Pulse October 2019 | Page 4

from the chairman ISPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTED OFFICERS CHAIRMAN Garrett Mersberger VICE CHAIRMAN Brennan Evans SECRETARY/TREASURER Robert Vance DIRECTORS Natasha Burns 21c museum hotels I LOVE AUGUST IN NYC! every year iSPa enjoys a whirlwind trip to the Big apple that features both an iSPa Board of Directors meeting and the annual iSPa media event. Being able to share the tremendous impact of our industry with the media and then discuss iSPa’s strategic vision with my fellow board members the very next day makes it one of the most rewarding weeks of the year. this year’s media event was iSPa’s most successful iteration of the event ever—and i say that not as your chairman, but as an iSPa member who has supported the media event for five straight years now. the media event is an opportunity to have lengthy and meaningful conversations with journalists, reporters and producers about our industry and what makes my spa unique. this year, Lynne mcnees and i spoke with an associated Press reporter and the resulting story has been picked up more than 600 times by news outlets around the world, including The Washington Post. the return on investment that i have seen in impressions alone from that one article is through the roof. thank you iSPa! Whether you are a small day spa, a large resort spa or even a resource partner, sponsoring the iSPa media event is an incredible way to share your brand and its story with the world. if budgets are tight, find a vendor or spa to partner with and make it happen! Where else can you personally meet with over 100 journalists in a matter of three hours? the iSPa media event is just one of the ways that iSPa strives to support its members year-round—from the Job Bank and the member Directory to research, scholarships and events. think of it as iSPa365—we are more than just a successful conference. for me and the properties i have represented, the media event has become a can’t-miss priority every year and one of the biggest benefits of my iSPa membership. if you want to learn more about future participation, please feel free to contact me anytime or reach out to an iSPa staff member and ask how to get involved. —GARRETT MERSBERGER, CHAIRMAN 2 PULSE ■ octobEr 2019 Jill Carlen hilton Worldwide Patrick Huey montage hotels & resorts Kristine Huffman hutchinson consulting Lynelle Lynch Bellus academy Dawn MacLellan the Wellspring Group Kelleye Martin St. andrews country club Dawn MacLellan the Wellspring Group Jay Muller technogym Frank Pitsikalis resortSuite Eric Savage freedom Spa, LLc Yvonne Smith La rive Spa at northern Quest resort & casino Michelle Adams Somerville Woodstock inn & resort Eric Stephenson elements massage Jessica Timberlake eminence organic Skin care IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR todd Shaw ISPA PRESIDENT Lynne NcNees international SPa association MEDICAL ADVISOR Brent A. Bauer, MD mayo clinic