Spa is, and always has been, inextricably tied to the healing story it tells.
to founder Michael Stusser’ s first Japanese cedar enzyme bath— where hot compost propelled him into an experience of Zen enlightenment.
And the Four Seasons Sayan— nearly 30 years in— still honors its sacred site along Bali’ s revered Ayung River. Here, a global brand chose reverence over convenience, and in doing so, created a legacy.
The spas that last are the ones that care deeply— about place, about purpose, about people. These spas are also the most deeply rooted in a story that is always evolving and always the same. n
ISPA AT 35: Echos of the Past, Energy for the Future
RETURNING TO THE BROADMOOR for ISPA’ s 35th anniversary brought me back to 1998, when the eighth Conference concluded with the Madhatter’ s Ball— a gala still etched in my mind. What great people.
The industry has grown up since then, and so have we. But I couldn’ t help thinking of those who stood with us in those formative years and are no longer here— Werner Mendel, Sheila Cluff, Judith Jackson, to name just three. Their spirit lingers.
What struck me this year was a sense of renewed vitality— fresh ideas woven into both anchor brands and new ones, and truly remarkable people— signaling an industry that continues to evolve while honoring its roots.
MARY BEMIS is a pioneer of spa journalism and a longtime editor and industry leader. She founded Insider’ s Guide to Spas to advance spa culture and spotlight the industry’ s deeper purpose. A recipient of the ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award, she has served on the ISPA Board and helped launch NYSPA and WSPA. Bemis is a special advisor to Global Wellness Day and a board member of the Sauna Aid Foundation.
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