Distinguished Day Spa Award 2004 Presented during DSA/IMSA Awards & Charity Event

New Jersey 6-2-04 - Tradition lives on … this year's award celebration was held during The Day Spa Association & The International Medical Spa Association's charity event which was part of the official program of the Spa & Resort / Medical Spa Expo, on April 18th at Taboon Restaurant in New York City.

DSA Events Committee Chair, Monique Iacobacchi and her committee members, gathered the crème de la crème of the day spa and medical spa industries to donate products and services to be raffled off as door prizes or being part of the "goodie bag" each guest received. Food and service were superb; the announcement of the winner was anticipated anxiously, especially by the owners and managers of accredited day spas, many of whom were present. Not everyone can be a winner, however they all cheered when the "Distinguished Day Spa Award 2004" was presented to:

Glen Ivy Day Spa at Brea, CA

Ms. Jennifer Breakey, Spa Director flew in that day to accept this award personally. The award consists of a beautiful wooden and marble plaque with the name, award title and year engraved in gold. This esthetically pleasing plaque now adores the reception area of Glen Ivy Day Spa to attest to their high quality of service, their commitment to their clients and to uphold the excellent reputation Day Spas Association members are receiving throughout the industry.

"Glen Ivy Day Spa became a member immediately upon opening of their spa in the fall of 2002. Glen Ivy Hot Springs, their much older sister spa, has been one of the first members of the Day Spa Association going back to 1995", comments Hannelore R. Leavy, Executive Director of The Day Spa Association. "Glen Ivy's management is very much aware of what it means to be an accredited day spa and the honor being selected to receive this distinguished annual award, with Glen Ivy Hot Springs being the recipient of this title in 2002".

In order to be considered for The Distinguished Day Spa Award of the Year day spas have to be accredited by the Day Spa Association as to their adherence to the Associations' guidelines. "When we get ready to choose our Award winner, we invite all accredited spa members to submit a 50-word synopsis why they think they deserve this award presented once a year at a major industry show", explains Leavy. The Day Spa Board of Directors and the DSA Advisory Board then cast their votes judging not only by the spa menu, their quality of service and commitment, but taking into consideration all aspects of operations, with special emphasis on continuing education available to their entire staff, as well as their commitment to create a nurturing atmosphere for their clients as well as spa personnel; their commitment to community, environment, humanity, and the spa industry, influences the decision process.
In order to become an accredited day spa, facilities first have to be a member in good standing of The Day Spa Association. The accreditation application consists of an extensive questionnaire about the spa's business and facility, licenses, training, community commitment and press coverage, other awards, and more. If approved, spas receive a beautiful 4-color glossy "Accredited Membership Certificate" and an especially created decal for their doors or windows attesting to their accreditation. They are also encouraged to carry this accreditation emblem on all their marketing materials, including their letterhead. In addition, The Day Spa Association will issue a press release to their local media informing them of the spa's accredited status, which separates them from other day spas in their area and gives them this special "seal of approval".

Accredited spas are clearly marked in the Day Spa Directory, as well as on
www.dayspaassociation.com, including a separate page where they are listed alphabetically for the world to see; with this page getting the most visitors from the one million hits a month the website receives!
Essences of a Day Spa:
o a clean, safe, calming and nurturing environment
o Private treatment rooms for each client receiving a personal service
o Showering and changing facilities for women and men
o Spa robes and shoes for all sizes
o Business licenses; professional, licensed estheticians and therapists on staff
o Professional spa products for which estheticians and therapists have received training in their use
o Massages: Swedish, Lymph Drainage and Reflexology (Optional: Shiatsu, Polarity, Sports, Deep tissue, and Deep muscle) o Body treatments (one or more on the menu): Body packs and wraps, Exfoliation, Cellulite, Body toning/contouring, Waxing, Homecare program (Optional: Electrical impulse body toning, heat treatments, Ayurveda treatments, Laser hair removal, Electrolysis, Hand & Foot care) o Face: Cleansing facial, Homecare program (Optional: Medical facial, Electrical toning, Laser hair removal, Electrolysis, Cosmetics, Make-up consultation)
o Aromatherapy: Personalized for body and/or face
o One of the following: Hydrotherapy or Steam and Sauna o One of the following: Nutritional Counseling/Weight Management or Private Trainer/Yoga/Meditation or Spa Cuisine
o Optional: Hair - full service salon, Scalp treatments and hair packs or Spa manicure and pedicure

The elite circle of Accredited Day Spas:
o Adam Broderick Salon & Spa, Ridgefield, CT
o Beauty Spa at Englewood, Englewood, NJ
o Bellanina Day Spa & Gift Boutique, Ann Arbor, MI
o Bellissima Day Spa, Escondido, CA
o The Brass Rose Spa & Salon, Blairstown, NJ
o Carapan Urban Spa and Store, New York, NY
o DePasquale, The Spa, Morris Plains, NJ
o Derma Clinic European Day Spa, Westport, CT
o Enhance Face & Body Spa, Hartsdale, NY
o FACE WORKS Day Spa, Richmond, VA
o Fayez Beauty Spa, London, Ont.
o Feline Spa-Salon, New York, NY
o Glen Ivy Day Spa, Brea, CA
o Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa, Corona, CA
o The Light Touch, Louisville, KY
o Mario's International Spa, Aurora, OH
o Preston Wynne Spa, Saratoga, CA
o Renaissance European Day Spa, Fayetteville, NC
o Serenity, The Rejuvenating Day Spa, Overland Park, KS
o Simonson's Salon & Day Spa, Anoka, MN
o Simonson's Salon & Day Spa, Elk River, MN
o Simonson's Salon & Day Spa, Maple Grove, MN
o Simonson's Salon & Day Spa, Plymouth, MN
o Wolf Mountain Day Spa, Grass Valley, CA.

Past recipients of The Distinguished Day Spa Award:
o Adam Broderick Salon & Spa o Atzen Medi-Spa
o Brass Rose Salon & Spa
o DePasquale, The Spa
o Fayez Beauty Spa
o Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa
o Mario's International Spa
o Preston Wynne Spa.

For a copy of the Day Spa Directory and to see why joining The Day Spa Association "has its privileges" call 201-865-2065 or send your request via e-mail to DaySpaAssn@aol.com. You may also sign up online at www.dayspaassociation.com

As in the previous year, this year's award celebration was a fund raising effort on behalf of the Melanoma Research & Weekends of Hope Foundations. The latter, endorsed by Hannelore Leavy in memory of her late husband, enables cancer survivors and their loved ones to spend a weekend at a spa town for networking, learning and spa treatments. The Weekend of Hope that presently benefits from these efforts is organized by the town of Stowe in Vermont with the assistance of the Vermont Cancer Network. Other weekends are planned throughout the country. For more information please see www.weekendsofhope.org. The Melanoma Research Foundation http://www.melanoma.org is of most importance for the spa and medical spa industries, as all of us can really make a difference in saving lives by learning the early signs of detection! A laminated card showing examples of signs of melanoma was included in all souvenir bags.

A heartfelt "Thank you" to the sponsors who were so generous to providing goods and services for our goodie bags and raffle in the amount of $16,393, enabling us to raise $700.00 through raffle sales and collect $760.00 in cash donations.

Sponsors: Action Bag; AuCourant; B. Kamins; C&R Media; Chadsworth and Haig; Cossini Corporation; Dave Kotinsky; Design Spot, DragonFly/Moor Spa; Erbaviva Skin Care; Gents LLC; Golda's Balcony; Golden Ratio Spa/Salon Equipment; H.E.A.T. Kur & Spa Development; Innovative Design and Handy Dandy Contracting; J. Angel Communications; Linda Brewer & Associates; Liz Murray; Man About Town/Magic Tan Manhattan, Inc.; Barbara Mutnick; Nikali, Inc.; Duffy Neuberger; Physician's Choice; Robyn Rabin; Roy Teeluck Salon; Research & Development Inc.; The Retreat at Split Rock; Joanne Rolleckezk; Shira Cosmetics; Spa Hospitality Worldwide; Spilo Worlwide.