Applications for the 2016 Global Mentorship Pilot Program to open in May

Applications for the 2016 Global Mentorship Pilot Program are set to open in May.

The programme, which launched in January, is a mentorship initiative for spa managers at the beginning of their career, and is open to applicants around the world. 

The programme sees spa managers, who must have at least two years’ experience, mentored by spa directors with a minimum of five years' experience. 

The initiative is led by Jean-Guy the Gabriac, chief executive of spa consultancy Tip Touch International and conference producer for the Professional Spa & Wellness Convention, and Deborah Smith, principal of wellness consultancy Smith Club & Spa Specialists. 

The second stage of the 2015 programme begins this month, running through to June.

Participants include 17 mentors and 34 mentees from 22 countries, including the UK, the US, Columbia, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Mauritius, Portugal, Qatar and the Maldives. 

Among the mentors are Neil Hewerdine, vice president of spa services at Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, Hans-Peter Veit, spa development director at the Oetker Collection, Morgan Lefrançois, area manager EMEA and spa operations and development at Clarins, and Francisca Antunes, regional operations director of spas at Six Senses. 

Mentees include Arantza Azparren, spa operations manager at Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, Victoria Lees, spa manager at Rockliffe Hall in the UK, Maria Haggo, spa director at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai and Ankush Phutane, spa manager at Zazen The Boutique Spa in India. 

Smith said of the programme's record to date: “The feedback from the first group of mentees was exactly what we hoped for. Participants spoke of being inspired to do more than they thought possible and achieving higher levels of professionalism.”

The 2015 programme is sponsored by French skincare brand Biologique Recherche. The brand's sponsorship includes funding for an administrative assistant to work on the initiative. 

Applications for the 2016 programme opens on May 1, closing on July 31. Those interested in taking part can contact Jean-Guy the Gabriac on [email protected], for more information.