MEMBER PERSPECTIVES
BY JAMISON STOIKE
Beyond the Bottom Line :
Wellness-Oriented Employee Benefits
WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHY they pursued a path in spa , service providers and spa leaders alike often share the same reason : caring for others . Spa professionals understand the value of human touch on the body and the impact that empathetic care can have on the mind , and spa-goers have always benefited from the wellness-centered care that spas provide . Increasingly , however , spas are providing those same benefits to their employees as a recruitment and retention tactic in the face of continued worker shortages .
To get an insider ’ s perspective on the self-care and wellness-oriented benefits spas provide to their team members , Pulse spoke to three ISPA members from across the United States : Nemacolin , Sea Island Resort and La Cantera Resort & Spa .
NEMACOLIN Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Plateau about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh , Nemacolin ’ s expansive facility pampers its spa-goers with a full-service spa , holistic healing center and fitness center . However , its rural location can make attracting service providers an uphill battle , says Director of Spa and Wellness Katlyn Hatcher : “ There are so many benefits in a remote setting for the experience we offer our guests , but recruiting and retaining talent can be challenging .” When an acupuncturist was brought on to offer a new suite of services to Nemacolin ’ s clientele , he and Hatcher therefore quickly saw how building an employee benefit around his services could help retention .“ He immediately saw that associates could really benefit from what he ’ s doing ,” says Hatcher , adding that “ it ’ s been a tough few years for everyone .” What began as an educational workshop to train Nemacolin ’ s spa staff on how to market acupuncture services to clients quickly became a weekly openhouse acupuncture workshop where spa associates can drop by , relax in zero-gravity chairs and receive quick acupuncture treatments in an open setting . The open houses proved an immediate hit .
“ The response was overwhelming ,” confirms Hatcher . “ We had lines of people waiting or just coming to see what was going on .” This weekly open house has since blossomed into an entire acupuncture benefit for employees , offering a discounted pricing structure for full-
“ One thing we understand is that , in working in a remote location , it ’ s important that our associates have a sense of community and connection .”
— KATLYN HATCHER , Director of Spa and Wellness , Nemacolin
10 PULSE n NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022