lEadErshiP & PhilaNthroPy
thE WiNNEr :
American spa Magazine
thE iNNovatioN : american spa ’ s Women in Wellness Awards & leadership Conference thE uNiQuE factor : The Women in Wellness Leadership Conference officially debuted in March this year with a mission to create a nurturing and informative environment that provides tangible tools to help women in the wellness space grow personally and professionally . “ Like many industries , the spa and hospitality world is one filled with disparities in salaries , leadership roles , mentorship programs , and growth opportunities for women . It ’ s a place they can feel safe sharing their feelings and experiences while tapping into the expertise of speakers and like-minded colleagues .” says Julie Keller Callaghan , editor-in-chief .
thE succEss : The first-ever Women in Wellness Awards & Leadership Conference gathered more than 230 female leaders in the spa and wellness space . thE WiNNEr :
Éminence organic skin care
thE iNNovatioN : Éminence Kids Foundation
thE uNiQuE factor : Éminence Organic Skin Care founded the nonprofit organization , Éminence Kids Foundation , to partner with clinics , farmers and spas to deliver organic produce weekly for seriously ill children . “ As of February this year , more than 60,000 organic meals , an average of 371 meals per week , have already been served to sick children through the nonprofit partnership ,” says
President Boldijarre Koronczay . The Foundation also helps create awareness on the importance of choosing healthy foods and start the conversation around nutrition and wellness at an early age .
thE succEss : The philanthropic idea has inspired spas to make a difference . In 2017 , a group of 25 spa industry professionals from companies such as Epicuren , Zeel , Live Love Spa and SpaTec , trained for a Half Ironman to help raise $ 10,000 for the Éminence Kids Foundation . thE WiNNEr : ojai valley inn & spa
thE iNNovatioN : Workplace Wellness
thE uNiQuE factor : After the devastating Thomas Fire forced a fiveweek closure , Spa Ojai reopened with a renewed , five-tiered comprehensive approach to wellness for its team . The holistic approach focused on five elements : Mindful , Physical , Practical , Experiential and Philanthropic .
“ By investing in the wellness of our associates , we create a team energized and passionate about creating memorable experiences for our guests ,” says Spa Director Kate Morrison .
thE succEss : The renewed focus on associate wellness has helped increase employee morale . In addition , guest satisfaction scores ( measured through the UniFocus third-party program ) are running two percent higher than this time last year .
( coNtiNuEd oN PagE 46 )
44 PULSE ■ September 2018