Articles by Susie Ellis

Normally I would have no interest in NASCAR racing – however I couldn’t help but get involved this weekend. Peter decided to say “yes” to a crazy idea to become the primary sponsor for a car driven by NASCAR driver Danny O’Quinn, Jr. in the Talladega (Alabama) Race this weekend. He thought it might be […]

Spa Associations and Spa Research from Around the Worldby Susie EllisSpaFinder Insider Here are two resources you will love if you are in the spa world. One is a list of spa associations from around the world. The other is a list of spa research from around the world. Compiling these resource lists was a […]

Pritzker Architectural Prize 2009 goes to Builder of Famous Spa By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider An architect who built a stunning spa just won the Pritzker Prize – the top architectural award for 2009! Sometimes called the “Nobel Prize” for architecture, receiving the Pritzker is considered an amazing accomplishment. How excited I was a few […]

“Sorry. We are fully booked.” It’s surprising to me how often I hear this when I call a spa or stop in at a spa to see about booking a treatment. It happened to me twice today when I was trying to book a massage here in Freeport, Grand Bahama where I spent Easter weekend. […]

Exploring the Spa Industry in Canada By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider Just returned from the Leading Spas of Canada spa conference in Toronto, where I had the privilege of speaking about spa trends of the future. I always enjoy seeing the Canadian spa owners, who are universally friendly and very supportive of both one another […]

On our list of top 10 spa trend predictions for 2009 was “Casinos & Spas: A Good Bet” so I am pleased (and not surprised) that the New York Times had a large feature on this very topic in their Escapes section this weekend! Titled in the paper, “A New View of Atlantic City,” and […]

I am behind on my blogging, with several topics piling up. I think it is the same problem everyone is facing…lots to do, limited time and feeling extra pressure because of the current focus on economic challenges. So I thought I would try something new: A short recap of four topics (that could each be […]

Visited Adlon Day Spa in Berlin. Learned that it is a day spa connected with the historic 5-star Adlon Kempinski Hotel…which was magnificently rebuilt right next to the Brandenburger Tor in the late 90s. The day spa is not part of the Kempinski brand, however, I think that this spa facility, with its 13 porcelain-colored […]

Am in Berlin – my first time at ITB Berlin which is the world’s largest international travel show. The numbers are staggering…11,000 exhibitors from 180 countries and almost 200,000 visitors – most of them trade. Clearly it’s “the” travel show to attend. In addition to the huge trade show spread out in pavilion after pavilion […]

Our time has come. Prevention is “in.” What spas offer is “in.” Wellness is “in.” Part of the reason we have arrived at this place is because people are understanding the importance and cost savings of reducing stress and staying healthy. Another reason is the global economic crisis which has resulted in a government stimulus […]

I remember when my twin sister, Katrine, first got engaged. The guy proposed, promising that a ring would follow. Well, when weeks turned into months and there was one excuse after another and no ring, she sensed he was waffling and decided to call it off. What followed were many tears and a lot of […]

A Massage and Facial at Thai Privilege Spa in New York Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider It was my privilege to be invited to a spa located in the Soho area of Manhattan called Thai Privilege. I noticed it on several “top 10” lists. Since Manhattan has many hundreds of spas, making a top 10 list […]

Global Spa Summit Gaining Momentum…Kempinski President and CEO to Keynote Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider This time of year I spend a great deal of my days working on details for the upcoming Global Spa Summit (GSS). I consider it a privilege to do so – and have to admit I really enjoy it. This year’s […]

“In Tough Times, Spas Stress Stress” was the Headline in NY Times Travel Piece this Weekend Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider My hat goes off to Michelle Higgins who wrote this article. I have noticed over many years of reading her writings that she really understands spas – and she understands people – therefore her articles […]

India Spa Millionaire by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider As you probably know each year SpaFinder announces the top ten spa trends we are seeing for the spa industry in general. In addition, sometimes we take a closer look at one particular country. Last year we looked at Japan, this year it is India. With a […]

Last Sunday Peter and I had a chance to experience the Acqualina Resort and ESPA in Florida near Miami. Their spa manager, Kate Brown, had been voted as a top-10 favorite spa manager in the 2008 SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Awards. One of their therapists, Randy Felstead, had been honored as a top-10 favorite spa therapist. […]

The Unlikely Pairing of Maureen Dowd and Spas (Canyon Ranch Miami in this case)By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider I have been asked by quite a few people what I thought of the recent (and lengthy) New York Times article on the new Canyon Ranch in Miami. Thumbs up or thumbs down? Here goes. I was […]

Bar Scene Spa SceneSusie Ellis, SpaFinder InsiderPeter just reminded me this morning (after having read the blog I posted yesterday about visiting Spa Castle) that Ian Schrager had mentioned this social spa-ing concept in his talk at the Global Spa Summit 2008. Ian did in fact talk about how our industry needed to think more […]

Spa Funhouse Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider You could call it a large Korean spa, a water park, a theme park, a European bathing facility, an Asian sauna circuit, spa Disneyland or (my favorite) a spa funhouse. I am talking about Spa Castle in Queens, New York. It’s nice for a change when Peter talks me […]

As I mentioned in my last blog, I visited the new Sense, a Rosewood Spa at the Carlyle for a spa treatment (90-minutes, $280) last Friday. While I was there to learn more about the brand and this spa in particular, I couldn’t help but notice that the spa appeared to be quite busy. Later […]