technology continued
Winner : EarthLite / Living Earth Crafts ■ Prone Comfort Bolster and Headrest Earthlite / LEC designed a specialty cushion that allowed COVID-19 patients and others suffering from respiratory issues to more comfortably remain in prone position ( as much as 18 hours per day ), which improves blood oxygenation , facilitates the use of oxygen masks and is increasingly recommended by physicians treating COVID-19 . More than 200 hospitals in the US and Europe are using the Breathe™
Bolster in their critical care units .
Winner : ResortSuite ■ MOBILE , a Touchless Guest Experience App
When the pandemic forced spas to reassess operations with a heightened focus on guest safety , Resort- Suite responded with MOBILE , a customizable app that allows spas to deliver a touchless experience in areas of their operations where that wasn ’ t previously an option . Guests who download the app can use it to book treatments , check in , complete and sign any required questionnaires , access a menu of
available treatments and services , and check out , all while touching only their own mobile device .
Winner : WTS International ■ LifeStart Virtual Wellness Platform
Seeing a need to support facility guests , members and residents during pandemic-related closures , WTS developed LifeStart , a virtual platform that offers engaging live and on-demand content supporting mental health , mindfulness , stress , nutrition , home skin care and movement . More than 100,000 unique participants have used the platform to date , and the company is looking to expand its offerings to include personal esthetics and personal training consultations .
philanthropy Winner : Beauty Changes Lives ■ COVID-19 Relief Grants Almost a quarter of a million spa professionals were displaced during the height of the pandemic . Beauty Changes Lives organized spa professionals and brands to raise US $ 256,000 in funds to support COVID-19 relief grants for individuals in the spa industry facing financial hardship due to the pandemic . Micro grants of US $ 1,000 were provided to applicants , who were able to use the funds on everyday expenses during an incredibly difficult time .
Winner : Eminence Organic Skin Care ■ Charitable Initiative for Essential Workers
Eminence adapted its production and leveraged its global supply chain to produce and donate 50,000 government-compliant hand sanitizers to donate to nearly 100 hospitals , medical facilities and community groups battling COVID-19 in the US and Canada . The company also donated more than 6,800 personal care products to essential workers around the world to provide relief from the effects of prolonged use of PPE .
Winner : Goddess Health & Wellness Day Spa ■ Scholarship Funds for Underprivileged Women
A collaboration of 27 Australian women — including Goddess Health & Wellness Day Spa owner Louise Lugg — each contributed a chapter in an inspiring new book titled Back Yourself , detailing their personal journeys in business . All proceeds from the book go to support a scholarship program for underprivileged women , and the group of women who collaborated on the project pivoted their resources to
support each other throughout the pandemic .
Winner : Pure Fiji ■ Supporting Communities in Times of Need
In 2020 , Fiji ’ s rural communities faced a host of needs , and Pure Fiji stepped in to support them by developing and distributing hand sanitizer and essential items to frontline workers at a time when they were not otherwise available in the country . The company also established plantations to supply food to those in need , as well as providing books and computers to schoolchildren and supplies to those who lost homes to Cyclone Yasa . n
MAY 2021 ■ PULSE 41