenberg hopes to offer healing services such as massage, manicures, pedicures and makeup application. Every dollar raised will be donated to UNICEF to directly helping rescue and relief efforts in Haiti.

Schoenberg is asking New York-area spas to join his team by donating services at the event, but he’s also urging spas around the country to stage Healing Arts for Haiti events in their communities. “I want to see this in every city, suburb and town, no matter how small,” he says.

Schoenberg is offering to help coordinate charity efforts with spa owners and directors around the country, and will offer guidelines for staging such an event—from securing a public venue to marketing and promotions.

“It’s important for all businesses to give something back,” he says. “The need in Haiti is so great right now, and I fear the worst is yet to come. It makes sense for the wellness community to be a leader in this effort. We get into this business because we care about people. And there’s nothing more important than humanity.”

If you would like to organize a Healing Arts for Haiti event in your area, please email info@healingartsforhaiti.org or contact Bruce Schoenberg of Oasis Day Spa at 212.254.7722, ext. 238.

You can also directly contribute to the following organizations:
The American Red Cross
UNICEF
Doctors Without Borders
Clean Water for Haiti

Dayspamagazine.com will update details of this event as they unfold.

The resort town of Palm Springs, California, is well-known for its luxury and wellness retreats. One of its first such facilities, The Spa at Spa Casino Resort, just kicked off its 50th anniversary year.

When it opened on January 21, 1960, The Spa—which predated the hotel by three years—offered $3 baths and $5 massages. While the facility can trace its roots back to a single bathhouse built on the property in the 1880s, the more elaborate spa seen today cost $3 million to build and incorporates 36 mineral tubs, 34 massage/treatment rooms and two outdoor mineral pools. The original water treatments have evolved to now include various stages, including steaming, sauna and eucalyptus inhalation.

To commemorate The Spa’s golden anniversary, festivities are appropriately retro. The “Sparty,” on January 21, will offer cocktails and finger foods in a ’60s style. Attendees will also have the chance to compete for best ’60s hairstyle or overall look, with prizes for the winners.

Special birthday packages for 2010 include:

• Taking of the Waters ($110), with a 50-minute massage or facial, mini-body polish, private mineral bath and 50th anniversary gift.
• Golden Celebration ($250), with a 50-minute massage, 50-minute facial, private mineral bath, spa lunch and 50th anniversary robe.

Nearly 1,000 years after it was established on the right bank of the Red River, the Vietnamese city of Hanoi is finally receiving its first high-end spa. La Spa du Metropole at the hub’s Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel—which opened in 1901—recently threw open its doors four months after a soft debut. “We waited 108 years before opening a spa. With an incubation that long, we knew we had an obligation to make it worth the wait,� says Kai Speth, general manager of the hotel.

The facility is decorated in a lavish Old-World style, including dark wood and gilded mirrors. It includes seven treatment rooms: two intended for couples’ treatments, two regular rooms, and three with individual themes—the Vietnam, Retro and Thailand suites.

Services incorporate ancient traditions, such as a Middle Eastern hammam, a Finnish sauna and foot reflexology. As is fitting with the hotel’s location in the urban area of Hanoi, some treatments target tension produced by a day of shopping or intense jetlag. Overseeing these efforts is Arie Sunia, an Indonesian spa professional who previously managed the spa at Le Méridien Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Ring in the new decade by adding, subtracting and ultimately
multiplying your opportunities.

When I first met Ryan DeJong a couple of years ago, I thought he may have been lost. He bounded into an International Spa Association Knowledge Network meeting in Pasadena, California, looking more like a spring-break escapee than someone who was about to sit through a day-long business workshop.

But looks can be deceiving. “Hello, my name is Ryan DeJong, and I’m the general manager of Pineapple Day Spa,� he said, as I raised an eyebrow. “We want to completely make over our facility from design to daily operations, and I’m here to make it happen.�

Needless to say, DeJong’s energy was infectious. In a subsequent interview a few months later, he revealed the secret to his management style: “I try to be hands-on with my staff and clients—whether it’s spending time at the front desk, or sweeping and scrubbing the floors.�

This roll-up-the-sleeves approach recently served DeJong well. He and owner Andrea Tompkins triumphantly completed the transformation of their Pine Bush, New York-based country salon into a sophisticated urban spa, earning it Top Design in this year’s DAYSPA Top Honors. Click here to see which facilities received other prestigious honors, such as DAYSPA Diamond. And check out Pineapple’s “Extreme Spa Makeover� video on our home page. While you’re there, click on “Web Exclusive� to see who won Top Website.

You’ll be pleased to know that DAYSPA has added some fresh touches of its own. We’ve revamped our Table of Contents to give you a better look at our online offerings, such as giveaways, polls, blogs and DAYSPA eNewsletters. In addition, a new column called Raves & Faves allows our editors to pick their favorite themed and seasonal products. Plus, “Bright Idea!� showcases a time- or money-saving tip on our website and in each issue.

We’d also like to welcome three new industry experts to our advisory board.
Savvy spa consultant Felicia Brown, LMBT, is the owner of Spalutions! in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Scott Kerschbaumer and Eva Sztupka-Kerschbaumer are the visionary co-owners of ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincare in Pittsburgh. They, along with our other board members, look forward to offering you valued business-building insights this coming year.

Best wishes to everyone for a prosperous 2010.

Rhonda J. Wilson,
Executive Editor, DAYSPA