It's hard to keep up with all the latest spa info - new openings, quirky treatments, best deals - so we'll do our best to keep you informed. We welcome your feedback and inputs - info@spa-ireland.com
SpaFinder Trends for 2012 - 01 Feb 2012
Healthy Feet, Cold and Ice and Online Wellness Gaming
Each year we look forward to hearing the trends predicted by Susie Ellis and her team, largely because we think she has the clearest 'voice' in spa and has an uncanny knack of crystal-balling what's on the way in spa-land.
Now in its ninth year, the influential annual report is based on analyses from SpaFinder Research and its team of experts who visit hundreds of spa and wellness businesses around the world every year, as well as interviews with leading industry analysts, and data and feedback collected from SpaFinder’s partnership with over 15,000 spas, yoga, Pilates and fitness studios, wellness practitioners and salons worldwide.
So, to the sound of fanfare and trumpets, the top four global spa trends for 2012 are:
1.) Healthy Feet Treatments
Spa-goers can now take care of their troubled tootsies with a variety of treatments and classes. Canyon Ranch SpaClub in Las Vegas offers a comprehensive “Healthy Feet” program, with computerized gait analysis and treatments in zero-gravity chairs, while Yamuna's boot camps in New York City teach attendees to improve their posture and strengthen the muscles in their feet. There are even 100% foot-focused med-spas such as California's Stride Wellbeing, which combines podiatric medical care with a menu of foot-pampering treatments. And podiatrist-overseen “medi-pedis” are booming, like those served up at celebrity foot doc Margaret Dabbs’ London centers, or famed French foot doctor Bastien Gonzalez’ signature pedicures at One&Only spa resorts worldwide.
2.) Cold and Ice Treatments
Infrared saunas, which direct radiant heat into the body without heating the air, are becoming more widespread, and more extreme cold and hot/cold-contrast treatments are on the rise. Every ESPA spa in the world now offers ice rubdowns after saunas, while spa-goers at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas can experience falling snow in its Arctic Ice Room. A new Snow Shower from Thermarium will hit the market soon, and for hardcore ice devotees there's cryotherapy, where a person spends 2-3 minutes in a chamber cooled to a mind-numbing -120°C (-184°F). It's a highlight at Canada’s Sparkling Hill Resort and California's US Cryotherapy Center - the first dedicated “cold therapy clinic” which is poised to franchise its full-body, cold-therapy chamber to other locations.
3.) Wellness and Beauty Coaching
Health coach. Sleep coach. Eyebrow coach. Coaching is gathering steam at spas, and with good reason. While isolated treatments have their benefits, spas are in a unique position to help people make the kind of lifestyle changes that lead to long-term health and well-being. With the word "spa" increasingly evoking an entire lifestyle, it is only logical that coaching will become a fundamental part of the spa philosophy. US destination spas like MiiAmo and Canyon Ranch are taking the lead with spa coaching packages followed by post-visit consultations via phone, email, and even Skype. The trend is also hitting the beauty arena, with Clarins officially offering “beauty coaches” at its new flagship spa in Paris. As wellness-related gadgets and apps become more advanced, watch for long-distance wellness and beauty coaching to become even more prevalent.
4.) Online Wellness Gaming
Half a billion people worldwide play online games for at least an hour a day, and gaming's addictive features – points, challenges, rewards, social interaction – are uniquely suited to making healthy lifestyle changes stick. Pioneers in the wellness gaming space include early entries like the meditation game Leela, from mind-body guru Deepak Chopra, and MindBloom's Life Game, which rewards members for achieving well-being goals and has the backing of insurance giant Aetna. While French beauty powerhouse Clarins has dipped its toes into the market with its beauty-centric Facebook game "Spa Life,” the spa industry is well-poised to take the lead in wellness games, as spas already enjoy powerful real-world connections with their customers. The next step is to use gaming to maintain those connections once they return home, offering daily online workouts, using sensors to track progress, and facilitating online encouragement from therapists, friends, and family.
New Year, New Skincare - 01 Jan 2012
A Fresh Regime From Elemis
With the New year comes the urge to detox, particularly after Christmas indulgences, making it the perfect time to improve your skincare regime. For the month of January Elemis have created two Cleanser & Toner duo’s, giving the choice of two award winning cleansers with a complimentary toner. Buy the Harpers Bazaar Hot 100 Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash and receive a complimentary Soothing Apricot Toner or the Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser and receive the Rehydrating Ginseng Toner for the price of £27.60 (worth £47).
Available from 1st -31st January at www.timetospa.co.uk Timetospa.co.uk, spas, salons and selected department stores in the UK. For your nearest stockist or to mail order call Elemis Customer Care on + 44 117 316 1888 or shop for Elemis products at your nearest Spa Ireland Elemis Spa.
Winners! - 20 Dec 2011
Spa Ireland Competition Winners
Congratulations to all our Competition Winners! Each has won a fabulous spa package at one of our Spa Ireland partner spas - to whom we are eternally grateful for their ongoing support. The winners are:
Siobhan Daly - Slieve Russell Hotel & Ciuin Spa
Deirdre O'Reilly - Dunboyne Castle & Seoid Spa
Pearl Kingston - The Culloden Estate and Spa
Siobhan Flint - The Ice House Hotel & Spa
Sandra Delaney - Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Limerick
Sandra Gough - Royal Marine Hotel & Sansana Spa
Nicola Waites - The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt
Michele Cronin - Ballygarry House Hotel
Cathy Healy - Carton House
Rachel McGlynn - Fota Island Resort
We know all our prize winners will have a wonderful, relaxing stay at their winning spa and are thrilled to share this early Christmas present with them.
Spa Finder - 01 Dec 2011
Reader's Choice Awards 2011
SpaFinder is probably the most comprehensive and complete global spa website out there and a credit to founder and President Susie Ellis. One of the Spa Finder initiatives, the Readers Choice Awards, invites individuals worldwide to vote in a number of categories including Crystal - crème de la crème of spas; Country Awards - top spas in 44 countries; and Category Awards - the "best spa for" in 32 categories from Best for Romance to Best for Men.
Winners in the Crystal Awards, recognizing the favorite spas on each of six continents, were:
South Africa: One&Only Cape Town
Asia: The Peninsula Bangkok
Australia: Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Europe: Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris
North America: Miraval, Life in Balance
South America: Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires
We're delighted to see one of our partner Spa Ireland spas win the Ireland category. The Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin wins the accolade and having enjoyed a truly superb facial there not too long ago, I can say it is well deserved.
SpaFinder Readers Choice Awards
Spa Ireland Competition Bonanza - 01 Dec 2011
Win one of 10 Spa breaks!
To celebrate our 4th birthday, and the launch of our Facebook and Twitter pages, we're offering our Spa Ireland fans the chance to win one of 10 fantastic spa breaks. To enter, simply answer these three questions. We also invite you to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter:
1. How many properties feature on the Spa Ireland website (hint, check out the Spa Search page)?
2. What colour are the tiles in our Facebook icon pic?
3. What's our twitter address?
Email your replies to info@spa-ireland.com. All correct entrants will go into a draw and be contacted via email if they are lucky enough to be a winner over the coming weeks (closing date for entries is 31 December 2011). Prizes include:
VIP Spa Festive Treat for 2 at Ballygarry House Hotel & Spa
Win a fantastic prize for 2 this December and meet Sunday Independent beauty journalist, Triona McCarthy. Prize includes overnight accommodation and breakfast for 2 on Saturday December 10th with a choice of a VOYA mineralising facial or a broadening back massage on Saturday evening. On Sunday, you will be Ballygarry’s guest at their Spa festive day, which will include a meet and greet at 2pm with a glass of mulled wine on arrival, a run through of the information of the day and a complimentary spa lunch.
Ultimate Spa Break – Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Limerick
Enjoy overnight accommodation for 2 in a dedicated Spa Guestroom with a Super Buffet Breakfast the following morning. Enjoy three X 30 minute treatments per person – Elemis Deep Tissue Muscle Massage, Elemis Taster Facial and Elemis Body Wrap.
Chill Out at the Ice House
Escape to Ballina and enjoy a midweek two-night stay for 2 people, including Full Irish Breakfast each morning. You can also enjoy dinner on one evening from the Table D’Hôte menu with spectacular views over the River Moy.
Deluxe Spa Stay at the Slieve Russell Hotel Golf & Country Club
Your chance to enjoy a special overnight midweek stay for 2 people including Dinner and Full Irish Breakfast the following morning. Also included is use of the Hydrotherapy Suite and a Spa Treatment for each person.
Escape to the Country at Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa
Overnight stay for 2 people including breakfast with a one hour spa treatment each and complimentary use of the thermal suite.
Autumn Spa Experience at the Culloden Estate & Spa
This day spa experience for 2 people includes a Pressure Point ESPA Scalp Massage, Full Body ESPA Aromatherapy Massage, Boutique ESPA Facial, Delicious light lunch in our Juice Bar, Full use of all the Spa Facilities.
Your Private Spa Island – Fota Island Resort
Overnight accommodation for 2 people with Full Irish Breakfast and a spa treatment each in the Spa.
Overnight Retreat at Carton House
Just 40 minutes from Dublin and surrounded by gorgeous countryside, this is your chance for you and a loved one to sleep at Carton House, wake to a delicious breakfast and chill in the spa for a spa treatment each.
Capsule Spa Day Experience at the Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt
The Capsula Spa is a little taste of everything including a Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage, Classic Facial, Tidy Toes Pedicure, Re-polish to the hands, full use of the Spa Facilities and lunch in the Spa Cafe. Yours to enjoy with a friend.
Half-day Package at sansanaSpa in the Royal Marine Hotel
Enjoy a treat for 2 people including a VOYA Mini Facial Experience, Back & Shoulder Massage and Jessica Deluxe Manicure or Pedicure plus full use of the Relaxation Rooms and Thermal Suite.
Remember to email your answers to info@spa-ireland.com and good luck!