Hello, SPAPARAZZI Blog readers. My name is Adrilia V. Pedersen and I’m happy and excited to be writing for you. Just like you, I am an avid spa patron. As a trainer, speaker and consultant I’m often focused on how to make things better for businesses and for customers. I plan to share my insights, observations and expertise with you here, and I hope we can begin a dialogue. I look forward to hearing your comments, your experiences and your questions.

Because I love the opportunity for transformation that spa experiences offer, I am keenly aware of the enormous opportunities that exist in all kinds of spas to delight customers, develop strong relationships and create a sense of community.

Great customer service is about an experience: delight, wellness, trust, attention to detail, respect, appreciation. It is a shared experience between a spa patron and a service provider. It may sound easy to provide great customer service but it isn’t easy at all. It requires training, skill, caring and a commitment to do whatever is necessary to amaze, wow, dazzle and honor your customers.

While as patrons you do have a responsibility to communicate service expectations and share feedback, overall the task of delighting customers rests with the spa provider. It is they who should be asking the right questions, observing closely, looking at their referral programs and at their customer comment cards.

In this two-part article series (this is part 1) I will address Great Customer Service from the perspective of the spa patron, and then (part 2) from the perspective of the spa provider.

When I was much younger, I still visited many spas, but I wasn’t a very responsible spa patron. The truth is I was much to shy to know any better. One of the things I resolved to do when I started my training business, as a way to “train myself” to behave out of the box was to put myself in tough situations on purpose. So I would for example go into a busy store with a large bill, not buy anything and just ask for change. And yes, eventually my courage and chutzpah grew and the perceived limitations were gone … but that’s a story for another time ….

I have since then overcome my shyness. Wish I had been more communicative in San Juan, Puerto Rico when I got a massage treatment at a beautiful spa overlooking the ocean, in a room that unfortunately way too cold for my preference. I mentioned this to the masseuse and asked for a blanket. When nothing was adjusted, I put up with the cold instead of insisting that I get a blanket or we move to another room. That would have been the responsible thing for me to do. I have to believe that someone in management at that spa would have cared about my experience and why I never returned.

So how can you as a spa patron communicate expectations and position yourself to receive great service?

1. Begin sharing your expectations when you set the appointment. Ask about the environment, the length of treatment, the technician and their expertise, ask if they can have tea or water ready for you, ask if they offer valet parking. Communicate any and all things important to you in the form of questions.

2. Call to confirm the appointment if you don’t receive a call. Say you are looking forward to it and if it’s your first visit, say so.

3. If something is not to your liking, find a way to share this with your technician or receptionist as soon as it occurs. If you hold it in, this will affect negatively your experience by beginning to zap your mental and emotional energy.

4. Send a message after your visit to say thank you. Include any observations or comments you have about the facility, the service received, the courtesy of the staff.

5. If the spa provides comment cards, be sure to complete them directly and honestly, providing feedback on specific services, staff members and programs. Include suggestions for services and programs you would like to see offered.

I love to visit spas where people are thrilled to help each other and their patrons and are truly excited about their work. It translates into powerful and memorable spa experiences. Unfortunately, in my case these instances have been the exception rather than the rule. I know there is enormous opportunity in the spa industry to deliver consistent, reliable, dazzling service. My next article will focus on the role of spa providers in offering great customer service.

As spa patrons, surely you have other ways in which you communicate your enjoyment or displeasure when you visit a spa. Please share your comments here.

ABOUT Adrilia V. Pedersen

Adrilia V. Pedersen is a professional trainer, speaker and consultant experienced in customer service, marketing and publishing. She has helped businesses in the U.S., Mexico and Canada to develop multicultural marketing initiatives, train and motivate personnel and succeed through shared values. She inspires people and companies to grow and unfold their highest potential. Her blog can be found at www.adriliapedersen.com/blog

PARADISE MAKEOVERS announces its inaugural retreat for Women from November 16th - 26th, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia!

Please pay it forward to all the deserving women in your life…We are launching the most comprehensive, holistic wellness, health & beauty retreat for women, (later also to men as well as couples) to be held in opulent surroundings in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

This 10 day retreat boasts treatments as broad ranging as yoga to dental laser whitening, meditation sessions to IPL rejuvenation, creative writing to Lipotomy*, Image Consultancy and detox advice. All amidst the wonderfully vibrant culture of the gentle smiling Balinese people.

For more details please visit HERE

Lucky ladies will also be treated to a professional stylist consultation which will advise on how to dress for age and body type as well as revamping their image with hair and makeup update and detailed detox advice.

The retreat will be located in Ubud, the cultural and artistic centre of Bali, Indonesia and will also include opportunities to explore this beautiful area, shop at the designer boutiques and eat fabulous fresh food at an abundance of restaurants as well as taking part in temple ceremonies, dance, Gamelan and art galleries.

BOOK NOW to join us today in Paradise today!

Retreat Director - Susan Banhegyi
Phone +61.280056693
Mobile +61.414323939
Skype - paradisemakeovers
Email

SPA WEEK :: BEST MONTH EVER

What: $50 full service spa treatments in the Mid-West, East Coast, and Canada!

When: October 13th-19th!  Appointments fill up quick.  You can book now!

How: Visit www.spaweek.org to see a full list of participants and the treatments they are offering.  Pick your favorite (or favorites plural!) and call the spa directly to book.  It’s as easy as 1,2,3!

Why: De-stress.  Relax.  Treat yourself AND have money to spare on a new pair of boots this fall.
WIN a $1,000 Spa Week Gift Card

Everyone loves Spa Week and we want to thank you for your loyalty. As you know, it is our mission to introduce a new generation of Americans to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and to open up the spa industry to the masses. We want you to tell your friends and family about us.

For a limited time, Spa Week will pick 5 lucky people at random and award them a $100 Spa Week Gift Card. In addition, one super lucky person will win the Grand Prize - a $1,000 Spa Week Gift Card.  It’s easy. All you have to do is fill out a short form. Your next step will be to forward an e-mail provided to you to 5 friends and when they register on www.spaweek.org, your e-mail address will automatically be entered into our Grand Prize category.  We believe that “Good Health is Infectious” and we want you to pass it on!

DIAMOND Giveaway

What: To celebrate the launch of Everything Bridal, Spa Week will be giving away an amazing Eighty-Eight Cut 2.5 Carat Diamond Engagement Ring with an approx. value of $25,000 to one lucky couple.

Where: Diamond Giveaway

How: Visit Spa Week’s new Wedding Section, Everything Bridal to nominate a special couple by submitting their heart-warming love story.  They will automatically be entered to win the stunning Engagement Ring.  The top 5 finalist will have videos posted on SpaWeek.org, and America will decide which love birds will go home with the rock.

Why:  To help Spa Week make one deserving couple’s dream of the perfect engagement come true.  And to award one very lucky bride-to-be a diamond that will light up the room the way her hubby will light up her life. Aww!

LifeCoachRetreats.com provides life coaches and retreat Leaders, the perfect online platform for spreading the word about their OWN unique life coaching services, retreats, workshops and events in the most inviting, user-friendly format of its kind on the internet.

Those seeking life coach services or life coach retreats or events, are first GREETED by our innovative and friendly Online Spokesperson guaranteed to make a lasting FIRST impression.

Life Coach advertisers receive a customized FULL PAGE Listing that includes up to 4 images, contact info, specialty and a most comprehensive description in addition the having the ability to list their retreats, workshops or events. Select packages can also include an audio clip file in mp3 or wav format to introduce their services to visitors on a more personal level.

Whether your focus is on Personal Coaching, Leadership Coaching or Corporate, Business Coaching we offer life coaches and retreat leaders an affordable marketing solution that’s right for you!

With the ever increasing popularity of retreats and workshops being presented by certified life coaches Worldwide there has never been a better time to expand your reach with targeted advertising to this select NICHE audience.

If interested in becoming part of the LARGEST Life Coaching Retreat Directory and Community of its kind dedicated to YOUR SUCCESS as a Life Coach, Retreat Leader, or Certified Life Coach Training Resource or School, we invite you to contact us to learn more about our unique approach.

Visit us online at LIFE COACH RETREATS or call us Toll-Free at 1-888-355-2676.

If you’ve ever felt you need a vacation after your scheduled vacation, schlep around a cell phone and laptop on the beach, or think its a good idea to combine work with bonding moments, it may be time to rethink your vacation goals. Though you may carry the red badge of courage for overtime and dedication at work, are you able to apply those same attributes to being the ultimate traveler? Forego vacation deprivation and getaway guilt and find out what kind of traveler you are. It can tell you a lot about yourself. How you handle critical thinking, project management, adaptation and flexibility to change, oversight of many different personalities, and stress relief. Use a vacation as a learning experience and bring a fresh perspective to your work. That time away can be extremely valuable.

As a provider of educational workshops and getaways for both spa and wellness professionals, it’s apparent that people have a yearning to combine enlightenment with stress relief. Which is exactly why we create specially tailored getaways that provide opportunity for purpose, education and a well deserved vacation.

Vacation goals may be different for everybody, but its time to get back to the passion that inspires us when we let ourselves just be, rather than continually doing. Take that into consideration when planning your next edu - vacation.

There are many variations on vacation themes. Don’t know how to choose? If your looking for a good example of an excuse to take your vacation time, join our 2008 Cruise for P.I.I.N.K., a charity wellness retreat in support of breast cancer awareness. October 13-18.

I know, I know. Your ambitious, and take it upon yourself to get things done at work. Have mounds of responsibilities that you could never ask a colleague to take on. The reality is, you can and should. A healthy work environment and a healthy individual requires a balance. That balance is time for yourself.

People typically go on vacation for several reasons, and according to tourism and resource boards here are
some of the top:

People want to build and strengthen relationships.

Vacation time is also family time. Especially with a typically family schedule that leaves little for quality time together. A vacation is a perfect time to get a fresh view of family away from home stresses and work stresses. Along with family bonding, this is an ideal time for children and adults to socialize and make new friends.

A need to improve health and wellbeing.

Physical and mental well being is vital to everyday successes and a balanced work/family life. Health and well being getaways can include physical outdoor activities, and other ‘themed’ vacations that include nutrition, spa, relaxation, stress relief, education, sports etc. These are lifestyle focused. Desire to rest and relax.

Third on the list is reason to escape from work, schedules, worry, and everyday demands and just relax.

Many cruiseships for example play up this goal by providing easy access to many relaxation methods in one spot. If you can find a cruise style that offers an itinerary that fits with your purpose its even better. Get a fresh view. Enjoy new adventures. Many travelers find popular destinations with adventure getways. Eco adventures, Extreme Sporting adventures, Detox/Boot Camp adventures, Wine Socials, and even Naked cruising top the list. Adventures are to evoke new emotions, and experiences, what ever your goal may be. Romance, heightened sensation, visual stimulation, danger, its all at a travelers fingertips with the right planning. Just to escape.

This can mean many things, and is usually when people are looking for something that is deficient in their daily lives. Something different. Different climate, quieter surroundings, better scenery, a slower pace of life, culture, learning, or anything else that may create a passion in peoples lives. Knowledge building and learning. People are savvy, and have demands placed on them daily that require a high level of knowledge, pulling them in many directions. That knowledge also motivates today’s travelers. Better educated, and motivated for additional learning and stimuli, people travel to explore language, cultures, spirituality, mind-body connections, health, gourmet foods, and many other pursuits dedicated to knowledge and personal development. They want to see, touch, or feel something unfamiliar, yet apply their knowledge to a cause. Celebrate special occasions.

Some travelers take vacations to celebrate milestones in their lives: new relationships, marriages, birthdays, or professional achievements. Vacations that mark special occasions are usually taken with loved ones and provide memories that last a
lifetime.

To save money or time.

Although going on vacation almost always costs money and time, where one goes on vacation can influence costs. You can still vacation and save money with mini vacations close to home, or on a scaled down version of another vacation. Virtually every budget can find a vacation that fits. To reminisce. Many people travel to relive fond memories. Some will revist old places, or people to rekindle memories from a previous vacation, childhood or other memory. All of this focus on travel, food, and souvenirs, is really about buying an experience, and a sentimental journey.

There are nine perfect reasons to start planning your next vacation. Our upcoming cruise is a tenth reason. Many of us can be reluctant to understand the importance of time away from routines and stress factors. This is mostly a self induced state. Let’s make it a new generation of downsizing working vacations, and start understanding that it is not only our work that defines us, but our true calling and passion. Though we may feel we have a lot to lose at work. All of us have a lot more to lose if we can’t grasp the importance of enjoying the here and now.

Dedicated to your success,

Liz Galloway, Spa Image Advisor

Lotus Effects
Spa College International
80 West 200 North
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
Apt. 314
Quepos, Costa Rica
801.637.5235
888.223.0633 x 103
www.lotuseffects.com
www.spacollegeinternational.com

One of the most unique aspects of Balensi is its devotion to repairing the damage of aged skin due to sun, stress, and environmental effects. The professionally trained technicians help peel away years of damage caused to your skin to reveal fresher, younger, and clearer skin.

Balensi’s Institute Skin Care and Spa also offers a unique range of masks that vary to produce a wide variety of desired skin results. The Nova Mask is a reaffirming and moisturizing treatment for aged skin. The mask hardens from the outside in to create a soothing pressure that enhances your tired, aged skin to reveal smoother, firmer skin.

Peels are also another popular process offered by Balensi that peels away wrinkled, blemished, and damaged skin. However, the spa makes this classic procedure their own by offering extremely unique peels, on top of the traditional spa peels. Balensi uniquely offers delicious treatments as the pumpkin peels to rejuvenate dull skin, apple wine peels to firm and tone aged skin, and tomato peels that clears acne-prone skin. The results? Softer, smoother, and younger looking skin.

Vichy Showers are a unique treatment offered by Balensi that are only offered at the most prestigious spas. The treatment consists of many shower heads that gently rain upon your body, resulting in a relaxing and therapeutic massage.

Whatever you seek, Balensi offers its own unique spin on the traditional spa services that are sure to sooth your mind, body, and soul in San Diego’s cool South Bay.

For more information visit www.balensispa.com or call today for an appointment (619) 476-0706.

These upcoming Saturdays will be filled with complimentary massage, meditation, yoga classes, live music, belly dancing, delicious food, herb walks and garden tours, or you are welcome to simply relax around the hotel.

We hope you will join them to celebrate the completion of their NEW Yoga Studio and Wellness Center. Several rooms are still available for both Saturdays at incredibly low rates!.

The celebrations span two weekends and designed to allow you to experience the best of AmaTierra on August 16-17 and August 23 -24, 2008.

ABOUT AmaTierra
At AmaTierra you can nurture yourself with delicious organic foods, professional massage and energy balancing therapies. Or take a tasting tour of their organic greenhouse or find serenity on a hike to the stream or by relaxing in a hammock. In a rural locale, surrounded by authentic Costa Rican people, you can glimpse the local culture in a safe and natural way.

AmaTierra has one of the best yoga retreats in Costa Rica in the new open air yoga studio in the central mountains. Come for a few days of simple relaxation or participate in ongoing programs of rejuvenating holistic health therapies directed by registered herbalist (AHG) Jill Ruttenberg. Yoga retreats and other self-improvement workshops offered at AmaTierra will enrich your vacation experience and inspire profound transformation in your whole Being.

Grand Opening Activities:

Saturday Activities:

10:00 am
Welcome to AmaTierra!

11:00 am
Medicinal Herb Walk & Garden Tour

12:30 pm
Lunch

1:00-4:00 pm
Complimentary Mini Massages with AmaTierra Professional Therapists

4:00 pm
Tea on the Terrace

5:00 pm
(8/16) Sunset Meditation & Balance Your Chakras with Sound Therapy

5:00 pm
(8/23) Introduction to Communication from the Heart

5:30 pm
(8/23) Sunset Meditation & Balance Your Chakras with Sound Therapy

6:00 pm
(8/16) Full Moon Candlelight Yoga

6:00 pm
(8/23) Open Your Heart Yoga

7:30 pm
Savor our International Cuisine & Enjoy Musical Trio Alma Puriscalena

Depart after dinner feeling refreshed OR inquire about a room at a special price.

Space is EXTREMELY limited. Please reserve your private casita today.

Sunday Activities for Overnight Guests:

8:00 am
Gentle Yoga

8:00-10:00 am
International Breakfast

Sunday
Wellness appointments available upon request throughout the day

Call for reservations Toll Free: 1-866-659-3805
In Costa Rica phone #011-506-2419-0110

You can also find more information about AmaTierra in our RETREAT DIRECTORY or visit them directly at www.amatierra.com

Elisiance Spa Lounge has created what it calls a “spa lounge” where people come together to meet and mingle in a relaxing environment. By mixing the hot vibe of a nightclub and rejuvenating feel of a spa, Elisiance Spa Lounge successfully managed to create a fresh, new scene apart from others.

The spa lounge revolves around a sleek 1600-foot area, filled with a bubbling hot tub, wafting curtains, cascading waterfalls, and Venetian details. Flat screen TVs and sound systems also serenely play to create an intimate mood. The result? A luxuriously relaxing setting that is perfect for a unique night out.

Nestles right in the heart of Pacific Beach, San Diego, Elisiance Spa Lounge offers different settings depending on the right vibe you are seeking. The days start with a splash setting which offers a rejuvenating spa session and get more wild as the day wears on, ending with a lounge setting which results in a wet and wild party that lasts until late. Whether you go alone, with a friend, or bring a group, Elisiance Spa Lounge offers a degree of personalization that matches the mood and vibe you are seeking.

The Mediterranean-themed oasis also boasts spa rooms that offer sea-inspired treatments such as a soothing seaweed wrap and exfoliating seashell scrub that will rejuvenate your body.

Elisiance Spa Lounge can also be rented out for private group parties, romantic nights out, or any event you may be seeking. The best of both worlds, Elisiance Spa Lounge uniquely brings you the relaxation of a spa and luxurious excitement of a night lounge.

Learn more today at www.eliiance.com

This retreat takes place in the quintessential spa town of Calistoga, the ideal location for a weekend focused on health and wellness. Spend two nights at CALISTOGA SPA HOT SPRINGS, in California which is well-known for its rejuvenating outdoor mineral pools of varying temperatures.

There will be ample free time for soaking in the pools, getting spa treatments if you choose, shopping in the town of Calistoga, and bonding with other like-minded women. We will get to know each other at the welcome dinner and gathering on Friday evening. On Saturday, we will rise and begin our day with a yoga practice designed to relax the body and the mind and prepare us for our workshop with Dr. Ifeoma Ikenze, a well known practitioner of both traditional and homeopathic medicine.

This two-day workshop on the hot topic issue of “AGING GRACEFULLY AND THE FEMALE BODY” is designed to speak to women of all ages. Dr. Ikenze will address the stresses that we all feel in our lives and give us tools to handle them with ease and grace. You will come away feeling empowered with a new relationship to yourself and your body!

• 2 nights accommodations
• Includes daily breakfast and dinner
• Full access to the mineral pools and exercise facilities
• Retreat Gift
• “Aging Gracefully and the Female Body” 2-day workshop with Dr. Ikenze, total 5 hrs

For more information and reservations call Time Out To Travel at 1-888-494-3689 or visit www.renewalretreats.org
( *Mention you found this retreat on Spaparazzi.com / Getaway Spas.com )

iinnLight Launches Spa Industry’s First Molecular Massage™ with New Energizing Light Therapy Delivery System

Patented device capitalizes on wellness revolution; offers spas a new source of revenue without adding headcount.

iinnLight Technologies, the emerging leader in optimizing light to transform and energize lives, today launched iinnLight Pro™ , its debut product for the spa industry that enables spas and wellness centers to powerfully contribute to the wellness revolution by delivering the world’s first Molecular Massage™ while providing a new therapy option to increase profits. iinnLight Pro is a patented therapeutic delivery system that uniquely uses non-invasive light energy to deliver an energizing, stress relieving and skin rejuvenating experience during a 30-minute session.

“The iinnLight Pro marks a major milestone in the spa industry,” said Kathleen Buchanan, chief executive officer, iinnLight Technologies. “We’re taking a proven technology, LED light therapy, and packaging it in a one-of-a-kind delivery system exclusively for spas to help them respond to the skyrocketing demand for new, non-invasive wellness treatments.”

iinnLight Pro light therapy sessions or Molecular Massages can be packaged with other services such as massages and facials, or offered as a stand-alone service. This gives spas a natural pathway into the $1 trillion wellness market and the opportunity to offer their clients a unique, safe and non-invasive wellness and anti-aging solution with no increase in labor. In addition to feeling revitalized, spa guests who experience iinnLight’s Molecular Massage report seeing a visible reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

“The iinnLight Molecular Massage provides an added healing therapy for my patients,” said Dr. Jolanta Lukawski, internal medicine. “In my wellness practice, the goal is to be healthy, feel good and look good, and the non-invasive healing benefits of iinnLight therapy are a successful part of a holistic program. My patients experience benefits in their general sense of wellbeing, smoother skin and reduction of inflammation.”

How it Works

iinnLight Pro emanates three specific wavelengths of modulated light during each 30-minute session. The light, typically applied directly over the face, is absorbed into the body’s tissue then translated into energy which stimulates cellular growth, repair and regeneration of the body. iinnLight Pro specifically stimulates the immune system to promote the most natural form of healthy aging.

No larger than a standard floor lamp, the mobile delivery system enables spa employees to easily maneuver iinnLight Pro to accommodate treatments in different rooms. iinnLight Pro does not require a licensed technician to operate; the employee simply presses a button to start the light therapy and it automatically turns off after 30 minutes. The aesthetician is free to provide spa services to another guest while the Molecular Massage is in process, thereby increasing productivity and revenue for spa owners without increasing labor and training costs.

Pricing and Availability

iinnLight Pro is currently available for sale to destination and resort spas, day spas, and hotels that are focused on providing the latest wellness and anti-aging solutions for their guests. Priced at US $17,500 per iinnLight Pro system, early owners of the iinnLight Pro have achieved payback within four months of purchase. Contact iinnLight Technologies for sales and trial offer information..

About iinnLight
iinnLight provides energizing light therapy technology that enables spas to seamlessly increase profits and dramatically capitalize on the wellness revolution with the world’s first Molecular Massage™. iinnLight’s safe and non-invasive light treatments pave the way to the benefits most important to today’s busy individual: stress relief, beauty, restfulness and healthy aging.

iinnLight is headquartered in Laguna Beach, California. For more information, visit www.iinnlighttherapy.com or call 949-340-1695.