The Spa Experience Day 1: A well-attended Media Preview, 20/20, Longevity, and Preventative Botox®!

Just returned from Grand Central Terminal (I learned that it is incorrect to call it Grand Central Station – but not sure why) here in Manhattan where the Spa Experience Event just got underway. It’s a four day event where consumers can sample free spa treatments from a variety of spas all over the world. It took the event team two full days just to set everything up!

It was a good sign that people were lined up behind the ropes waiting for it to open and that it has been crowded ever since. This morning was also the media preview and there were more than 100 media people there. The big news was that 20/20 is doing a Barbara Walters special on longevity next spring and they wanted to film footage of what spas are doing to help with longevity at the Spa Experience! They learned a lot and filmed a lot. It is exciting to know that when people think of longevity these days they are not just thinking medical and doctors but also the spa setting. A major angle for them is the fact that the interest in longevity is not just confined to the aging baby boomer, but that people in their 30’s, 20’s and even younger are already investing in longevity.

Indeed, one of the young 30’ish models who was with us on the photo shoot was telling me that tomorrow she is getting her first BOTOX® shot. When I asked her why (clearly there was not a wrinkle on her face), she said, “prevention.” Well….there is some truth to that. All those years I spent squinting in the sun caused some pretty visible lines on my face. Preventative BOTOX® would have helped. However, I hate to think how much I would have spent on “prevention” twice a year, for 20 years (approximately $24,000!)