Pulse November 2015 | Page 26

CONVERSATIONS WITH ELLA STIMPSON B Y M A E M A Ñ AC A P - J O H N S O N As the first spa leader invited to speak at the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide 2015 Awards, The Spa at Sea Island’s Director of Spa Ella Stimpson has made a historic first for the spa industry. Speaking alongside a panel of hotel and restaurant management experts, her presence on the Forbes stage signals the travel industry’s recognition of the spa industry as a formidable sector in the tourism and hospitality market. With Stimpson at the helm, The Spa at Sea Island—located in Sea Island, Georgia—earned a Forbes five-star rating this year. Forbes serves as the gold standard of star-rating service for hotels, restaurants and spas. In this one-on-one Conversations, the immediate past ISPA chairman relives the historic moment, shares import [