This week has been filled with events and traveling. The week started with SPADAGARNA, the Swedish Spa association’s yearly event. The location for the event was the beautiful archipelago of Stockholm, at the Yasuragi spa. It is a large spa and conference resort / hotel, with a beautiful view over the sea, over the small islands and the inlet to  Stockholm. Yasuragi is a strongly conceptualized Japanese spa and has a very special ambiance. All the guests, even those who attend conferences (not just SPADAGARNA – any conference) are all dressed in dark blue yukatas (Japanese style bathrobe) and slippers. (see picture) This dress code goes for the whole stay, even in the dinner restaurants!

This year the theme for SPADAGARNA was Sustainability! All seminars and lectures touched this subject. Me and Anna went there on Monday and started with an interesting a seminar about lifestyle and design trends by Stefan Nilsson. Many of the trends were familiar and some were more far out. Just to mention some of them;

Upstairs down stairs – Stefan predicted for more contrasts; What is expensive and exclusive will be even more expensive and on the opposite side, cheap will be cheaper. The contrasts will be larger, and the middle segment will fade away. However people will mix a lot between expensive and cheap, especially in fashion. Cheap pair of jeans together with an expensive designer t-shirt…

He also mentioned a very nice and positive trend; Random act of kindness, which more and more companies use. Surprising giveaways without expecting anything in return, will make people talk…For example the airline company that delivered Christmas gifts on the luggage belt (before the actual luggage arrived), to all passengers, flying the day before Christmas, now this will make people talk! One can wonder; Is this the coming marketing trend?

Anna was also part of a panel discussion about sustainability and the environment aspect in spas. How are Swedish spas doing compared to spas in other countries? Well, we have a lot to do in Sweden, although Swedes are very concerned about the environment, spas are still way behind. Anna suggested a Swedish network that would discuss environmental issues in spas as well as highlight and discuss initiatives that can be done in spas.

The day at Yasuragi was excellent for networking and meeting suppliers. And I was also lucky enough to end my day at Yasuragi with a one hour long “Klangresa”, a meditative session with singing bowls. It was the perfect ending of a productive day, just lying on a yoga mat listening to different healing sounds and vibrations, letting my thoughts drift away…

Unfortunately we missed the glamorous gala dinner in the evening, as we were booked on an early flight to Geneva the day after. But more about our trip to Switzerland in our next blog post…

//Maria

For more information:

www.yasuragi.se

www.svenskaspahotell.se/sv/spadagarna.aspx

January, and a completely new year is finally here. The busiest month of the year at fitness clubs and gyms around the world. Everyone is trying hard to make their new year’s resolutions happening…

For me, just like for most of us, January feels like a new start, but I find it difficult to start all over again with the same things that I’ve been doing the previous year, I need something new and exciting to get me motivated and inspired! So, this year I want to try; Xtend Barre!

Xtend Barre is one of the latest fitness trends to hit the world. This popular workout was developed by a former dancer, Pilates and Fitness trainer; Andrea Rogers. Xtend Barre mixes the discipline of dance with the strength of Pilates in a fast-paced total body workout. Andrea was certified to become a classical Pilates instructor. She believed in the Pilates principles (stabilization, concentration, control, flow, breath and precision) and observed the long-term results in her Pilates clients. In an effort to provide cross training and seek better results for her clients, she began to incorporate dance elements and music into her Pilates sessions in order to offer challenges in coordination, rhythm, and cardiovascular fitness. By raising her Pilates clients to a vertical position, and diversifying their range of motion, Andrea found greater results by offering Xtend Barre than by maintaining a routine of Pilates alone. Most importantly, her clients were gaining energy, enjoying elements of dance, and having fun! The philosophy is simple: Developed from a dance and Pilates background, the Xtend Barre workout combines the results of dance with the principles of strength and safety in Pilates.

The Xtend Barre session is spilt into 3 parts; the first part is inspired by ballet (thankfully you can manage without a ballet background), the second part is focusing on exercises for the gluteus, hamstrings and the quads and are performed by the ballet barre. The last part is performed on the mat and reminds more of a traditional Pilates class.

The Xtend Barre is marketed as a system that sculpts the body proportionally so that all body parts are equally challenged. This total body workout serves to strengthen, lengthen, and stretch the body from top to bottom, from inside out. The end result is a long and lean physique… without added bulk.  The Xtend Barre method is best summarized by a long-time client: “If Pilates sculpts your body, Xtend Barre ™ chisels it.”

This might be my new challenge for 2012, do you have any experience form Xtend Barre? Is it a just a booming trend or something that we will find in most fitness clubs during the coming years?

/MN

www.xtendbarreworkout.com

I love new ideas and innovative concepts that can be implemented into spas. I always get thrilled about meetingpassionate people who have come up with new, creative tools. Recently I had the opportunity to meet the person behind Aquaroll; Mr Thierry Favreau.  Aquaroll is an innovative hydromassage with glass beads. The device can be used for both hands and feet and is the perfect addition to manicure and pedicure treatments. Not only for the health benefits and the visible results, but it is also a great tool for spas to up-sell additional treatments to manicures and pedicures.

The device (seen at the picture) looks almost like a contemporary laundry machine, and I must admit I was a bit skeptical the first time I saw it. Will this really work? Will I enjoy this?

First of all you need a comfortable chair in front of the Aquaroll machine. Once seated in the chair, you just stick your feet into the device. The feet will sink into water and thousands of softly shaped glass beads (30 000 glass pieces and 4 liters of water), already this feels very refreshing.

As the machine gets started you get a lovely hydromassage of the water and the beads, in a perfectly slow pace. It feels like a continuous wave and the pressure from the beads give reflexo-therapy to the feet and the legs.

I was surprised how relaxing it was and at the same time how powerful the massage was. After about 10 minutes I felt an immediate lightness in my legs and feet, almost a numb feeling, but not uncomfortable at all. The feet were soft and the skin was bright and clear. The micro circulation is boosted and it’s efficient draining of heavy legs, and at the same time it exfoliates the skin.

One of my hesitations to this tool was the hygienical aspect, but the company has clear instructions about how to use it safely (and how to clean it) and the turnover time between the treatments should not be more than 5 minutes, but to be realistic I would say 10 minutes.

Aquaroll was launched about a year ago and can be found in spas and thalassotherapy centers, but I would not be surprised to shortly find it in many VIP airport lounges, airport spas or in VIP lounges and day spas located in shopping malls. The perfect and easy solution to achieve Happy feet!

//Maria

For more information www.aquaroll.fr

Recently I had the opportunity to go to Dubai for SPAMEETING, which is an event that takes place three times a year in different locations. SPAMEETING is two days of business meetings, where buyers and suppliers meet. I managed to conduct 24 meetings in 2 days, all of them with people I never met before.  How is it possible? The secret is speed-dating; Each meeting lasts for 20 minutes and everyone tries to make the most of the valuable minutes before the bell rings and you have to move on to the next table. Personally I value face-to-face meetings, especially these days when most things happen on the web. It is amazing how much you can talk about in 20 minutes as long as both parts are well prepared and know what they want to achieve. But of course, to make business happen, the most important is to actually connect again after the event and continue the discussions.

I discovered some very interesting new cosmetic brands. A few of them really share Raison d’Etre’s passion and dedication for 100% natural and organic products. Right now I have the benefit to test and explore some of the products. (I must admit, it is one part of my job that is very enjoyable).  I also had interesting meetings with linen and towel producers, equipment suppliers and innovative new concepts, such as Aquaroll. I will share more about this exciting tool in the next coming days…

The SPAMEETING in Dubai focused on the Middle East area and spa projects where coming from all around the GCC, North Africa and South East Asia. As Raison d’Etre is having several projects in the Middle East region it was very valuable to meet, not only suppliers and distributors in this area, but also meeting Spa Directors working in the area.

I was very happy about the location for the SPAMEETING; Dubai, as I had not been there before. The destination is not new to Raison d’Etre, as we created and opened the spa at Atlantis about 3 years ago. Of course I paid a visit to the beautiful spa at Atlantis and I had the pleasure of meeting staff that was trained by Raison d’Etre for the opening and were still working in the spa!

Dubai is a very unique destination; it is filled with dynamic business centers, skyscrapers, all the shopping you could ever wish for, spas to die for and amazing hotels.  As you probably know the world’s only seven star hotel is located here.

The SPAMEETING event took place in Park Hyatt, next to Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. The resort was beautiful, with lush gardens (must have been one of the greenest spaces in Dubai) and from my terrace I had a view over the yacht club and the impressive Burj Kalifa tower (one of Dubai’s master pieces; 828 meters with 160 stories) in the background.

During the SPAMEETING we had the opportunity to listen to Daniella Russel, from Spa and Wellness solutions in Dubai. Daniella had an interesting speech about the Spa market in Dubai and the changes that has occurred there during the last years. Just a few years ago everything was booming in Dubai, it was all very vibrant and fast growing, spas opened rapidly. Now many spa projects are on hold due to the recession, everyone is more cost conscious, budgets are more restricted and the number of staff in spas are reduced. Daniella also talked about the challenges about staffing in Dubai, only 20% of the population is originally from Dubai, so it is a very international mix among the spa staff, many therapists comes from Asia. So there are many language- and cultural barriers to overcome, and there are challenges with work permits. When it comes to training, the actual product and opening training can take much longer time than in Europe and spas need to estimate for this. When it comes to cosmetic products in the Middle East, spas must be aware of that imported products needs to have a license and be registered for each country. The  registration process can be long, sometimes up to 18 months, so be aware if you plan to launch a new brand in your spa and ensure that all registrations are set. It was interesting to hear Daniella’s reflections as it goes very much hand in hand with our experience from working in many of the countries in the Middle East.

 All in all, it was a great event, some intense, but productive and fun days, with lot’s of inspiration and new business opportunities.

I will end this report with sharing one of the most memorable moments from Dubai –  meeting Lisa in the deep waters…

Having just come home from a great trip from Riaydh, where we are creating two new Day Spas – one for men and one for women – in the center of the city. We are working with Will Bruder + Partner as architects, and there is not often you meet architects who sees every job as a masterpiece and devotes full passion and attention, so stay tuned, I believe that this spa will be somthing extraordinary.

What I wanted to share was some insight from our two focus groups we did and some outcomes.

Saudi Men wants:

– Socializing, spas and clubs are not only for keeping healthy but most important is to have space to socialize. The like to have private spaces and when wanted, to be able to book private rooms.

– not surprisingly, specially designed male treatment and massage was the most wanted treatments

– a bit surprising is that they are very interested in hair treatments (not only hair cuts that is)

– Personal training is very important together with dieatry coaching

Saudi Women wants:

– focus more on the quality of treatment and services such as fitness, only the best will do

– Scent is very important and pleasant scent throughout

– Ambience that relaxes and consideration to lighting, noise, water features to soothe and a subtle, luxurious and tasteful design.

– Again socializing is very important

– in terms of treatments – hair again, eye treatments, signature treatments and all types of fitness training is very important

We have lot’s more of statistics and info, and we really found that focus groups brings the research to another level. Riyadh was great, I visited 15 years ago and it has changed a lot and it is really a city in making. Smiling people, enourmous amount of construction, and vibe of positive energy. It was a pleasant surprise and I look forward to next visit!

//Anna