The Spa Way of Life
Is it ever possible to please all the
people all the time?
Maybe not, but if any business comes close, it is probably the
spa industry, which specializes in making people feel happy, healthy and,
perhaps above all, hopeful that life after their spa experience will be better.
A recent article in the Los
Angeles Times pointed out the extent that today’s spas are willing
to go to woo, soothe, educate, stimulate and entertain guests, noting that
leading spas offer help on everything from chakra balancing to art therapy,
spirituality to sexuality. “Nothing is off-limits, as spas have become our
gurus on mountaintops, places to go for relaxation, pampering and now
enlightenment” (“Illuminate, Exfoliate,” Valli Herman, February 24, 2008).
Fitness has always had a place on the spa menu, as an effective
strategy against stress, aging, excess weight and other demons that spa-goers
hope to exorcise. But fitness is not the star player: according to the 2007
Industry Report of the International Spa Association (ISPA), 93% of spa revenue
in North America comes from body and skin care treatments and retail products.
What’s more, 80% of spas are day spas, which focus on daily-use services and
have limited space for fitness programs.
However, fitness still has a strong presence, particularly in
destination, resort, hotel and club spas. Thirteen percent of spas offer
fitness or sports programs, according to the 2007 ISPA survey. Most frequently
offered services are personal training (67%), cardio (59%), free weights (59%)
and Pilates (53%). Almost 20% offer mind-body-spirit programs (most frequently
offered: meditation, yoga, relaxation and tai chi). And over one-third of spas
offer health-related educational programs and workshops (most frequently
offered: nutrition and weight management, stress, emotional health).
Is there still room for fitness in the spa industry? “It’s not
possible to have a spa movement without fitness—they go hand in hand,” says
Lynne Walker McNees, president of ISPA. “Spas are about living a healthy life,
and fitness is part of that. Beauty and fitness are not mutually exclusive.”
She adds: “There’s a lot of partnering going on between the spa
industry and the fitness industry right now. Quality day spas are partnering
with personal training clubs, gyms and health clubs, working in tandem to teach
people about activity, nutrition, even healthy cooking. Here in Lexington,
Kentucky, which is a small town, there’s a local medical spa that has partnered
with personal trainers to offer guests more complete lifestyle services.”
As the spa industry continues to grow (at a rate of 13% in 2006),
and consumers become increasingly knowledgeable about wellness benefits, spa
opportunities for fitness professionals—especially if you love people and have
a passion for wellness—are greater than ever.
Not Just About Relaxing Anymore
“Immersing yourself
in a healthy lifestyle was something that began with destination spas, but now
day spas and resort and hotel spas are all branching out to offer
wellness-based services, such as stress relief, life coaching, nutrition and
fitness counseling,” says Julie Sinclair, editor in chief of Spa Magazine.
“It’s not just about relaxing anymore. Guests want to expand
their horizons, try new things. They may not take the time to get a fitness
evaluation [at their local club], for example, but when they’re at a spa, they
might just try it.”
Sinclair notes that some spas are offering fitness evaluations
combined with personal training sessions, consultations with nutritionists and
holistic health practitioners, and extensive take-home programs.
“I don’t believe in the word ‘pampering,’” she says. “People go
to spas to find balance, to take time for themselves, to get more out of life.
Even at day spas, you see people from the local community coming together to
connect, learn about new things—in a sense it’s a nonsectarian version of the
role that churches or community centers have played.”
McNees notes that today’s spa guests expect tangible results.
“We’ve become a demanding nation. We know what we want, and want it now,” she
says. “Spa guests are booking lengthy pockets of time—2, 3 or 4 hours—instead
of just a single treatment. They also want customization—services tailored to
their individual needs.”
McNees points out that 1 in 4 American adults has been to a spa,
but adds that the growing spa market is not just for adults. “We have over 4
million teenagers going to spas. It’s this captive audience we can teach
collectively about healthy living, the importance of exercise, how to handle
stress.”
A Plethora of Opportunities
According to
ISPA, the U.S. spa industry employs more than 230,000 people. About half are
full-time employees, and 18% work on a contract basis. ISPA offers a variety of
career training tools, including a Spa Professional Career Guide and a spa management
certification course (see www.experienceispa.com).
Lawrence Biscontini, MA, an international spa consultant who
teaches during the winter season at the Golden Door Las Casitas Village resort
and spa in Puerto Rico, is enthusiastic about spa careers for fitness
professionals. “The spa trends of fusion fitness and cross-training offer more
growth and exposure than ever for fitness professionals, who can transcend the
boundaries of the classroom, providing more outdoor training and lifestyle
training in spas than they could do in a traditional fitness facility. The best
spa departments for fitness professionals right now are all departments, because spas are booming. They
open their minds, heart and doors to trainers and instructors who have a great
attitude and the ability to fuse different talents.”
Jeff Kohl, veteran spa expert, former ISPA board member and now a
sales and marketing manager with Precor Inc. in Woodinville, Washington, agrees
that the outlook is rosy. “I can’t count the number of calls I get from spas
looking for staff. There’s a labor shortage in the industry, across the board.
In fact, to meet the need, several major universities are starting to
incorporate spa management into their curriculums.” Kohl is optimistic about
the industry’s future growth, in part because of the aging Baby Boomers, but
also because of the 19- to 25-year-old market. “They appreciate taking care of
themselves, and I envision it will be a strong market with continuing growth
potential.”
David-Dorian Ross is the wellness manager for Montage Resort and
Spa in Laguna Beach, California, and has consulted for a wide range of
world-renowned spas. “There are many different kinds of opportunities. You can
work as a fitness or wellness manager. You can be a permanent full-time staff
person who teaches classes, works as a personal trainer or watches the fitness
center floor. Another option is to come in on an adjunct or on-call basis to
teach classes, offer lifestyle coaching or [do] personal training. There are
crossover areas if you’re multitalented: you could be a massage therapist and a
personal trainer, for example, and build your clientele by cross-referring your
guests into both areas.”
Ross notes that life coaching is a hot new topic, but cautions
that many hotels and spas [do] not really understand it. “I think there will be
a lot of growth in this area in spas in the next 5 years, but [as a coach, you
will] have to offer education [about what you do]. You can give in-house
programs as a way of introducing yourself. Or you can create internal wellness
or fitness programs for spa or hotel employees, to get yourself known.”
As Ross sees it, chances for employment abound in all types of
spas. “Of course there are wonderful opportunities at destination spas, because
guests come with an end goal in mind and are there for a longer period of time.
However, [day spas] are very unexplored territory—there are a lot of
possibilities for life coaching and offering classes. Resort and hotel spas
also have many areas of education and training that could be introduced by a creative
fitness professional.”
Ross explains that simple spa economics is likely to drive
innovation and growth in the industry. “As spas become more competitive, they
start maxing out at how many people they can put into salons for haircuts, or
pack into treatment rooms. The fitness center becomes prime real estate.
Wellness programs offer unlimited opportunities from a revenue-generating
standpoint, and they can be done outdoors or even in the lobby.”
Montage offers an average of 50 fitness classes a week. “We offer
complimentary classes to all our hotel guests, including everything from yoga
to Pilates to dance and BOSU®,
tai chi to cycling,” says Ross. “We also offer complimentary 15-minute personal
training sessions, [as] a showcase for the talents of our trainers, who book a
lot of sessions as a result.”
Spotlight on Management
If the spa industry is ripe with
opportunities at all levels, managers are especially in demand, according to
several experts.
“There is a strong need to grow the next generation of spa
leadership,” says McNees. “That’s going to come from all modalities, including
fitness professionals.”
Kohl adds that spas particularly need staff for leadership
positions because managers tend to move on to larger properties. “Of course,
you have to realize that you probably aren’t going to start out your first spa
job at an 80,000-square-foot facility. It takes time, but it can be a very
fulfilling career in a very friendly industry, if you have a passion for it.”
Lori Hutchinson, owner and founder of Hutchinson Consulting in
Sonoma, California, which recruits for hotels, resorts and spas, notes that her
organization sees 60–100 spa positions open in any one week in the United
States. “People don’t always stay long in positions. They get seduced by more
compensation, sometimes before they have time to leave a legacy of work, which
can be unfortunate. But there is definitely a need for qualified individuals in
the spa business, especially in management. There are a number of opportunities
for people who are fitness-oriented to become involved in spas as a fitness
manager.”
To become a spa fitness or wellness manager, you need supervisory
experience, says Hutchinson, but you can move up the ladder within a spa. “If
you are a personal trainer who wants to become a fitness manager and perhaps
ultimately a spa director, you need to work at a property that offers
educational and supervisory opportunities. You may also want to get additional
education in business management.”
What Spas Want Most
Trish Martin
has been the fitness director at the trendsetting original Golden Door spa in
Escondido, California, for 11 years. She says the spa looks for people with
either an advanced degree in a health- or fitness-related area or a
professional certification from a leading industry organization. Fitness
specialists are full-time staffers working 30–40 hours per week, and they must
be able to teach classes and provide personal
training. The Golden Door brings in independent contractors to lead specialty
classes. Programs range from indoor cycling and water exercise to flat walking
and mountain hiking; from Nia®
and belly dancing to calypso and tap dancing; from cardio boxing and
cardio/interval tennis training to archery and fencing. Not surprisingly, yoga,
Pilates and meditation are on the schedule, but there are also lectures and
programs on everything from healing sounds to happiness, hypnosis, journaling
and expressive arts.
“We need people with very diverse skills. The benefit is, you
really get an opportunity to grow and develop here. You can work on your
lecture and presentation skills, which is an opportunity [you] might not have
working in a health club. Education is a big draw for us. We’ll send staff to
conferences and help them with certifications. We bring outstanding people in
to train our staff.”
Training expertise is only one part of the equation for spas. You
also have to be willing to expand your people skills. “You get a whole new set
of guests and a whole new set of challenges every week. You have to constantly
be on your toes,” says Martin. In fact, diplomacy may be a mild word for the
level of sensitivity and flexibility required to work in spas. “We have very
high-end clientele who are used to getting what they want,” Martin adds. “We
need to be really careful to handle all guest situations delicately and
tactfully.”
Martin adds that the spa interview process can be extensive. “You
are interviewed by at least four people, and you typically spend at least 4
hours, because there are people who fit into spas and people who don’t. This is
a hectic, fast-paced environment, where you have to adapt to sudden changes, be
flexible, want to give to others, and have a little bit of a spark that will
appeal to our guests. You can’t be a ho-hum personality.”
The Rewards of Spa Work
Since 1999, Peter Vasilis has been the
fitness director at Cuisinart Resort & Spa on the Caribbean island of
Anguilla. He is responsible for the fitness center, teaches classes and offers
personal training to spa guests. “Doing something that I love and am passionate
about makes going to work each day a pleasure,” he says. “One of the main
advantages of working at the resort in Anguilla is the beautiful surroundings
and the ability to offer outdoor classes year-round. The guests love the
outdoor exercise pavilion, where most of the classes are held, and the ability
to walk or run on the beach is definitely more motivational than training
inside on a cardio machine!”
Ross agrees that the spa setting is high on the list of pluses.
“The spa environment is extraordinary to work in. You’re surrounded by great
visual beauty every day. I take my clients out to the park overlooking the
ocean, and it just doesn’t compare to working in the depths of a gym
somewhere.”
“You meet very interesting people, too,” adds Martin. “You may
stay in touch with guests for a long time. Tamilee Webb is an example of an
amazing success who began her career at our spa.” Ross points out that
celebrity trainer and best-selling author Bob Greene was working at a spa when
he met his most famous client, Oprah Winfrey.
Since spas are generally known for providing high-quality
services, landing a spa position can also be a boost for career-building. “One
of the best things about working for a spa is that it looks great on your
resumé,” says Ross. “Having worked at a spa can help you stand out among the
stiff competition in the fitness industry.”
What about pay and benefits? According to Margaret Dyekman,
WageWatch president and chief operating officer, the WageWatch 2007 Spa
Industry Survey found that fitness instructors at destination, resort or hotel
spas in the United States are likely to receive an average hourly wage of
$10.50. However, the survey also stated that “it is not unusual for instructors
to average $30 or more per hour with base pay and/or fee for service.”
WageWatch offers online industry wage, salary and benefits survey data to
companies in the spa, hotel, gaming, healthcare and senior living industries.
At management levels, Hutchinson offers these general salary
ranges: $45,000–$75,000 for a fitness manager at a fairly large venue;
$50,000–$65,000 for a manager of spa operations; $60,000–$100,000 for a spa
director who is accountable to the property’s general manager; and
$130,000–$200,000 for a corporate spa director with three or more facilities.
Additional bonuses can range from 10% to 25% of salary.
Depending on the size of the spa, says Hutchinson, benefits can
include medical, dental, life and vision insurance plans; relocation
assistance; 401k plans; paid vacation and sick time; and discounts or
complementary services, such as a free meal a day, paid industry conference
registrations or reduced rates at other properties owned by the same company.
Bonus plans are common, typically based on group or corporate goals, such as
revenues or guest satisfaction levels.
Most spa experts agree that compensation should not be a primary
reason to pursue a spa career. “We look for people who want to be in spas for
the right reasons,” says Martin. “You may want to hone your skills and have a
lot of variety. You need to want to help others. You have to be willing to come
in and work as a team player. This isn’t a good fit for someone who is
primarily money-driven.”
Says Kohl, “If you have a passion for helping others, you will
reap the benefits of their success and your own. If you don’t have that, it
will be hard. You [have] the chance to help people find [a] moment of
relaxation or rejuvenation, and you have to be prepared to deliver that every
moment of the day.”
It also helps if you see yourself as an important part of the
spa’s mission. “Spas offer a wealth of insight as healing centers on the
planet,” says Biscontini. “Fitness professionals are a good match when they see
themselves as part of that chain.”
For the right person, spas can offer a unique and long-lasting
career. “Most of our fitness staff have been here 5–25 years,” says Martin. “As
people age, they find new skills and interests to offer to guests. People who
work here really evolve. The guests may come and go, but you’re here, and it
becomes more than a job. It’s a wellness lifestyle—a whole way of life.
SIDEBAR: Tips for Spa Career Success
Spa
experts we interviewed for this article offered these ideas for successfully
securing a spa position:
- Do
a self-inventory. Are you enough of a team player to work at a spa? Are you
prepared to follow the rules of the spa and fit into its culture? Are you
strong at customer service? - Approach
human resources rather than going to the spa director. (If you have a good
relationship with someone at the spa, this person may be your introduction.) - Apply
even if there are no current openings, and keep trying; spas typically have a
lot of turnover. - Don’t
be afraid to take an offer into a different position to get your foot in the
door. - Get
a mentor in the spa industry, someone who knows you well and understands the
spa world. - Identify
your dream job and work backward from there, figuring out the steps you need to
take. - Get
to know people in spas; relationships are important in this industry. - Consider
ISPA’s certified spa supervisor course, and check out colleges that offer spa
management courses. - See
www.spa-addicts.com and www.spafinder.com for job openings. - Make
sure that your personal values align with the mission of the spa. - Attend
the ISPA conference, and don’t miss the job boards.
SIDEBAR: Mind, Body and Spirit Programs Offered.
SIDEBAR: Fitness or Sports Services Offered
SIDEBAR: The Guest Is Always Right
The luxury environment of many spas demands a unique set of
working skills for which fitness professionals are not always prepared. Stephen
Lambert, director of guest service training at Red Mountain Spa in St. George,
Utah, provides ongoing customer service training for every single team member
at the spa.
“People go through a lot of challenges when they get into a luxury
hospitality environment,” he says. “They have to learn that guests are always
right, even when they’re dead wrong. Some people have a hard time getting that.
We had one staff member who didn’t want to give a guest something because it
wouldn’t be fair unless you gave it to all the guests. Things don’t work that
way here. We provide customized happiness on an individual level. Here’s
another example: a guest wanted to return an $80 shirt to our retail store that
he had bought a year ago at another store. Of course we did it, because it’s
not about the $80 shirt. It’s about the $3,000 experience that the guest is
having.”
Lambert tells the story of a guest who came to the spa expecting a
fitness class that wasn’t offered and had never been listed on the spa’s
schedule. “We found an instructor to come in and offer the class at no charge,
because it’s not about who’s right or wrong. It’s not about policy. It’s about
making the guest happy.”
Flexibility, empathy and caring are indispensable if you’re going to
work at a spa, says Lambert. “We hire for personality and train for skill. We
look for people who can create magical moments for guests. You have to be
someone with what I call a built-in applause system. If you feel great because
you just made someone’s experience special, that’s what’s going to keep you in
this industry. If you don’t have that, this is too difficult of an industry to
stick around in.”
SIDEBAR: Spas May Not Be For You If . . .
A
spa career can be a terrible fit if you’re not prepared for its unique demands.
Here are some reasons that might mean you are not cut out for the spa life:
- You Need Big Classes to
Motivate You. Spas typically offer “bigger” attention to smaller
classes. - You Want to See Long-Term
Results in Your Clients. You will see clients for only brief periods of
time, so you typically won’t get the satisfaction of seeing them make lasting
changes. - You Like to Run the Show.
Spas are team-oriented and require a cooperative attitude. - You Like to Hold Back a
Little. In spas, you must fully commit to the mission of the place, to
its culture and to the team. Indifference won’t work. - You Don’t Really Know If You
Like Spas. You may have to live at the spa location, spending your
leisure time there as well as your work hours. The novelty of an exotic resort
eventually wears off. You might also need to adapt to a foreign culture. - You Like to Keep Your
Weekends Free. Spas serve guests around the clock. Nine-to-fivers need
not apply. - You
Are Short on Patience. Without patience for a wide variety of people, your spa career will be short-lived.
SIDEBAR: Educational Programs and Workshops Offered
Mary
Monroe is a freelance writer in Los Angeles.