California Spa Association Forms

The California Spa Association (CSA) will soon be making its debut in the Golden State. The CSA is an association dedicated to the enhancement of the California spa experience, fostering professional development, and assisting California spa-related professionals and businesses to learn, connect, and succeed.

Since California hosts the world’s ninth-largest economy and is home to the largest number of spas in the U.S., the CSA’s mission is to unite spa professionals across the state and provide resources to spa directors and managers, resource partners, service providers, students and other industry professionals, and businesses interested in the betterment of the California spa experience.

The CSA is currently assembling an experienced Advisory Board of Directors and will be officially launching soon. For details and information, contact Mitch Jucha or Josh Yonushonis at info@californiaspaassociation.com.

Colorescience Pro Launches New Collection

Colorescience Pro is making life easier for clients suffering from acne breakouts with the new Clear Collection. Featuring salicylic acid as the key ingredient, the line consists of Let Me Be Clear Finishing Brush, a brush-on tinted powder that contains salicylic acid and rice starch to improve the look of the complexion and reduce the appearance of blemishes and pores; Let Me be Clear Spot Cover, which helps cover and conceal redness, discoloration, and the appearance of blemishes; and Let Me Be Clear Primer, which addresses texture and tone while correcting and preventing acne. Says Diane Ranger, founder of Colorescience Pro, “The Clear Collection helps reduce the appearance of redness, discoloration, pores, and break-out related skin imperfections, while simultaneously giving skin a freshly made-up look.”

Cast Your Professional’s Choice Awards Vote!

As the industry’s leading business publication, we at American Spa pride ourselves on keeping our fingers on the pulse of the industry. To do so, we need your help! It’s time once again to share your thoughts for our annual Professional’s Choice Awards. Click here to vote for your favorites when it comes to spa, products, equipment, and more. This 20-minute, write-in survey allows you, the top decision makers at day spas, destination spas, medical spas, and resort spas around the world, to name your favorites. The results will be featured in the December issue of the magazine. To thank you for your time, you’ll be entered in a contest to win a $500 American Express Gift Card. Vote now!!

Six Senses Looks to Spa Season

Six Senses goes beyond traditional spa with the upcoming debut of Spa Season. Between October and December, Six Senses Spas in Barcelona, Doha, Jordan, London, Maldives, Oman, Portugal, and Thailand will enhance their destination-influenced treatments, environmentally-friendly skincare products, and easy take-home advice with a collection of specialized one-on-one treatments and lifestyle guidance programs with some of the world’s leading wellness consultants. This limited extension of Six Senses’ philosophy of SLOW LIFE (Sustainable Local Organic Wholesome; Learning Inspiring Fun Experiences) also comes with a variety of special promotional rates, further enticing spa-goers to get into the spirit of the season. For details, visit www.sixsenses.com/Holistic-Calendar.

Green Spa Network Preps for Fall Congress

Rancho La Puerta

The Second Annual Green Spa Network Fall Congress will take place from Nov. 1–5 at the historic Rancho La Puerta (Tecate, Mexico). There, spa professionals will be presented with techniques and resources to cultivate successful and sustainable spas. Among the featured topics will be learning how to successfully transition spas into sustainable spaces, discovering how to facilitate community and global transformations, and educating spa consumers on how to lead a Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS). Says GSN founding member and board chair Michael Stusser, “GSN members will have an exceptional opportunity for personal renewal while participating in shaping the next chapter of our growing Green Spa Network.” For more details and registration information, visit www.greenspanetwork.org.

Online Initiatives Offer Added Exposure

As you may know by now, American Spa has jumped on the social-media bandwagon. We are active on Facebook and Twitter and we’re learning a lot from both. Not only are the sites useful for exchanging information and learning what others in the industry are up to, but they are also great media for free advertising. Properties and product companies are taking advantage of these forums and making it difficult for potential clients to not notice them. Here are a handful of promotions we found today on Twitter—be sure to check them out!

•Solage Calistoga (CA): This Napa hideaway is offering a 30 percent discount for select days August 9-31 when people mention Twitter. Club Solage members are entitled to 40 percent off rates. http://twitter.com/SolageCalistoga

•Kalianas Med Spa (Indialantic, FL): Spa-goers who make an appointment in the month of August receive 25 percent off the HydraMedic Acne Facial, ideal for those suffering from problem skin. http://twitter.com/KalianasMedSpa

•Pueblo Bonito (Mexico): This company, which owns luxury oceanfront resorts in Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan, is offering three free nights. http://twitter.com/PuebloBonito

•Pure Aveda Salon Spa (Mount Dora, FL): Along with free shipping on Aveda orders, customers receive a free sample of Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener. http://twitter.com/PureAveda

Setting up a Facebook page or Twitter account only takes a few minutes. Invest the time in figuring out how to navigate the sites and get a handle on how you can make them work for you—the effort will truly be worth your while.

Are you offering online specials? Have you figured out how to attract a lot of followers or fans online? We’d love to hear about your tactics—email us at spablog@americanspamag.com.

Ada Polla Up For Entrepreneur of the Year

Ada Polla, co-creator of the Swiss antioxidant skincare line Alchimie Forever, an International Spa Association (ISPA) committee member, and a friend of mine, is a finalist for the 2009 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which is awarded by Entrepreneur Magazine and presented by The UPS Store. She is the only beauty and spa industry person nominated, and I invite you join me in offering her some well-deserved support. Click here to read her bio, watch her video, and cast your vote.

TheGiftCardCafe.com Debuts Real-Time Gift Card Sales

Spa-goers—and spas—can get instant gift gratification courtesy of TheGiftCardCafe.com’s new myPOS Service, which allows retailers to instantly integrate the website’s gift cards into their operations from any point of sale. The TheGiftCardCafe.com shopping cart blends in with any spa or hotel website, molding to the company’s distinct look and feel. When a customer purchases a gift card online on the site, myPOS Service sends secure data to the company in real time, allowing retailers to automatically process and input the data into their systems. Customers who receive instant gift certificates can immediately come into the spa, and the gift certificate will be quickly and easily processed. “This is all about finding additional sources of revenue. As we’ve seen, not even the largest retailers are able to avoid economic hardships,” says Gregg Gottschling, co-founder of The GiftCardCafe.com. “With more and more people going online to find gifts, retailers can’t afford to miss out on the opportunity to sell instant gift certificates on their websites.”

Oxygen’s New Reality Show, “Addicted to Beauty,” is Worth a Shot

As editor of American Spa’s bi-monthly Medical Spa Report (and a self-admitted reality TV junkie), I felt it was my duty to stay up past my bedtime last Tuesday to watch the premiere of “Addicted to Beauty.” The show follows the lives of CEO Diane York-Goldman and plastic surgeon Gilbert Lee as they combine forces to launch Changes Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa in La Jolla, CA. Drama ensues almost immediately when the two try to integrate their very different staffs. (Goldman-York brought over her top employees from another medical spa, which she owned with her now ex-husband, while Lee already had his staff members in place.) From front desk liaison Gary’s tearful speech about how he is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act because he has ADD, to office manager Mel’s blatant disdain for everyone on York-Goldman’s team, this show has all the makings of good reality television. I’m already looking forward to next week’s episode, which airs Tuesday at 10 PM (ET/PT) on Oxygen. “Addicted to Beauty” might be just what the doctor prescribed.

Allure Pilates Spa Debuts Private Spa Parties

Allure Pilates Spa (Beverly Hills, CA) is providing privacy-seeking spa-goers with the ultimate escape, courtesy of its new Private Pampering Parties ($100 per person, 3 hours), during which groups of 10 or more can have the entire European-themed spa and fitness facility to themselves as they chat and chill. Among the options available during these exclusive events are group Pilates sessions, mini-facials, massages, and paraffin hand dips that can be enjoyed while guests sip champagne and nibble on hors d’oeuvres. Ideal for bridal showers, bachelorette parties, baby showers, birthdays, and more, the package is available Saturdays after 3 p.m. and Sundays all day. It’s the ultimate VIP treatment, no gatecrashers allowed.