Requesting Speakers and Resources
As the leading global professional organization and voice of the spa industry, it our mission to advance the spa industry, promote the value of the spa experience and foster professionalism and growth. One valuable way to achieve this mission and promote unity is by sharing resources. ISPA has worked with a wide variety of organizations and has found these collaborations to be extremely enriching and valuable for the industry.
Request a Speaker or Request to Collaborate with ISPA
Presentation Topics
Topic Notes
- Topics may be customized or packaged together to meet the needs of the contracted party.
- Topics may vary in length from 45 minutes to multiple days, depending on time available and depth of presentation requested.
- Most topics may be tailored for basic, intermediate and advanced education, with the exception of the Supervisory Skill Builders course, which is best presented in the basic format.
- Each topic is based on education and research from ISPA and the ISPA Foundation and was developed by industry professionals.
- Each course may be inclusive of course textbooks and resources for additional fees.
- Question and answer times may be arranged for each presentation.
- PowerPoint presentations may be arranged for each presentation.
Speaker Notes
- The speaker is recognized as a representative of the International SPA Association in all written and verbal correspondence.
- Final speaker selection is at the discretion of ISPA.
- Advance notice of at least six months is requested.
- Travel expenses are the responsibility of the contracted party.
- Speaker fees may apply depending on topic selected, customization and length of time.
ISPA releases figures on the U.S. spa industry each year and the complete North American spa industry every other year. This presentation addresses key points such as industry size, revenue, employment and growth. It also provides a basic profile of the industry. These numbers are more than just interesting facts; these statistics show the relative health of the industry and provide a powerful tool when trying to influence key decision-makers such as the government and financial lenders.
As the spa industry has become engrained into everyday culture, many spa trends have actually extended their stay and moved into full-blown tradition. Compiled through comprehensive research, as well as daily communication with a vast network of more than 3,000 members in 75 countries, ISPA has been forecasting spa industry movements since the early 1990s.
The topics below can be combined and/or customized to meet the goals and objectives of the presentation.
Inside the Consumer Spa Experience
• Discover the consumers’ inauguration into the world of spa and their ensuing response.
• Experience the spa through the eyes of a first-time and veteran spa-goer.
• Obtain a detailed description of the spa-goer’s ideal spa experience.
• Learn the barriers to spa-going for the non-goer.
Demystifying the Spa-goer
• Overview of the spa-going consumer.
• A look into their characteristics, lifestyles, behaviors and values.
• Learn what types of marketing options capture their attention.
Spa Travelers
• Who they are, where they are going, why they go and what they do.
Spa Market Segments
• Discover the growing teen and tween markets and their spa habits.
• Men – what drives them into the spa and what do they expect when they get there?
• Group business – from corporate retreats to family reunions, how spas are tailoring to varied tastes.
This presentation may be geared to focus on all or any of the following topics:
• Professionally resolving everyday workplace challenges
• Improving productivity
• Providing quality customer experiences
• Developing strong leadership traits
• Earning respect, trust and support from the people who work for you
• Understanding supervisory responsibilities
The Spa Management 101 presentations are based on information developed for ISPA’s Supervisory Skill Builders Program. This program includes nine workbooks that may be expanded upon during a presentation. The topics of the books are as follows:
• You as a Supervisor: The key elements of effective supervisory skills and successful management skills
• Conducting Orientation and Training: Develop positive attitudes with a new employee right from the start
• Leadership: Key points of successful leadership in spas
• Handling Problems and Conflict: Defines strategies for prioritizing aggravations and implementing solutions
• Motivation and Team Building: Essentials for effective motivation and team-building to lower turnover rates and absenteeism, while stimulating quality service
• Staffing and Scheduling: Supervisors learn to recruit for maximum performance, forecast labor needs, develop work schedules, arrange staff positions, and much more
• Improving Employee Performance: Essentials for fine-tuning their skills, including setting standards, coaching, and conducting performance reviews
• Improving Communications: Positive interaction and approachability are major elements in all areas of management and customer service
• Time Management: Shows new and experienced supervisors the essentials of effective time management
Financial Reporting in Your Spa: An introduction to profitable spa financial management
Gain an understanding of the Uniform System of Financial Reporting short and long schedules and the benefits of uniform accounting in the preparation and presentation of your financial results.
Other specialized topics include:
• The Most Beneficial Spa Financial Ratios & How to Use Them
• Meeting Your Financial Goals and Getting Results From Your Financial Reporting
• Budgets and Budgetary Controls
Synchronize Your Compensation Systems With Your Business Objectives: An introduction to effective compensation management
Learn how to create a compensation system that supports your spa’s strategies, goals and objectives, as well as realistic and practical examples of how to apply compensation strategies to everyday situations in your spa.
Other specialized topics include:
• Create a profitable compensation plan that provides the right balance of paying for performance and maintaining internal equity
• Evaluate external labor market conditions to determine competitive pay rates
• Pay for performance
• Communicating compensation packages/changes to employees, so they understand the total value of all pay components
Effective retail strategies can improve your client’s experience and lifestyle choices, as well as improve your financial sustainability. Learn the art and science of retail management to improve efficiency and maximize profitability. Create and implement retail categories and classifications and determine the right merchandise mix. Develop sales planning tools, such as forecasting, inventory turnover and merchandise controls.
Other specialized topics include:
• Retail Planning – with focuses on synchronizing retail with spa philosophy, trends and compensation
• Purchasing – with focuses on strategies, vendor selection and partnerships, and private label
• Inventory Management – with focuses on basic retail management including turnover, stock-to-sales ratio and replenishment strategies as well as advanced retail management including inventory management and turnover goals
• Evaluating Financial Performance – with focuses on retail sales percentage of total spa revenue, by merchandise classification and therapist, and per ticket and square foot
• Sales and Service – with focuses on education and training for effective selling and value-added customer service
• Visual Merchandising – with focuses on store planning and floor layout
• Marketing – with focuses on preparing a marketing plan, delivering the message and evaluating the spa’s marketing efforts
This presentation will help you to define risk management and learn the key elements of a successful risk management process. Specialized topics include:
• Staff/Human Resources Liabilities: Learn key employment laws, hiring practices, references and background checks, performance corrections, dismissals and training.
• Guest/General Liability: This presentation takes you through a myriad of topics including guest code of ethics, protecting guests and their information, medical histories, and refusal of services.
• Facility Operations/Property Liabilities: Understand safety protocols and areas of concentration to peel away at this topic layer by layer, to better understand the best way to protect your employees and guests. General sanitation, repairs and maintenance, security systems are three of the key areas covered.
• Treatments & Services: Certain risks are inherent within spas and many of these surround the core of the spa business – treatments and services. Understand the ways to provide the safest possible treatments and experiences for your clients for all service areas.
• Product & Equipment Liability: It’s important to be aware of potential hazards and how to avoid them for the protection of your guests and employees when it comes to the products and equipment your spa is using.
• Emergency Procedures/Incident Handling: Understand incident handling so that you know the best way to respond to an emergency or urgent situation. Includes a close look at the incident investigation process, including what makes a good statement and what doesn't, as well as incident claims reporting.
• Insurance: Understanding the various types of insurance, such as personal, professional and general liability and how to use them to protect yourself, your employees and your guests.
• Document Controls/Information Technology Liabilities: Learn about fraud prevention, electronic data security, paper data security, and e-mail and Internet dangers.
• The Legal Process: Information on legal terms and definitions, reporting, investigations and information that will better prepare you for the U.S. legal process.
ISPA has developed the Spa Professional Career Guide to put aspiring spa professionals ahead of the game in the competitive spa career arena. By offering real-world guidance, the Spa Professional Career Guide acts as a road map for those who want to learn about the daily tasks and expectations associated with a spa career.
Additionally, set to launch in colleges worldwide in fall 2008, ISPA and the ISPA Foundation are creating an introduction to spa course. This presentation on spa as a career will include details on both of these tools as well as tips on hiring a therapist, staff retention, etc., for those on the management side. A separate presentation can be customized for therapists, students and schools on how to gain a job in the spa industry, the realities of working in a spa, expectations, etc.
Sustainability is based on the very same ideals as the timeless values of spa and Salus Per Aquum. Sustainability is not a passing fad; it’s a deliberate lifestyle for those who work in the industry as well as those who visit spas. What better way to engage the spa-goer than to convey the importance of embracing the environment, their environment? This presentation offers examples from ISPA members who are giving back to the earth and in turn spreading a positive message to consumers, which helps to build their bottom line.
With one out of four Americans having visited a spa, chances are if you’ve not been to one yet, you’ve at least thought about going. Maybe the confusion revolving around spa etiquette has been holding you back. Most people learn about spa etiquette from their friends and co-workers, which can lead to a lot of misconceptions. What do I wear? Do I have to be completely naked for a massage? Can I request a female or male therapist?
To take the guesswork out of an experience that is meant to be relaxing, ISPA compiled the “Spa 101.” This interactive and lighthearted presentation is suitable for corporate groups, women’s organizations, students, etc.
We are all working at a crazier pace then ever before, sleeping less and finding it increasingly difficult to spend time with family and friends. The spa lifestyle focuses on slowing down, stepping back and taking a time out to be a better person for your family, employer and friends. This presentation includes tips on relieving stress, recipes to bring the spa experience home and real-life discussion on the importance of recharging your batteries.
This interactive presentation can be further customized as finding balance in the workplace and/or balance for female executives.
SPECIFIC NOTES ON RESERVING AN ISPA SPEAKER
Topic Notes
• Topics may be customized or packaged together to meet the needs of the contracted party.
• Topics may vary in length from 45 minutes to multiple days, depending on time available and depth of presentation requested.
• Most topics may be tailored for basic, intermediate and advanced education, with the exception of the Supervisory Skill Builders course, which is best presented in the basic format.
• Each topic is based on education and research from ISPA and the ISPA Foundation and was developed by industry professionals.
• Each course may be inclusive of course textbooks and resources for additional fees.
• Question and answer times may be arranged for each presentation.
• PowerPoint presentations may be arranged for each presentation.
Speaker Notes
• The speaker is recognized as a representative of the International SPA Association in all written and verbal correspondence.
• Final speaker selection is at the discretion of ISPA.
• Advance notice of at least six months is requested.
• Travel expenses are the responsibility of the contracted party.
• Speaker fees may apply depending on topic selected, customization and length of time.
Please complete the online application to Request a Speaker.
Requesting Resources
With the global growth of the spa industry, ISPA receives numerous requests from around the world that vary widely in nature. Because ISPA values all relationships and potential collaborations, careful consideration is given to each request. This is why ISPA has developed a questionnaire process to evaluate a variety of requests for resources. This process provides an opportunity for fair and equal presentation of information so objective decisions can be made. This process also allows ISPA to customize collaboration arrangements in a manner that is beneficial to both organizations and our community at large.
If the resources you seek exceed the scope of speakers and presentations, please complete Request for Collaboration form.