Wellness visions
Mia Kyricos, chief brand officer at Spafinder Wellness and one of the 2015 Professional Spa & Wellness Convention chairs, shares her views on the state of the industry
Why was How to Turn Key Spa and Wellness Trends into Growth Opportunities for Your Operations a session you wanted to chair?
Spafinder Wellness has a strong history in forecasting spa and wellness trends over the past 12 years. With a network of over 20,000 locations around the globe and a strong commitment to research, we have a unique vantage point that we felt attendees would appreciate.
Which are the most pressing issues currently facing the spa and wellness industry?
- The advancement of technology, and how we can best adapt high-tech to the advantage of our businesses, while remaining high-touch
- The availability of skilled labour, not just therapists and technical talent, but also seasoned management who can navigate today’s business environment
- Finding ways to communicate the legitimacy and efficacy of spa and wellness modalities as smart, proactive and preventative health measures
“The greatest opportunity we all have is to impact the health and wellness of our planet’s citizens”
What do you hope the audience will take away from this session?
In one word: inspiration. We have been lucky enough to be in this business for nearly 30 years and are grateful to work alongside so many talented individuals. If we can inspire them and the important work that they do, then that’s a job well done.
Are there any particular points you are hoping to raise, in your role as chair?
My goal is to foster conversation and share perspectives. I am interested in understanding if panellists and audience members are seeing the same trends that we are, or if they vary considerably around the world. That’s where the interesting conversations take place, and I am honoured to help facilitate it.
What is the most important role the global spa and wellness industry can play today?
The greatest opportunity we all have, I think, is to impact the health and wellness of our planet’s citizens. That may sound lofty, but I think it’s uniquely within our reach.
Is there anything in particular you would like to see happen within the industry in 2015?
I would like our industry to find a way to better articular the benefits of the services we provide, whether that is about helping to decrease stress, improve mobility or inspire people to feel better about themselves. I think we have historically marketed the beauty of our properties and the luxury of our services, but we need to do a better job of articulating how we help individuals maintain and enhance their personal wellbeing every day.
What have been the biggest changes in the industry over the last few years?
The availability of social media. There has never been a time in history where our strengths, and our weaknesses, could be so easily and economically marketed and communicated around the globe.
Above: Image courtesy of Starwood Hotels & Resorts
“I would like our industry to do a better job of articulating how we help individuals maintain and enhance their personal wellbeing every day”
Why are events such as the Professional Spa & Wellness Convention important for the industry?
They are important because we are in this together. Unlike other industries, the businesses in this space are just as much friends and colleagues as they are competitors. It is a rare and beautiful thing.
Which other sessions are you most looking forward to at the convention?
I have learned in this fast-paced world to not plan too far in advance. At this time, I think it’s safe to just say all of them!
The How to Turn Key Spa and Wellness Trends into Growth Opportunities for your Operations session is at 11.50 on Monday February 23.
The 2015 Professional Spa & Wellness Convention takes place February 21-23. To find out more, and to book your place,click HERE
