Association Fast Facts

PURPOSE                

Since 1991, the International SPA Association has been recognized worldwide as the professional organization and voice of the spa industry, representing more than 3,000 health and wellness facilities and providers in 75 countries.

Members encompass the entire arena of the spa experience, from resort/hotel, destination, mineral springs, medical, cruise ship, club and day spas to service providers such as physicians, wellness instructors, nutritionists, massage therapists and product suppliers.

ISPA strives to advance the professionalism of the spa industry by providing invaluable educational and networking opportunities, to promote the value of the spa experience to society, and to be the authoritative voice of the spa industry. 

ISPA’s definition of spa is as follows: Spas are places devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit.

 2006 – 2007 OFFICERS

            
Chairman: Jim Root, General Manager of Spa Operations, Sea Island Resorts

Vice Chairman: Jean Kolb, Director, Kohler Waters Spa/American Club

Secretary/Treasurer: Jeremy McCarthy, Director of Spa Operations and Development, Starwood Hotel and Resorts Worldwide

ISPA FOUNDATION

The ISPA Foundation is the 501(c)3 arm of ISPA and was created in 1998 to serve the educational and research needs of the spa industry.  The objectives of the Foundation are as follows:

• Establish the Foundation as the educational source for the spa industry.
• Establish definitive research validating spa industry-related topics.
• Create an endowment that sustains the Foundation in perpetuity.

PUBLICATION   

       
Pulse, ISPA’s bi-monthly award-winning membership magazine, offers information relevant to the business aspects of the industry. 

WEB SITE  

              
The ISPA Web site, www.experienceispa.com, offers a wealth of information for consumers.  On this site, consumers can select their spa experience by accessing information about the seven types of spas, various services and etiquette, as well as locate a spa from the online Search for a Spa, which includes all ISPA member spas.

EVENTS    

               
ISPA’s annual Conference & Expo explores the latest in spa trends, from technology and products to findings about health and wellness. In 2008, ISPA 's 18th Annual Conference & Expo will be held Nov. 10 – 13 at The Venetian Hotel-Resort-Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., USA.

Each year, ISPA offers a series of regional Knowledge Network & Marketplaces to facilitate the sharing of knowledge among members.  During the gatherings, members meet in small groups to discuss their needs, and share their ideas and solutions.

ISPA’s annual Media Event in New York City garners an incredible amount of media coverage from such top media outlets as: USA Today, NBC, CNN, ABC, Elle, Self, The Wall Street Journal, Town & Country, Time, Travel & Leisure, InStyle, Shape and more.

EDUCATIONAL TOOLS

• Spa Operation Manuals – The comprehensive spa operations manuals that cover all aspects of spa management and can be customized to the needs of each location.
• Uniform System of Financial Reporting for Spas (USFR) - This definitive resource for accounting principals specifically for spas was created through a collaborative effort with: the ISPA Foundation, in partnership with ISPA; author Raymond S. Schmidgall Ph.D., CPA, Professor, Michigan State University; the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association; and Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals. This book provides a recommended standardized financial reporting system that will allow spa professionals to measure, compare and report on the financial health of their business. Though uniform, the flexibility of the system allows both large and small spa operations to use the same reporting system.
• Online Spa Industry Compensation & Benefits Survey (WageWatch.com) - This online resource offers Web-based compensation and benefits survey information, which will allow it to be a benefit for members worldwide. Offering detailed industry and market-specific compensation and benefit reports, it will allow you to determine a competitive salary for employees. This tool enables you to quickly and easily determine if your compensation patterns are competitive within the industry and your specific market. 
• Compensation Workbook – This workbook is a guide to assist in the design and administration of effective compensation programs based on best practices for the spa industry. It includes guidelines and worksheets for the ongoing assessment of the effectiveness and appropriateness of your compensation programs and their links to your business strategy and financial models.
• Supervisory Skill Builders and Certified Spa Supervisor Programs - ISPA and the ISPA Foundation have partnered to create the Supervisory Skill Builders series – supervisory education and certification program – for the spa industry. The program was designed for individuals who are beginning a spa management career or current spa supervisors seeking supervisory level education. Individuals who pass the exam will be designated by ISPA as a Certified Spa Supervisor (CSS). This is a landmark educational program that will arm spa supervisors with the skills needed to succeed.
• Supervisory Skill Builders Workbooks - The ISPA Foundation launched these workbooks in English at the 2003 ISPA Conference & Expo, and this year will see the launch of the Chinese version. The workbooks provide a case study approach to building supervisory skills and includes topics such as: Handling Problems and Conflicts, Improving Employee Performance and Communication, Conducting Orientation & Training, Motivation and Team Building, Leadership, Staffing and Scheduling, and Time Management.
• 2006 Consumer Report – Updated from the 2004 edition, this is a qualitative study of significant consumer trends and how they effect the spa industry. This report describes how consumers’ changing lifestyles are driving current and future spa behavior and identifies significant future consumer trends in the U.S. spa industry. This report provides key information that will help you prepare for the future of your business and better understand your current and potential clients.
• 2006 Spa-goer Study - This study identifies the spa-going consumer and their behaviors such as services obtained and frequency of spa use.  The who, what, when, where, why and how are covered with statistical information on their characteristics, lifestyles, behaviors, values and spa experience
• 2007 Spa Industry Study - An updated version of the 2004 ISPA Spa Industry Study, this quantitative study develops a current profile of the spa industry in North America by addressing essential components such as size, rate of growth, key trends, medical services and retail. This study, which provides vital information for anyone writing a business plan or planning a change in their spa, includes the number of spas in Canada and the U.S., industry revenues, space utilization, employment and spa visits.
• Risk Management for Spas (U.S. & International additions) - ISPA, in cooperation with the ISPA Foundation and the Resort Hotel Association, has developed an e-learning risk management program. By completing this course you will learn how to identify, analyze and transfer risks pertaining to staff, guests, property, treatments, products and equipment and information technology in the spa environment. Information about insurance and the U.S. legal process are included. A certificate of completion is available for individuals who pass the course.
• Spa Professional Career Guide - This guide paints a clear picture of the role of a professional in the spa industry.  It provides valuable insights for spa managers, directors and owners in understanding the roles of spa professionals and how critical each one is to the success of the business.  It includes compensation structures, job descriptions and performance expectations.