ISPA FOUNDATION
LIKE SO MANY OF YOU , I AM BEYOND EXCITED to attend the 2022 ISPA Conference this May 2 – 4 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas . There are innumerable reasons to be excited about coming together live and in person with the ISPA community once again : the excellent and still-growing list of speakers , the educational opportunities and , of course , the opportunity to connect with friends and industry colleagues old and new .
All of us at the ISPA Foundation are also thrilled to see our largest fundraising event — the ISPA Foundation Auction — return to its rightful place at the 2022 ISPA Conference . At our last in-person auction in 2019 , the Foundation raised nearly $ 100,000 by auctioning off more than 250 incredible items . Proceeds from that event and the virtual versions we ’ ve held during the pandemic have helped us conduct the vital spa industry and consumer research that so many of our members use to inform decisions about their businesses .
To donate an item to the 2022 ISPA
Foundation Auction , visit attendispa . com / auction and follow the step-by-step guide as it walks you through the process . Everything from spa product baskets to electronics to fantastic luxury getaways can be donated , and the more items bidders have to choose from in May , the greater the benefit to the entire ISPA member community .
As a reminder , the fun , easy-to-use Handbid Mobile App will be used to host this year ’ s silent auction ( it was also used for our virtual auctions in 2020 and 2021 ), so all you interested bidders out there should make sure to have the app downloaded so you can be ready to go as soon as the auction opens !
I ’ ll close this month ’ s column with a bit of exciting news : The ISPA Foundation has recently secured funding to conduct a new round of consumer research in partnership with PriceWaterhouseCoopers . This new study will provide spa leaders with the latest data on consumer thinking and habits as our industry continues its recovery and is exactly the kind of high-quality resource that the 2022 ISPA Foundation Auction exists to provide our exceptional members .
As always , we ’ re so grateful for your generous contributions , and we can ’ t wait until the bidding starts . See you soon !
FOUNDATION
ISPA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS CHAIR Frank Pitsikalis ResortSuite
DIRECTORS Patrick Huey ISPA Chair
Kelleye Martin ISPA Vice Chair
Lynne McNees ISPA President
ADVISOR TO THE BOARD Garrett Mersberger
ISPA MEDICAL ADVISOR Brent Bauer , M . D . Mayo Clinic
HONORARY FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER Deborah Szekely Rancho La Puerta
Donations of all sizes make a difference . Visit experienceispa . com / about / ispa-foundation to show your support .
— FRANK PITSIKALIS , ISPA FOUNDATION CHAIR
64 PULSE ■ FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022