and are ready for the launch. Authors have selected 78 of the
185 spa offering topics. With more than 100 remaining spa
offerings not selected, authors are still being recruited to help
complete the project. ISPA is currently constructing the ISPA
Academy. It is our goal to have all the entries completed by
March 2017 and the resource launched shortly thereafter.
P: Who are a few of the authors of this project and
what criteria have you considered in the selection
process?
W: We currently have 46 authors working on encyclopedia
submissions. They range from individuals with several years
of education and experience on the selected topic, to
individuals who have little experience with or education on
the offering, but are passionate about the topic and project
and willing to do the research needed to complete the entry.
P: What are some of the challenges of putting together
this project and how are you able to handle them?
W: The one and only challenge I am facing with this project
is author recruitment. Once the literature unveiled close to
200 spa offerings, I knew it would be tough to find that many
authors to help with the project. I’ve been lucky, many of our
initial authors have signed up for more than one topic, and
that has helped considerably.
P: How do you think this project would benefit the
ISPA community and the spa industry as a whole?
W: ISPA Academy will aid spa managers in gaining valuable
and comprehensive details of the treatments and services
offered in today’s spas. It will provide a complete account of
each spa service. The format will be an easy-to-use online
searchable site, where visitors can look up spa offerings by
name or by selecting from 10 different searchable elements.
Spa managers considering a new service or developing a new
menu will be able to discover and learn more about new
menu options. Spa consumers will be able to review information about the offerings to better understand their spa
experience. Spa management students will have an easy-toaccess resource to help them broaden their knowledge about
the wide array of spa offerings available. n
Why do you think it’s important
for spa industry experts like you
to volunteer as an author?
“There is too much misinformation and/or sensationalized
reports available not only to the spa professional but the spa
consumer as well. Having a reliable source to learn