For Gabriella Francia, co-founder of bbspa_Group and training manager, the powerful touch of
a massage is the stand-out element that makes a spa experience truly unique. ... more
What’s your biggest life lesson? Always listen to your customer. And position your business so that you’re able to take advantage of opportunities which present themselves. But we have multiple clients – from the people who pay for our designs and installations, to the bathers using the facilities who highlight their experiences on social media. The world has become a very small place indeed.
How has the industry evolved? The way in which spa has changed from an elite service and is no longer a pursuit of only the wealthy. Spa is now a mainstream business. Physical, mental and emotional care is within the public mainstay – a part of everyday life – and more important than ever.
Birthday message to Spa Business
"Spa Business is an invaluable resource. It covers the many elements of running a spa – design, building, fit-out, operation, finance and management – allowing companies specialising in any of these stages to share experiences and connect"
More from spa industry leaders...
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future.
Evian Spa, the spa and wellness brand inspired by the premium mineral water brand, has
arrived in Doha, marking its inaugural Middle Eastern location and fifth global destination.
A new nature-inspired wellness destination called Align is coming to Tucson, spearheaded by
brothers and local hospitality entrepreneurs Mark and Eric Erman.
QC New York, a luxury Italian day spa on Governors Island, will expand its offering this July by
adding an extra 15,000sq ft of space. This new area will feature sensory saunas, waterfalls, a
salt room, an ice room, a lavender room, a 142-seat bistro and a waterbed relaxation room.
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has released promising new research on the wellness real
estate market at its third-annual Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium in
Manhattan.
Paul Hawco, a seasoned figure in the international wellness industry, has assumed the role of
executive director – integrated wellbeing at independent, hospitality group Banyan Group.
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in the southeastern US state of Georgia is celebrating a
new milestone after unveiling its newly renovated 27,000sq ft destination spa.
Art’otel, Radisson’s contemporary art-inspired lifestyle hotel brand, has strengthened its
presence in London with a new hotel in Hoxton fusing art, design and hospitality.
Luxury hotel brand Aman, widely known for its strong spa focus, has just launched its much-
talked-about sister brand Janu in Tokyo – complete with a 4,000sq m urban wellness retreat.
Equinox, has teamed up with health platform, Function Health, to offer 100 comprehensive
laboratory tests, giving members vital insights into their internal health.
Spanish wellness brand SHA Wellness Clinic is busy preparing to bolster its wellness portfolio in
2026 with a hyper-exclusive island wellness enclave in AlJurf, UAE.