Empowering Micropreneur Teachers to run their Yoga Businesses
Talking to Wellness people that care, is always fun for me. And even more fun it is to share these insights with you. Today, this is about yoga businesses. I have been in touch with [...]
Response Time: important key performance indicator, affecting guest satisfaction directly
My article Spa Key Performance Indicators: Which Spa KPIs should Spa Managers know? is one of the top 3 most read articles on my website. Let’s add another important KPI today. Response Time affects customer [...]
Don’t be reluctant to hire a Spa Business Consultant
The answer to the question “Why do you need to hire a spa business consultant ?” is very easy, and very short: To save valuable resources. I can hear some of you ask now: how [...]
Dear Hotelier, please do not abandon your Spa!
…or, is it time for a spa star classification system? I am staying at this beautiful 5* luxury hotel. A Grand Hotel. Rich history. Royals have stayed here before. In a historic European Spa Town, [...]
10 year anniversary for the European Health & Spa Award 2019
Last chance to sign up! The European Health & Spa award is an independent and objective evaluation system for Spa & Wellness Businesses in a variety of categories. Many award winners have profited from the award [...]
Every Hotel needs a Spa! Really?
After a short stay at a hotel in Munich last week, the ever contemporary question ‘what is a spa?’ lingers in my head. Every Hotel needs a Spa! Really? Is a Spa any place that [...]
Can we make our Spas more sustainable?
Can we make our Spas more sustainable? I took a drinking cure in famous spa town Carlsbad in Czech Republic. And I promise I will tell you all about it in another article, but today I have a more pressing matter [...]
Co Producer Guest – Spa Services not to the guest, but with the guest
Co Producer Guest - Spa Services not TO the guest, but WITH the guest If we look at the development of marketing, we understand, how the marketing focus has moved away from product (or service) [...]
Spa Mystery Checks – helping the Spa get better at what it does
Spa Mystery Checks - helping the Spa get better at what it does When people ask me what I do for a living and I answer “Spa Mystery Checks” (amongst other duties), I always get [...]
TalkWellness Impressions: attending ISPA Conference & Expo for the first time
TalkWellness Impressions: attending ISPA Conference &Expo for the first time I applied with ISPA conference in January 2018 with a session proposal. After some personal phone conversations and a couple of email exchanges with a [...]
Marketing of Senses in Spas: Audio Branding
Marketing of Senses in Spas: Audio Branding Whale songs, bird’s chirping, panpipes, classical music, you name it…. We have had it all, the various music choices in spas. An important topic though, as we strive [...]
The future of Spa Marketing – how to market your Spa successfully in the future
Here comes another great guest article about the future of spa marketing by former student Tabitha Leibetseder, who has just successfully completed her master's degree in tourism and leisure management. The topic for her master [...]
W³ – World Wellness Weekend, inspiring millions across the globe to a healthier lifestyle
W³ - World Wellness Weekend, inspiring millions across the globe to a healthier lifestyle Have you heard of W³ - World Wellness Weekend? W³ - World Wellness Weekend is in its second edition in September [...]
how a normal girl came to guide on life & consciousness
how a normal girl came to guide on life & consciousness I know, it has been a while since I last published an interview. Yet I feel the wait was well worth it, here is [...]
Spa Blogger Relations – Do’s and Dont’s
Spa Blogger Relations - Do’s and Dont’s Writing articles on my website about companies and their products requires being in contact with marketing departments. Oh boy, what different experiences in spa blogger relations I make! [...]
What is your spa booking pace?
What is your spa booking pace? Do you remember my article The Different Steps in the Spa Sales Process? It is a case study on how to apply best practise to the spa selling process. [...]
What is a “Healing Safari”? TalkWellness spoke with Tanya Pergola, the creator
What is a “Healing Safari”? Talk Wellness spoke with Tanya Pergola – the creator of the Healing Safari – to find out more about what happens on a healing safari in Africa. You may just [...]
The different Steps in the Spa Sales Process. A Case Study
The different Steps in the Spa Sales Process. A Case Study I have recently stayed in St Moritz. In a 5* Hotel within a superior hotel chain, in one of the prime tourist destinations in [...]
European Health & Spa Awards – winner reviews
European Health & Spa Awards - winner reviews The European Health & Spa Award is an annual competition, open to all Europe headquartered companies that operate in the spa wellness facilities and beauty salons, or [...]
Spa Key Performance Indicators: Which Spa KPIs should Spa Managers know?
Spa Key Performance Indicators: Which Spa KPIs should Spa Managers know? What are KPIs? KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator. KPIs basically measure your spa’s performance. They help to evaluate the success of your spa [...]
Financial Wellness – invest in your future
Financial Wellness – invest in your future An article titled “Will Financial Wellness become hot topic in the future” from economist Thierry Malleret on Global Wellness Summit in Kitzbühel monthly barometer has made me thinking. [...]
Ask for help! Global Mentorship Program for Spa, Wellness and Hospitality
Ask for help! Global Mentorship Program for Spa, Wellness and Hospitality Sometimes you are this point in life or career where you realise you need support. This can come from family and friends, if they are familiar [...]
Shankara: how to prosper responsibly. Care for your customer, Sales will follow
Shankara: how to prosper responsibly. Care for your customer, Sales will follow. During the Healing Summit 2017 of which I have reported here, I happened to sit next to Gina Preziosa, Vice President for Sales [...]
Bathing History: Hamam, the Turkish Bath
Bathing History: Hamam, the Turkish Bath Bathing traditions in Tirol developed centuries ago from people seeking refreshment with cold, fresh, clean mountain water during hot summer months. What could be more different than another bathing [...]
Can doing business and doing good go side-by-side? Healing Summit 2017 Take-Away
Can doing business and doing good go side-by-side? Great take aways from the Healing Summit 2017 What a super treat to having been invited to the Healing Summit 2017! After I just had the [...]
Spa Geek Knowledge for Spa Enthusiasts and Professionals
Spa Geek Knowledge Those of you who read my articles once in a while will have noticed my section called “Spa Geek Knowledge”. What is Spa Geek Knowledge? In order to provide you with some [...]
Four Great Take Aways from the GWS 2016
Four Great Take Aways from the GWS 2016 Four days of non-stop program: Attentively listening to industry leaders Discussing topics Making new friends Catching up with old friends Activities, dinners, receptions, speeches… I was knackered [...]
User friendly Spa Website. “Don’t make me think!”
User friendly Spa Website. “Don’t make me think!” A recent -and poor- web experience is the reason for today’s post about the user friendly spa website: I looked up flights between Salzburg and Cologne, two [...]
Experience Authentic Kneipp in Tirol
Experience Authentic Kneipp in Tirol “Everything we need to stay healthy is already given to us by nature” said Sebastian Kneipp. Who was Sebastian Kneipp? German clergymen Sebastian Kneipp (1821 - 1897) came up with [...]
Bathing History II: Spa History at Barbara Baths
Bathing History II: Spa History at Barbara Baths In order to understand our contemporary spa culture, I find it important to dig deep into spa history. Part I of this mini series Bathing History: The [...]
Bathing History in Tirol
Bathing History Tirol Wellness has a long tradition in Tirol Tirol (an Alpine region in Austria) is Wellness Country par excellence, and bathing has a long tradition. We can find first written mentions of ‘bathing’ [...]
Bathing History: the Romans
Bathing History: the Romans Body cleansing and healing rituals have played major roles in various cultures and within religions for hundreds and thousands of years all over the world. Many of these are still [...]
Marketing to Gen Y and Z
…and here is another great guest article by 3 of my students that have something very interesting to say about marketing to generations YZ. Enjoy! Marketing to Generations Y and Z When it comes to marketing, [...]
I say Yes! Ich sage Ja! Je dis Oui! Digo que Si! Nasema Ndiyo!
June 11, 2016 is Global Wellness Day. I say Yes! Why? The 7 Step Manifesto In order to make Wellness a lifestyle, Global Wellness day -represented in 70+ countries and first celebrated in 2012 - [...]
Guerrilla Marketing for Spas – think outside the box
This is a guest article by 3 of my promising students of IUBH on an interesting topic in consumer behaviour, and their thoughts on applying guerrilla marketing techniques to spa marketing. Guerrilla Marketing for Spas – [...]
Interview with Anja
Interview with AnjaI have recently been interviewed by the crazy mind with some thought-provoking questions. […]
Irresistible Places of Power in Tirol
Places of Power in Tyrol Yes, Tyrol is Wellness Country par excellence and what better place to chose as venue for the next Global Wellness Summit! Majestic Mountains. Crystal clear lakes and rivers. The [...]
Spa Guest Loyalty
Spa Guest Loyalty and Value Recruiting new customers is typically a resource-consuming effort for any business, involving a great many – and sometimes costly – marketing activities. It is said that the ratio between recruiting [...]
Spa Marketing: 10 common myths about blogging
Spa Marketing: 10 common myths about blogging In my article 4 reasons why blogging is good for your spa business, I have explained the relationship between Spa & Wellness Businesses and Blogging. Of course, critiques [...]
facilitating health and well being through live music in spas
Rebecca Sabine facilitates health and well being through her live violin music in spas When I heard about Rebecca from Las Vegas, I was stunned. Live music in spas… what a heavenly combination: Violin [...]
4 reasons why blogging is good for your spa business
4 reasons why blogging is good for your spa business Why liaising with bloggers or starting your own blog may not be such a poor idea for your spa & wellness business’ marketing efforts Mixing Marketing [...]
3-Steps to a Successfully Designed Spa Ad
3-Steps to a Successfully Designed Spa Ad Ads are a quick and effective way to showcase your event or business. However, if done improperly they can be a quick way to lose a potential client’s [...]
The Spa Email Newsletter – useful or a nuisance?
The Spa Email Newsletter – useful or a nuisance? I am convinced about using email newsletter for Spa businesses. Really? Absolutely, and I am sharing with you why: Why email marketing? Spa Marketeers are going to [...]
Spa online booking: Is the print spa menu outdated?
Spa Online Booking: Is the print spa menu outdated? When was the last time you went to a restaurant/bar/cafe and you were given a hardcopy food/drinks menu? Maybe not so long ago. For me to [...]
7 Top Personal Wellness Tips by Wellness Professionals
7 Top Personal Wellness Tips by Wellness ProfessionalsI have had the pleasure of interviewing lots of great people from the spa & wellness industry in the past (and hope to continue to do so in [...]
Exceeding spa guest expectation in 2016 – the layer cake model
Exceeding spa guest’s expectations in 2016 – the layer cake model Spa guest become increasingly educated and demanding, expecting more complex services than ever and it will become more and more challenging for spa businesses [...]
Is Health Care the new Spa Trend?
Is Health Care the new Spa Trend? This article stems from a thought I recently had, when I was asked the question “what is health to you”? Sounds like a pretty straight forward question, doesn’t it? [...]
5 solutions to counter biggest cost driver in spa businesses
5 solutions to counter biggest cost driver in spa businesses Kohl & Partner have recently published their Benchmark Report 2014 for Austria in Europe. Their findings include an overview of labour costs (52% of total [...]
Spa Retail Inventory Management
Spa Retail Inventory Management In some spas I know, spa retail inventory management works like this: “Manager, we are out of this product!” reply: “Ok, thanks, I will place an order.” Or even worse, orders [...]
Spa Retail Facts: Everything you need to know to boost retail sales in your spa
Spa Retail Facts: Everything you need to know to boost retail sales in your spa Retail sales can make up to 50 % of treatment revenue without needing additional resources. This revenue stream should not [...]
Why Mystery Guesting a Spa?
Why mystery guesting a spa? A well rounded, experienced, passionate Spa Manager knows her business and best practises, leads and trusts her staff, can identify her guests needs. A well managed spa offers clean and [...]
‘Giving Kahuna Massage is my drug’
‘The jaguar comes out in me when I am in Kahuna world’ tells Victoria Moss I had my first Kahuna massage ever with Victoria Moss, visiting massage therapist at Ulpotha. I had arrived in Sri [...]
Dress for success – how important is appearance of spa staff?
Dress for success – how important is appearance of spa staff? In a previous article “What does tangible evidence do in your spa” I spoke in detail about ‘physical facilities’, also called ‘tangible evidence’. Tangible [...]
Talk Wellness says ‘yes’ to Global Wellness Day
joins 55 Countries Celebrating Global Wellness Day on June 13, 2015Talk Wellness “Says Yes” to Global Wellness Day, a one-day event celebrating health and wellbeing, taking place this June 13th. By offering complimentary articles, reviews, [...]
Share your story: Maria
‘Because of the nature of our job, people let their guard down and share things with you, you wouldn’t believe.’I first met Maria when hiring her as beautician/therapist for a spa pre opening in the [...]
Eat healthy, sleep like a baby and don’t forget to have some fun!
I am soooo very happy about this interview, that I have had the pleasure of having with one of my former (and excellent!) students in spa management. Spiros’ story is inspiring and refreshing, and if I [...]
Proven. Smart. Easy to remember. How to apply the AIDA formula to your Spa Business
Imagine you had a tool that helped you structure your spa marketing strategy! Is it not highly confusing hearing all those different advises: “you have to have social media activities for your Spa” “your Spa [...]
4 crucial steps to customer retention in the spa
4 crucial steps to customer retention in the spa Of course, usually a spa’s core service are spa treatments, respectively facilities, and good spas put a lot of effort into optimising treatment protocols. This is [...]
4 ways of adding value to the spa journey
4 ways of adding value to the spa journey Continuously developing our spa services keeps us ahead of the game. Yet not only developing treatments or spa menus is needed, also additional services that add [...]
3 powerful ingredients for increasing your spa’s hotel guest capture rate
increase guest capture rate a busy hotel does not equal a busy hotel spa and vice versa. hotel occupancy and hotel spa occupancy underlie a variety of factors, and not always necessarily the same. however [...]
What does tangible evidence do in your Spa?
What is tangible evidence and why is it needed in a spa? When talking about the 7P’s in Spa Marketing, we agreed upon ‘Physical Facilities’ being one of the important additional P’s within the Marketing Mix. [...]
Why wait list tracking and turn away tracking are highly important to your spa performance
Are you in the fortunate position of using a sophisticated spa software that does turn away tracking and wait list tracking for you? If not, bad news, as you may have to do this task manually [...]
‘Spas in Dubai become more part of a wellness lifestyle’ says Ghassan, Spa Manager in Dubai
When visting Amara Spa for a spa review, I had the pleasure of meeting the Spa Manager personally. Ghassan was so nice as to take time for sharing his spa career story in an interview: How [...]
7 ideas how to avoid no-shows in your Spa
7 ideas how to avoid no-shows in your spa No-shows. Happen unfortunately all the time and everywhere to all spas more or less frequently. Isn’t it highly annoying when your spa day is fully booked, you [...]
Spa Trend 2015: More time in Spas!
Mandy and Anja from TalkWellness discuss Spa Trends for 2015: We want to see more time in Spas! Anja: Sure, every now and again new so called trends pop up in the Spa & Wellness [...]
‘Whatever we do in our lives deserves love and 100% dedication’ says Stavros, Spa Manager in Greece
We have had a Wellness Talk with Stavros Mavridis, who works as Spa Manager in Greece and faces thrilling challenges:Stavros, can you elaborate on your mission statement “Passion and Evolution is key to success” a little further? or [...]
The Dream Job – a Hotel tester?
The Dream job – a Hotel testerWhenever I am asked about my profession and I answer that amongst other things I test Wellness Hotels, I receive envious comments such as “Wow, that must be great” [...]
‘Culture & society, the more I learn the more I find out about myself’. Sasakomol Chamchoy, Spa Manager in India
What triggers people to leave their home countries and comfort zone by moving abroad for life and work in the Spa industry?TalkWellness has had a chat with Sasakomol Chamchoy, who currently works as Spa Manageress [...]
“I didn’t think twice” Alexander Ivanov, Spa-Manager in Bhutan
Living and Working Abroad – Alexander Ivanov is Spa Manager in BhutanDreaming of not only work in the exiting spa industry but additionally in an exotic country? Read this story to learn how to!Industries such as tourism, [...]
Mind the Gap – How to avoid Gaps in Services
The GAP-Model – How to avoid gaps in Services There are plenty of opportunities in service processes to make mistakes, which will be evaluated in a negative way by the customer. Those opportunities are called “Gaps”. [...]
Cosmetic Analysis – Ingredients carefully examined
How do I really know which ingredients are in my skin care products?Analysing skin care myself? The answer is cosmetic analysis!How can I, as a consumer, actually know what kind of ingredients are in my [...]
The 7 P’s in Spa Marketing
The 7 P’s in Spa Marketing In our first part we spoke about different attributes of services, how difficult the duplication of standards and quality is, as well as how people evaluate quality. Let us [...]
What is Wellness to you?
What is Wellness to you?The concept of wellness, a sense of purpose, and a life that allows you to thrive is different for every individual. Obtaining clear insight into your purpose in life, that feeling [...]
In 2 steps to uncompromising quality in service management – Part 2
In 2 steps to uncompromising quality in service management – Part 2 Step 2: The 10 most important factors to customer satisfaction in wellness services In our first part we spoke about different attributes of [...]
Top Trend in the Spa Industry
Top Trend in the Spa Industry? The Spa industry, like any other industry, needs to keep abreast of trends that are short-lived (a ‘fad’, or ‘craze’) and those that are continually evolving. Mistaking a short-lived [...]
In 2 steps to uncompromising quality in service management – part 1
In 2 steps to uncompomising quality in service management Part 1: The 6 most important attributes of Wellness Services In a shop, where products of the same segment, for example tooth paste, shampoo, and face [...]
Tyrol in Austria is Wellness-Country!
Wellness Österreich – Wellness in Austria according to an international report (Health and Wellness Industry Report 2014 by Horwath HTL), so called ‘destination spas’ (hotels, that have made their spa and wellness offers main focus [...]
Yield Management as a special way of Price Differention
Yield Management means dynamic price and capacity-regulation with the goal of maximising revenues through good balance between occupation of the spa and average price of spa treatments. This technology-based strategy of Price-Volume-Control is very well [...]