The 25th annual ISPA Conference & Expo was held in Las Vegas last week, and organisers report that attendance was up, with more than 2,300 people at the event, along with 243 exhibitors and sponsors.

ISPA chairman Michael Tompkins opened the conference, saying it has come quite a long way from the first ISPA 25 years ago, where attendees “could all hold hands in one circle.”

ISPA president Lynne McNees said the milestone was made even sweeter by having many of the individuals that founded ISPA 25 years ago attend the anniversary event.

The three-day show featured a blend of breakout educational sessions, a trade show, networking events and keynote speakers. Eminence Organics president Boldijarre Koronczay received ISPA’s 2015 Visionary Award, and healthy food activist Alice Waters was honoured with the 2015 Alex Szekely Humanitarian award.

Attendees who Spa Opportunities spoke to were generally positive about what they got from the ISPA Conference & Expo – whether they were first-time exhibitors or tried-and-true veterans.

“We’ve been showing at ISPA for 21 years,” said Philippe Therene, founder of SpaEquip. “It’s a good show – we know people here and they buy from us.”

First time exhibitor Danielle Rouault, business development and export director for French skincare brand Cinq Mondes, was impressed with what she got from the trade show.

“It’s a quality event,” she said. “People are here to do business.”

Therese Martirena, director of spa for Zurich-based The Dolder Resort, said she chooses a different venue to attend each year in order to stay fresh with trends and brands around the world.

“The last time I came to ISPA was four years ago,” she said. “I came to find out what the pulse is here – what are they talking about in the US? I will go back with a lot of inspiration for my team.”

Spa consultant Kim Collier of Blu Spas said she also hadn’t attended ISPA in four years, and was impressed with how many brands had evolved and changed.

“Consumers are driving change because they’re evolving so quickly, but beyond the products, it’s the people who are making conscious changes, and doing more of their passion,” she said.

Pierre-Louis Delapalme, director general of Biologique Recherche, said having a presence at ISPA made a lot of sense for the French skincare brand.

“There are people we know already, but it’s a nice time to discuss projects,” he said. “And as always, there are some new projects we were not aware of. Participating in this kind of event allows us to be visible. If people are working on a project, this is where they come.”

Spa consultant Sylvia Sepielli was one of the handful of people at the first ISPA in Neversink, New York. She said she attended this year’s event partly to see Koronczay receive his award, but added that being at ISPA for the 25th anniversary held special meaning for her personally as well.

“I don’t come often, so seeing all my old cronies has been great, but I’m really jazzed about all the young people who are so enthused about this industry,” she said.

Kim Matheson Shedrick, senior vice president of WTS International, said she came to ISPA looking for innovative ideas, to reconnect with friends and fellow professionals, and hopefully to make some new business connections.

“I’ve accomplished all that – and I’ve had a great time,” she said.