Swedish Spa Association explored the NY & US Fitness/Spa & Wellness Market
Union City, NJ – December 2012: HRLeavy LLC, a boutique PR-Marketing Firm headed by the former Day Spa and International Medical Spa Association’s Founder and President, Hannelore Leavy and Spa Designs, Monique Iacobacci have successfully completed to host the Swedish Hotel Spa Association in New York City.
29 members of this trade group consisting of Hotel/Resort Property owners, Spa Directors, Spa Consultants, Architects and Engineers http://www.svenskaspahotell.se/en.aspx in Sweden and Norway emerged onto the Big Apple from November 10th -13th! The fact finding mission was a huge success, although a bit hectic since getting around Manhattan after Superstorm Sandy was quite challenging.
“When I first contacted Hannelore Leavy and Monique Iacobacci I had a clear vision of how the spa inspirations trip to NYC was going to be executed, they made it happen! With dedication, great knowledge and a broad personal network they delivered a program over my expectations. We had guided visits at many different Hotel Spas & Fitness facilities, great lecturers and meetings with top industry leaders, treatments and lunches. I can highly recommend working with Hannelore and Monique”, states Ewa Goos | Director of Spa Control & Development, Nordic Hotels & Resorts.
Considering that the group only had 3 days and many of them just coming from overseas for these few days, we were able to balance their itinerary in such a way, that they can also enjoy their mission. Previous professional tours of this trade group were to Dubai and Istanbul, both close to their own time zone and a much shorter distance than across the Atlantic.
The event was kicked off on Saturday evening with a cocktail reception followed by dinner at The View on the 48th Floor of the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, where the members received a their detailed itinerary together with a copy of Spa Management Journal, Day Spa and American Spa Magazines, as well as a complimentary copy of Linda Troeller’s Book Spa Journeys, which Linda graciously brought to the event herself, eager to meet the participants.
On Sunday morning 3 groups had tours and spa treatments at Mandarin Oriental, La Prairie and Yelo Spa in the uptown region followed by an afternoon at the Red Door on Fifth Avenue. Spa directors and owners were gracious hosts to the group. Quote from Hannelore Leavy: “We were especially pleased to meet old friends (Ms. Fini, the head esthetician at Mandarin Oriental who I first met 15 years ago, and George Lopez Regional Manager of the Red Door Spas, who arranged a similar event with me at Canyon Ranch Spa Club when it opened in Las Vegas in 1999), and make new ones, which I hope to continue to converse with”.
Monday the emphasis was on fitness starting with a tour of Gravity Fitness and Spa, followed by a private workout featuring the famed Core Fusion Technique at Exhale Fitness and Spa. After lunch at Le Pain Quotidien, we were guests of Bruce Schoenberg, who shared his experience as a pioneer in the day spa industry, exploring avenues such as airports and independent boutique hotel fitness centers & spas. The group found rejuvenation and enjoyed an afternoon of industry insight/inspiration at a reception held at a reception at SpaFinder Wellness’ headquarters on Park Avenue South, being the first to hear the anxious awaiting 2013 spa trends of Susie Ellis, President with an introduction to Gramercy One/ SpaBooker. Note from Organizers: The SSA is already in negotiations with SpaFinder Wellness to add all of their members to SpaFinders’ network and many of the participants are considering using GrameryOne as their spa software and booking application.
The last day, Tuesday we dared to ventured downtown and were guests of American Leisure at Setai Wall Street Spa and Fitness. Tom Johnston of American Leisure and Sal Pellegrino of Star Trac explored the Fitness trends for the future, followed by a catered lunch. We are very grateful to American Leisure and Setai who especially opened for us after extensive cleanup from the flooding in the Wall Street area. The group was pampered at Setai Spa, Aire Ancient Bath and Trump Spa (Soho).
The finale was a fun evening at Pretty City’s New York event www.facebook.com/prettycity, where, especially the ladies of the group, had a blast while exploring all kinds of new beauty gadgets and applications!
