On the verge of Green Spa Network’s 10th Anniversary Congress, Roberto Arjona, Chief Executive of Rancho La Puerta, and past GSN President, shares his insights on sustainability and spa.
When you think back on your time as President of the Green Spa Network, what were some of the high points?
Your question is making me feel young again, to start with. Being young with a bunch of dreamers, if you will—being in a group of people who truly believe in the spa—getting together with a bunch of believers who truly believe they can be the change in sustainability and responsibility.
During your tenure, what was the primary focus?
We concentrated a lot on sustainability, the products, and what we offered to guests, but there was a very strong part of it that was about social responsibility. The group incorporated practices under the umbrella of sustainability . . . there was a desire to change the world and to be socially responsible. You could feel that in our gatherings.
During your two terms as GSN President, what were your biggest challenges?
Early on, I realized our spa directors had a huge challenge: many lived inside hotel environments—not necessarily focused in what our values are. It was a battle trying to convince corporate that greening and sustainability paid off. I still believe there’s a big challenge in that, and having said that, Green Spa Network’s impact has been in bringing in partners like you, and spa designers into the conversation to build sustainability from the ground up. We’re making headway by sending out spa designers and programmers and consultants who are putting some of these practices into their projects. I think it’s sort of a sideways battle . . . going around, and coming in from the backdoor.
“You have that little angel on your shoulder that is telling you the right thing to do—that is the role of the Green Spa Network . . . “
Is the Green Spa Network’s original message still true today?
I think the message should not change. The reason I say that is because I don’t think we have arrived. I think there are many well-intentioned people like us who have done everything we can to lead the way in our companies, with our teams, and in our designs to do just that—but in reality, there is a large group of green spa believers who have quite a bit of resistance from the higher-ups in corporations, multiple outlet enterprises, so I think, we haven’t been able to make the strongest impact we want to make because of that.
What does the future look like?
We definitely have a long way to go. I look around and see other industries are being forced by consumers to produce a more sustainable product. For example, if I’m thinking about restaurants, I go there and look at their menu, and they are being forced to offer ingredients that are organic, natural, that have low processing—the consumer is pushing them to do that. Spas must continue to move in that direction because at one point, consumers will look at that menu, at the way we’re creating this environment, and will say “That’s not who I am, that’s not what I want,” so I don’t think we have a choice—we have to continue to push in that direction, and that is where we are all going.
Why should people attend Congress?
I continue to believe that the Green Spa Network provides something others don’t—the soul of the spa industry. I think that is the space of the green spa . . . you have that little angel on your shoulder that is telling you the right thing to do—that is the role of the Green Spa Network, and it continues to be true to its value and philosophy.
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.
- Web |
- More Posts(91)