Part 3 of 3 of my report of the 19th annual ISPA Conference & Expo that took place October 5-8, 2008 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas includes my notes from Keynote Speakers Tony Hsieh, Jeremy Gutsche and Guy Kawasaki; a panel discussion about How to Preserve Quality in a Shifting Economy with Denise Vitiello, Tammy Pahel, Angee Smithee-Senior and Diane Trieste; 30+ Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Hiring and Retaining Top Talent in Today's Turbulent Times from Mel Kleiman and highlights from the expo.
Read Part 3 of the report.
Read Part 2 of the report.
Read Part 1 of the report.

~Julie

I, along with over 1,800 spa professionals and over 150 exhibiters, attended the 19th annual ISPA Conference & Expo October 5-8, 2008 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. This report is divided into three parts. This is Part 2 of 3. It includes my notes from Ram Charan's keynote speech, the presentation of the ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award to Pat and Juanita Corbett of The Hills Health Ranch and Kay Cannon's session on Coaching Secrets for Spa Directors: Keeping Attitudes Positive and Performance Strong During Tough Times. Additional highlights from the expo are also included.
Read Part 2 of the report.
Read Part 1 of the report.

~Julie

I, along with over 1,800 spa professionals and over 150 exhibiters, attended the 19th annual ISPA Conference & Expo October 5-8, 2008 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. It was smaller but more intimate. The quality of the conference and expo remained at the high levels of previous years. This year"s theme "simplicity" was woven throughout the outstanding keynote speeches and valuable educational sessions. ISPA presented awards, discussed the work of the foundation and and presented spa industry statistics. The expo and the relaxation area offered opportunities to talk to exhibiters and sample products and treatments. This report is divided into three parts. This is Part 1 of 3. It includes my notes from J.P. Pawliw-Fry's keynote speech where he explained why knowing emotion comes before thought unlocks everything for a leader. Notes from presentations by Holly Stiel's SILK - Service in Love and Kindness. Creating a Service Environment and Bryan Williams' Seven Principles to Fully Engage Your Customers are also included as well as highlights from the expo. Read the report.

~Julie

When Nancy Trent, president of the NYC-based spa and healthy lifestyle public relations firm, Trent & Company, told me she thought I would find the Learning Annex’s “How to Start Your Own Day Spa” interesting, I decided to attend. I've known Nancy for a long time, and I trust her recommendations. She was right. I found the seminar very interesting and packed with useful information. Spa owners, those thinking about opening a spa, potential investors and an internet marketer joined me in the audience. Nancy introduced the speakers and facilitated the seminar. Panelists included:

• Wendy Bosalavage: President of American Leisure Corporation, innovators in cutting-edge design and operation of spas and wellness centers
• Maria Varriano: owner of MariVar Spa Builders, a leading consulting firm in the development of spa and wellness centers
  
• Tony Galbo: Dirctor of Business at New World Design Builders Inc.
  
• Sergio Mercado: Creative Director at Clodagh Design,
• Denise Vitiello: Director of The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental,
• Lorraine Massey and Candida Molina from The Deva Spa at the Devachan Salon, and
  
• Isabel Anton and Anna Antal: co-owners of Advanced Skin Care Day Spa.

~Julie

Report on the 2009 NY IECSC / IBS Conference & Expo in New York, New York - On Monday April 27, I attended the 2009 IECSC (International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference) and IBS ((International Beauty Show) at the Jacob Javitts Convention Center. The shows were open from the 26th to the 28th. It was the first time I went to the IBS, and I fount the expo huge - over 400 hair (color, extensions, tools, furniture, etc.), nails and makeup suppliers. I must have walked miles up and down the aisles. I also spent an hour or two in the IECSC expo, but most of my time was at the conference. I listened to presentations on: the New York Spa Trail, how spas can survive this economy from Wynne Business, a the New York Spa Alliance (a panel discussion), best practices from the Ritz-Carlton, and Ask the Experts - a panel discussion of spa consultants. They were all excellent. A brief summary of each is in the article.

~Julie

I attended the 18th annual ISPA Conference & Expo November 10-13, 2009 at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada. There were fascinating speakers, 30+ educational sessions, 300+ companies at the expo, a relaxation area to try out treatments and spa industry news. Part 1 of this 3-part report covers the inspirational Keynote Speaker, Dewitt Jones, the Taking the Risk out of Risk Management educational session by Calvin Martin, Linda Bankoski and Toy Hirsch, the Relaxation Area and Expo highlights including Body Bliss, Whiter image, Sea Flora and more.

Report on the 2008 ISPA Conference & Expo - Part 2 of 3

Part 2 of this 3-part report covers Sidney Poitier receiving the Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award, a spiritual view of beauty in The Spirituality of Venus by Thomas Moore, sustainability advances in the spa industry in the Greening Panel, Key U.S. Spa Industry Statistics, great ways to use data in Maximizing Your Spa's Profitability by Jaime Huffman and Expo Highlights including Beau Visage / Astron Clinica, Cosmedicine, Living Earth Crafts and more.

Part 3 and the final segment of this three-part report covers the ISPA Visionary and Dedicated Contributor Award given postumously to Robin Zill; Two Educational Sessions:The Voice of your Customer by Bryan Williams and Building and Maintaining Loyal Relationships by James Kane; and Expo Highlights including Skincando, Ojon, Nordic Naturals and more

What I learned at the 2007 ISPA Conference & Expo about Sustainability and Greening in the Spa Industry - Part 2 by Julie Register

What I learned at the 2007 ISPA Conference & Expo about Sustainability and Greening in the Spa Industry - Part 1 by Julie Register

Read Julie Register's report on the 2007 International Congress of Esthetics and Spa Philadelphia with a demo of Bamboo Massage and photos of the expo.

Read Julie Register's report on the 2007 NY Spa & Resort and Medical Spa Expo and Conference with details of two talks - Secrets of the Savvy Spas...Best Practices of Successful Spas by Angela Cortright and How to Build a Marketing Plan for Your Spa by Wendy Bosalavage & John Gray, as well as see photos of the Expo.

Over 300 attendees were at The Canadian Spa Industry Conference and Trade Show presented by Leading Spas of Canada on April 9-11, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia. There were a lot of activities to choose from at any given time - speakers, demonstrations, entertainment, wellness treatments, silent and live auctions, raffles, networking opportunities and more. While there was a lot going on, the size was intimate and allowed for a lot of opportunities to renew and make new contacts.

Read about Julie Register's experience at the Day Spa Expo and Business Forum in Las Vegas, NV held February 7-9, 2006 - the first event dedicated to day spas, the fastest growing segment in the spa industry. There were very good speakers and interesting roundtable discussions in the Business Forum and over 200 exhibitors in the Expo.

Read about Julie Register's experience at the 2nd annual BISA Conference in Bad Sulza, Germany that took place at the end of November 2005.

Report on the 2005 New York Spa & Resort and Medical Spa Expo and Conference - Julie Reigster attended this event at the Jacob Javits Center on Sunday May 22nd

Record Attendace at 2005 New York Spa & Resort and Medical Spa Expo- Latest trends and industry advancements highlight continuing growth of spa and medical spa business

2005 Leading Spas of Canada Spa Industry Conference & Expo: Post-Conference Report

Report on Cosmoprof North America: The Wellness Summit - In its second year in North America, Cosmoprof brought more than 25,000 domestic and global beauty leaders under one roof at the new Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Cosmoprof North America is a sister show to the legendary Italian event with a 37 year history.