More than a year later , the debate over these touchless — or “ providerfree ”— treatments seems to be slightly more muted . That may be because demand for traditional spa services such as massages and facials has been so high that spas without touchless treatment options haven ’ t experienced much downside . But it may also be the case that , as more and more spas experiment with those kinds of offerings , their leaders are recognizing that they can expand their guests ’ definition of what a spa can be by delivering a blend of both service types . Instead of seeing touchless and traditional services as an either-or proposition , these spa leaders are employing both to enhance the spa experience and provide guests with outcomes that can only be achieved when multiple treatment types are used in tandem .
To get a clearer perspective on how some spas are successfully managing this blended approach , Pulse spoke with ISPA members who have embraced and benefitted from it .
Enhancement , Not Replacement
Some of the hesitancy surrounding the addition of new technologies and treatment types may stem from the understandable worry that they might serve to replace those touch-heavy services that many in the spa community have come to see as almost sacred . Some spa leaders may see these treatments as “ moving away ” from the kind of guest experience that has come to all but define a spa visit and creating an unwelcome disconnect between the spa , its service providers and guests .
This conflict , however , is overblown , according to Tammy Pahel , VP of spa and wellness at The Carillon Miami Wellness Resort . After speaking at the Forum Hotel & Spa in Paris two years ago , Pahel , intrigued by the wide array
The Carillon Miami Wellness Resort included provider free services as part of their popular wellness circuits .
of technological developments on display , worked with a number of companies seeking to bring their therapies and treatments into the U . S . market , forming partnerships that allowed her to introduce these innovations to The Carillon . “ Inside our industry , the pushback came because they thought I was replacing touch with technology , and that was never the case ,” Pahel explains . “ Touch is everything . It ’ s amazing . It will never compete with technology , because it makes you feel good in the moment . Technology , you don ’ t feel it when you ’ re going through it . You feel the effects after you did it , so it ’ s a big difference . We ’ re not moving away from touch , we ’ re just giving people another opportunity .
Adopting that viewpoint has allowed Pahel and her team to implement incredibly popular and effective “ wellness circuits ” designed to achieve particular outcomes , such as better sleep or athletic recovery . Members , residents and guests can choose to complete circuits that involve several touchless offerings — halotherapy , cryotherapy , a salt flow bath and red light therapy , for example — with the option of adding a traditional massage to enhance muscle recovery even further . But if the guest prefers to stick only to provider-free treatments ( as many have throughout the COVID-19 pandemic ), they can still enjoy meaningful benefits in way that keeps them connected to the spa and invested in their relationship to it , while also bringing in revenue that might otherwise never be collected .
At Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa , Director of Spa & Wellness Katlyn Hatcher has , like Pahel , sought ways to
“ Inside our industry , the pushback came because they thought I was replacing touch with technology , and that was never the case .”
— TAMMY PAHEL
OCTOBER 2021 � PULSE 23