Pulse September 2018 | Page 46

lEadErshiP & PhilaNthroPy
thE WiNNEr:
American spa Magazine
thE iNNovatioN: american spa’ s Women in Wellness Awards & leadership Conference thE uNiQuE factor: The Women in Wellness Leadership Conference officially debuted in March this year with a mission to create a nurturing and informative environment that provides tangible tools to help women in the wellness space grow personally and professionally.“ Like many industries, the spa and hospitality world is one filled with disparities in salaries, leadership roles, mentorship programs, and growth opportunities for women. It’ s a place they can feel safe sharing their feelings and experiences while tapping into the expertise of speakers and like-minded colleagues.” says Julie Keller Callaghan, editor-in-chief.
thE succEss: The first-ever Women in Wellness Awards & Leadership Conference gathered more than 230 female leaders in the spa and wellness space. thE WiNNEr:
Éminence organic skin care
thE iNNovatioN: Éminence Kids Foundation
thE uNiQuE factor: Éminence Organic Skin Care founded the nonprofit organization, Éminence Kids Foundation, to partner with clinics, farmers and spas to deliver organic produce weekly for seriously ill children.“ As of February this year, more than 60,000 organic meals, an average of 371 meals per week, have already been served to sick children through the nonprofit partnership,” says
President Boldijarre Koronczay. The Foundation also helps create awareness on the importance of choosing healthy foods and start the conversation around nutrition and wellness at an early age.
thE succEss: The philanthropic idea has inspired spas to make a difference. In 2017, a group of 25 spa industry professionals from companies such as Epicuren, Zeel, Live Love Spa and SpaTec, trained for a Half Ironman to help raise $ 10,000 for the Éminence Kids Foundation. thE WiNNEr: ojai valley inn & spa
thE iNNovatioN: Workplace Wellness
thE uNiQuE factor: After the devastating Thomas Fire forced a fiveweek closure, Spa Ojai reopened with a renewed, five-tiered comprehensive approach to wellness for its team. The holistic approach focused on five elements: Mindful, Physical, Practical, Experiential and Philanthropic.
“ By investing in the wellness of our associates, we create a team energized and passionate about creating memorable experiences for our guests,” says Spa Director Kate Morrison.
thE succEss: The renewed focus on associate wellness has helped increase employee morale. In addition, guest satisfaction scores( measured through the UniFocus third-party program) are running two percent higher than this time last year.
( coNtiNuEd oN PagE 46)
44 PULSE ■ September 2018