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What’s happening in the world of spa software?
Spa Business takes a look at the latest developments - Kate Corney, product editor & Jane Kitchen, news editor
By Jane Kitchen | Published in Spa Business 2016 issue 4
Mindbody conference attracts star speakers Complementary health guru Deepak Chopra (see SB15/4 p36) was a keynote speaker this year’s BOLD conference, the annual event for cloud-based management software provider Mindbody, which was held in LA in October.
The conference attracted 1,000 owners in the wellness, beauty and fitness industries which use Mindbody’s system to manage, build and market their businesses.
Chopra, who’s partnering with Mindbody to offer access to a wellness-related classes and activities through his new mobile app Jiyo, spoke about how the transformational impact healthier lifestyle choices can have – even on our genes. A topic which he also covered at the Global Wellness Summit last November (see SB16/1 p68).
Another star speaker at the conference was Jillian Michaels, the original fitness trainer on The Biggest Loser TV series, who share tips on how to best motivate clients and build strong relationships.
Spa-kit.net keyword: Mindbody
Chopra addressed over 1,000 business owners
BOLD conference
Michaels, from The Biggest Loser, gave motivational tips
Booker buys marketing & online review platform Cloud-based software provider Booker has acquired Frederick, a marketing automation platform that offers a set of features for customer feedback, online reviews and referrals for spas and salons.
Frederick also includes a new widget that spas can use to instantly display positive reviews on their website.
The platform automatically syncs with a spa’s management system, accessing historical customer and transaction data, along with schedule utilisation information. This informs when a business has open appointments on its calendar, so Frederick can promote those openings through targeted, two-way text and email campaigns to the customers it deems are most likely to book.
Frederick also automates collecting and posting positive reviews to a spa’s website as well as Yelp, Google and Facebook pages and provides a feedback loop to owners.
Spa-kit.net keyword: Booker
Spas will be able to use Frederick to display positive reviews on their website
Zenoti to enter new markets with US$20m-plus funding Spa software specialist Zenoti has secured US$15m (€13m, £12m) in a second round of funding from California-based growth equity investment firm Norwest Venture Partners, which it will use in part to expand into the fitness and yoga space.
Zenoti – which had previously raised US$6m (€5m, £4.6m) in funding from Accel Partner – will also use the money to establish itself in the European market.
In addition, co-founder and vice president of marketing Saritha Katikaneni says the monies will be used for “more sales, more marketing, more reach,” hiring new talent and product innovation.
"Our vision was to create a system that our clients would love in terms of usability, but also one that solved challenges and which translated into real business results" - Saritha Katikaneni
Spa-kit.net keyword: Zenoti
Katikaneni is Zenoti’s co-founder
TAC gets into mobile spa management Spa software firm The Assistant Company (TAC) has created Sense – Mobile Spa Management: a new product for mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets.
The Austrian developer, which recently won a contract to supply the InterSPA group with its Reservation Assistant Spa & Activity Software, has launched Sense to help spa managers control their business while on the go.
Developed with responsive design, touch-optimised operation, intuitive features and clear presentation, Sense enables spa managers and fitness club owners to carry out key tasks. These include booking and scheduling appointments, updating guest data, point of sale and printing reports to get an insight into the revenue history.
Sense was introduced at the TAC Business Partner Meeting in September. At the meeting, TAC also revealed new features to its WebShop service, which integrates with Reservation Assistant and the spa client website, letting customers buy products anytime, anywhere.
Spa-kit keyword: TAC
Isamare/SHUTTERSTOCK
TAC launched Sense so spa managers can run their business while on the go
Spa products can be bought online with TAC’s WebShop
Sequoia Soft reveals marketing, management and loyalty platform Sequoia Soft is launching Asterio, a cloud-based, customisable multi-activity platform to help wellness businesses with marketing, management and customer loyalty. It’s designed to enable customers to find, book, arrive, enjoy, share details about and return to spa facilities.
The platform is also said to increase visibility on major online booking sites, add web bookings to schedules and confirm them with a personalised email or SMS.
Front desk and check-in tasks are centralised on a single page and an interactive plan grid lets spas change, move and transfer treatment bookings in just a few clicks.
On top of this, Asterio helps with spreading the word about events, deals and useful information and provides an online satisfaction survey that can then be published on a spa’s website.
Spa-kit.net keywords: Sequoia Soft
Spa goers can find, book, check-in and share details about spa facilities with Asterio
Stanaway to drive spa business for Springer-Miller US-based Springer-Miller Systems, provider of spa and hospitality management systems, is to strengthen its position in the wellness arena with the appointment of a new SpaSoft business development manager.
Nicole Stanaway will be consulting with spas to identify opportunities for the SpaSoft spa management system. She brings her experience of travelling the world installing the software as a SpaSoft trainer.
“Nicole has a strong passion for the spa industry and for SpaSoft,” says Michelle Young, also recently appointed to the role of vice president of sales and marketing for Springer-Miller.
Young adds the company now plans to expand its list of SpaSoft installations and further improve customer service.
SpaSoft, used by many high-end spas, can run on-premise or be hosted in the cloud. One of its newest features includes the addition of business intelligence dashboards. Another of its features includes the ability for spas to send appointment reminders by SMS.
Spa-kit keyword: SpaSoft
Stanaway will build on her background as a SpaSoft trainer to grow the brand
The Bannatyne Group says it has officially bounced back from the pandemic, with both turnover
and profits restored to pre-2020 levels in 2023, according to its year-end results.
Kerzner International has signed deals to operate two new Siro recovery hotels in Mexico and
Saudi Arabia, following the launch of the inaugural Siro property in Dubai this February.
The US spa industry is continuing its upward trajectory, achieving an unprecedented milestone
with a record-breaking revenue of US$21.3 billion in 2023, surpassing the previous high of
US$20.1 billion in 2022.
Short-term incentives for exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead
to sustained increases in activity according to new research.
Remedy Place, a US-based social wellness club brand, is poised for steady expansion in the
coming years, with plans to open two new clubs annually moving forward.
Swiss longevity brand Clinique La Prairie (CLP) has inked a deal with Montara Hospitality
Group
to operate a resort at Tri Vananda – a purpose-built wellness community in Phuket,
Thailand.
