6th Annual New York Spa Alliance Symposium

We will be naming two outstanding individuals for their roles in the spa industry: (1) A strong, innovative leader with significant contributions to the spa and wellness community (NYSPA Leadership Award) and (2) A dedicated leader who contributed significantly to the development of the New York Spa Alliance (The Mary Award).  Please send nominations to Mary Tabacchi at mht3@cornell.edu  -- If your nominee is selected – you will receive a rebate for the conference which includes next year’s membership.

THEME

The recession has undoubtedly taken a toll on spa revenues.  Should we re-examine our offerings and marketing?  Would guests feel better about spending monies if they were convinced that spas improve health?  Can we make spas a need rather than an indulgence?  Do guests feel guilty about frequenting spas in this time of need?  Some hotel chains are considering wellness packages and tying together spas, fitness and food and beverage to provide a package approach to wellness for hotel guests. 

This year we will examine the very core of spas and health resorts.  Do guests want more health oriented treatments?  Is it best to market toward wellness versus pampering?  Is luxury out of style?  Are we redefining luxury?  Can spas help guests improve their health risks?  What treatments genuinely improve health and what is superficial or suspect?  Are health and sustainability selling points? 

We will see the latest data regarding spa revenues and performance.  What kind of midcourse corrections do we need? 

Come, share and contribute to our conversations.

AGENDA FOR THE CONFERENCE

Sunday 9 May

7:00- 9:00 pm             Opening Reception

Monday 10 May  

7:00-7:45am    Breakfast

7:45am-7:55    Welcome to The Debate: Wellness and the Bottom Line

                        Alon Ben-Gurion, GM, The Hilton at Rye Town

                        Gary Dower, Chairman of NYSPA, Founder, Mirbeau Inn and Spa

Mia Kyricos, Vice Chairman of NYSPA, Director, Global Spa Development & Programming, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

7:55-8:45        Why Wellness Resorts Thrive - KEY NOTE

Deborah Szekely, Founder Rancho La Puerta and The Golden Door, Industry Pioneer and Founder of the Modern Spa Movement

8:45-9:25        Health of the Hospitality Industry: Where New York State Stands

                        Anne R. Lloyd-Jones, CRE, Managing Director, HVS, New York       

9:25-10:00      What Hotels Want (From Spas)

                        Mark Keiser, Vice President, Managed Development

                        Starwood Hotels – Real Estate Group          

10:00-10:15    Break 

10:15-11:05    Healthy Success in a Down Economy

                        John Gray, Founder, Glen Ivy Hot Spring Spa, Corona, CA

Steve Kass, Founder and CEO, American Leisure, New York

                        Bruce Schoenberg, Owner, Oasis Day Spa, New York

                        Denise Vitiello, Spa Director, Mandarin Oriental, New York

11:10-11:50    Building Guest Loyalty in Challenging Times

                        Tanuj Puri, Financial Analyst, Red Door Spas

                        Teresa McKee, COO Red Door Spas             

11:50-12:25      What Memberships Mean to a Successful Spa Resort

                        Chris Pulito, General Manager, Mirbeau Inn and Spa, NY

12:25-1:40      Lunch

 1:40-2:30       Why Wellness Pays -- KEYNOTE

Dr. Mark Liponis, MD, Corporate Medical Director, Canyon Ranch, Author, Ultra-Prevention and Ultra-Longevity

  2:30-3:20      The Message of Health and Wellness in Spas

                        Jim Cox, Founder, The Jim Cox Company, New York

                        Mary Gendron, President, Middleton & Gendron, New York

Nina Smiley, Director of Marketing, Owner, Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY

                        Molly Southern, SpaBooker, New York

3:20-3:35        Break

3:35-4:25        Living Life to its Fullest

Dr. Dale Atkins, PhD, (“Dr.Dale”) Noted Psychologist, Author, Speaker, Television Personality, New York

4:25-5:10          Using all Senses in the Wellness Mindset

                         Yael Alkalay, Owner Red Flower, New York

                        Judith Jackson, Founder, Judith Jackson’s Alchemy, New York

Liz Verbruggen, President of USA Operations, Aromatherapy Associates

                        Ellie Whalen, Owner, Sprayology

5:10-5:50        The New York Spa Alliance (NYSPA) and NYSPA Business Meeting

                      Gary Dower, Chairman NYSPA, Founder, Mirbeau Inn and Spa, Skaneateles NY

                      Mia Kyricos, Vice Chairman NYSPA, Director Spa Brands & Programming, Starwood Hotels and Resorts World Wide, White Plains, NY  

6:30-7:15        Wine Reception

7:15-9:45        Dinner

Tuesday

7:00-7:40        Breakfast

7:40-8:35        Healthcare Reform: What Might this Mean to Spas

                        Susie Ellis, President, Spa Finder, New York

Dr. Mark Liponis, Corporate Medical Director, Canyon Ranch

                        Deborah Szekely, Founder Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door

                        Dr. Belisa Vranich, PhD, Author, “Get a Grip”, TV Personality, New York

8:35-9:05        Inspiration for Wellness with Technology

                        Cornelia Zicu, Creative Director, Red Door Spas, New York

9:05-9:45        Technology, Research and Politics in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Michael Jabbour, Founding Director of New York State Acupuncture Coalition, President of the Acupuncture Society of New York and Director of the American Association for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.         

9:45-10:00      Coffee and Tea Break

10:00-10:35    What Spa Data Show and What Managers Should Do About It

                        John Fox, Senior VP, PKF New York 

10:35-11:20    Building New York Spas from the Ground Up

                        Kristen Haines, Owner, Euphoria Spa, New York, New York

                        Rachel Hogancamp. Owner, Rasa Spa, Ithaca, New York

                        Leslie Leonard, GM, August Moon Spa, Ithaca, New York

                        Elizabeth Winograd, Owner, Copperhood Spa, Shandaken, NY

11:20-11:50    The Spa STAR Report

                        Jan Freitag, VP Smith Travel Research:  

11:50-12:30    The New Sustainability: Spas Working with Local and Regional Communities in New York

                        Kristen Haines, Owner Euphoria Spa, New York

                        Kristiana Tchir, City Chicks for Charity, Spa Magazine, New York

Scott Wiggins, Owner, August Moon Spa, Ithaca, New York

12:30-1:45      Lunch

1:45-2:20        In Defense of Pampering

Jeremy McCarthy Director Global Spa Development & Operations, Starwood Hotels and Resorts World Wide

2:20- 2:50       Look Forward: Spa Potential within Mixed Use Development

                        Nikita Sarkar, Transaction Advisory Services – Transaction Real Estate

                        Ernst and Young, New York and Dubai 

2:50-3:45        What the Future Holds for Spas in Wellness and Sustainability

                        Susie Ellis, President Spa Finder

                        Jim Cox, Founder, The Jim Cox Company

Neil Jacobs, President, Hotel Group, Starwood Capital

                        Steve Kass, Founder, American Leisure

                        Denise Vitiello, Spa Director, Mandarin Oriental, NYC