memBer PersPectives
(COnTInUED FROM PAGE 26)
that has too many treatments, it can be a bit
overwhelming and intimidating to our guests.” Today’s spa-
goers also expect a rotation of limited-time seasonal
treatments, Korpi says, so she added a seasonal menu four
years ago in response to customer demand.
Speaking of seasonal: while Korpi has always had to
hire part-time staff for the high summer season, recent
developments in the spa industry have made it easier to
manage the volume of guests. “Zeel, certainly, has created
opportunities for us to fill-in during group buy-outs or
holiday weekends when our staff is already completely
booked,” says Korpi. With the talent shortage in the
industry making it tough to find full-time employees—
much less seasonal ones for just a few months—Stillwater
Spa has had to adapt in other ways too, by increasing
employee benefits and focusing on fostering a strong work
environment.
Stirewalt, who is now general manager of the
property, has been overseeing the spa since early 2006,
just after it opened. mohonk, which is located on a
mountaintop surrounded by an 8,000-acre environmental
preserve, has been well-positioned for the long-term
trend towards a green, nature-centric spa experience.
“When i arrived, ‘indigenous’ was the buzzword.
‘indigenous treatments.’ ‘natural’ was also a hit in 2006,
and we had to go deep on that to avoid any green-
washing,” says Stirewalt.
Stirewalt also noted that spa treatments emphasizing
mindfulness and digital detox were “tougher sells in
over a decade of evolution
a spa director who’s been with the same spa for 13
years? it seems uncommon, but mohonk mountain
house’s Barbara Stirewalt insists it’s nothing out of the
ordinary: “our lead massage therapist has been here for
almost twenty years. our hr director has been with the
company almost fifty years. i’m a new employee here!”
mohonk mountain house's remote location and emphasis on nature positioned it well for the recent trends of mindfulness and digital detox.
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