Articles by Susie Ellis

Grading our prior year’s predictions.

So let’s take a look at our 5th spa trend prediction for 2010 called “The Hybrid Spa” and see how we did. (Hint, my grade is lower than the first four trends on this one.) Last year at this time we were noticing a movement toward fusing several concepts together.  For many years we had seen […]

Reviewing our spa trend prediction for 2010, “The Online Spa,” I think it is pretty clear that this did in fact happen during an unprecidented year of advancements and adoption of everything virtual.  If anything, I would say there have been some things that became big news in the tech world this year that we didn’t mention.  More on that in a bit. […]

Continuing on with my review of SpaFinder’s 2010 Top 10 Spa Trends (and then evaluating how the trend actually developed), let’s looks at #3: Not “Going to” But “Belonging to” a Spa.  This trend has been huge for 2010 and, in some ways, even exceeded our expectations; there has been a significant effort to create this “belonging” aspect […]

Continuing on with my review of SpaFinder’s 2010 Top 10 Spa Trends (and then evaluating how the trend actually developed), we predicted an increasing popularity of hammams. Admittedly this trend took many people by surprise, in fact, I don’t think anyone really saw this one coming!  (I love it when that happens!)  Our research, however, put this one on our radar.  Having the chance […]

I am busy doing research for our annual SpaFinder Top 10 Spa Trends for 2011 that I will announce this year in November.  As always, I get very excited about what is on the horizon and I think you will agree that there are some interesting developments! However, before we turn to 2011, I thought it might be fun to review each […]

Question:

What do you suggest I do when I have had a bad spa treatment at a spa?”

Disappointing.  Informative.  Those are the two words I would use to describe my experience earlier this week at the Spa and Resort Expo and Conference here in NY City at the Javitz Center.  The show room floor was less than inspiring due to the fact that few spa product or service companies were exhibiting. I […]

Does massage have “real” physical benefits? This is a not only a question that I am asked now and then but one that the New York Times answers with a resounding, yes!

Evidence for Benefits of Spa Massage Does massage have “real” physical benefits?  While those of us in the spa industry would of course say yes (there have been many studies)…how nice when the New York Times said it for us this time! The article that was in last Tuesday’s paper titled “Massage Benefits Are More Than Skin […]

The Global Spa & Medical Tourism Industries – Part II Evolving Models & Ways to Work Together By Susie Ellis, President of SpaFinder Inc. – the world’s largest spa media, marketing and gifting company The history of spas (defined as destinations people visit for renewal of body, mind and spirit) and medical tourism (the practice […]

‘Spas’ and ‘Medical Tourism’ Two Booming Industries With Strikingly Parallel Paths and Issues By Susie Ellis, President of SpaFinder Inc. – the world’s largest spa media, marketing and gifting company Am currently attending the 3rd annual Medical Tourism Conference in LA.  While I will summarize the very latest information  in an upcoming blog, I thought […]

Question:

I’m going on a Carnival Cruise at the end of September. I plan on getting a deep tissue massage on the ship. Does SpaFinder have discounts for cruise spa visits?”

This is one blog I have not looked forward to writing.  It is September 10th – the first anniversary of the day one of my best friends, Debbie Simon, took her own life.  It is still so unbelievable to me.  It was a tremendous loss to her family, the many friends (there were over 1,000 at […]

Learning from a winner in Medical Tourism – Bumrungrad International Hospital, Thailand Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand is the largest hospital in the world treating international patients. Bumrungrad looks like a 5 star hotel and gives people confidence and super service. (my experience also) Bumrungrad takes care of over 400,000 international patients yearly. Over 1 million […]

Attended two different events in Sao Paulo, Brazil last week. 1. The Medical Travel Meeting Brazil – where I spoke on Spas and Wellness Tourism 2. Beauty Fair (and spa conference) which I will tell you about in a future blog. I tweeted somewhat comprehensively from the Medical Travel Meeting for those who want the […]

It was Sallie – colleague and fellow camper – who dragged me into the arts and crafts center my first day at Camp Reveille – Joan Lunden’s spa camp. (Joan hosts her 4 day Reveille retreat for women near the end of August each year.) Trust me, when there are spa activities available, the last […]

Question:

My wife and I enjoyed Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, New Mexico and want to find other spas with clothing optional policies. Would you be able to recommend a spa or two that is similar?”

Last Thursday I had my first “adult spa camp” experience.  Joan Lunden (of Good Morning America fame) invited my colleague Sallie, COO of SpaFinder, and I to join her and 140 other women at her yearly Camp Reveille in Maine.  I haven’t been to camp since I was 13 or 14, but vaguely remember enjoying […]

My husband and I are going to Egypt on holiday. We’re looking for two to three nights of relaxation, spa treatments, meditation, and possibly a round of golf. Do you have any recommendations?”