Without a doubt, the biggest plus to come out of the pandemic for the spa industry is a renewed sense of community.
In my 30-plus years in the industry, I’ve never witnessed such camaraderie—such a coming together of spa and wellness professionals across all career levels and all kinds of properties.
Nearly 100 volunteer spa leaders from a number of hotel brands, including Accor, Four Seasons, Marriott, and Montage, put their heads together and their competitive spirits aside to work on ISPA’s well-received COVID-19 Reopening Toolkit that debuted in April.
New regional groups were formed: the Colorado Spa & Wellness Association (CSWA)/Rocky Mountain Spa & Wellness Association (ROMOSA), founded by Holleigh Alexander-Ramsey; the Northeast Spa Association, founded by Christine Mathes; the Northern California Spa Professionals Network (NorCal SPA), a collaboration of 30-plus spa professionals; and The Southeast Spa Wellness Association (SESPAA), founded by Alena Stavnjak and Liliana Grajales.
Now, more than ever, the benefits of this kind of networking and collaboration is what will bring us back and move us forward.
“This new type of competitor collaboration is the wave of the future,” says Alison Abbott, Director of Spa and Wellness, The Meritage Resort & Spa, Napa, and co-founder of NorCal SPA. “As we began to collaborate and share our goals, our dreams, and our intentions, we realized how incredibly powerful our unified voice could be in working together towards our long-term goals.”
These groups are dear to my heart. Why? Because one of the highlights of my career was bringing together—for the very first time—the leaders of regional spa groups from across the country at the National Press Club in DC. Now, more than ever, the benefits of this kind of networking and collaboration is what will bring us back and move us forward.
“This year has awakened a whole new awareness of the meaning of community,” shares my dear friend, Bonnie Baker, past president of the Green Spa Network and Managing Partner, The Satteva Group.“With heightened political differences and dependence on technologies for more of our interactions, the potential threats to our personal wellbeing come from more than one source. Community inherently is inclusive; now more than ever the feeling of fellowship is a vital part of our collective immunity, our strength, and potential.”
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Mary Bemis
A pioneering voice in spa and wellness journalism, Mary Bemis has spent four decades chronicling, championing, and helping shape the modern spa industry. As Founder and Editorial Director of Insider’s Guide to Spas, she brings a distinctive editorial perspective informed by a career that has helped define the language and landscape of spa media. Mary launched American Spa magazine in 1997, co-founded Organic Spa, and helped launch Luxury SpaFinder and NewBeauty. Her industry leadership extends to board service with ISPA, NYSPA, and WSPA, the latter two organizations she helped establish. She has also served as Special Advisor to the Balneology Association of North America. Today, she serves as Special Advisor to Global Wellness Day and sits on the board of the International Sauna Aid Foundation. Recognized among Medika Life’s Top 30 Influential Voices Transforming Wellness, Mary is also a recipient of the prestigious ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award, an inaugural Folio Top Women in Media honoree, and an American Spa Wonder Woman of Wellness. Her mission remains as steadfast as ever: to keep spa culture alive and relevant, honor its roots, challenge its shortcomings, and inspire an industry to live up to its promise.
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