June 3rd, 2008 by Derek
Make your hard-working Dad feel like King for a day with a relaxing massage. WaySpa gift certificates are valid at thousands of luxury spas, are instantly available and can be shipped in lavish gift wrapping.
What’s more, now thru June 15th, all gifts are 10% off!
10% off promo code: WSFD863
* 10% off promo valid until Sunday June 15th, 2008
March 4th, 2008 by Jeremy
Every month, WaySpa receives about 200 resumes from all sorts of people looking for jobs in the spa industry. From California to Canada, requests have poured in from therapists, nail technicians, estheticians, receptionists and spa managers, so we decided to put them to good use.
WaySpa has just launched a job posting board for our partner spas, allowing them to post job openings in this very specialized industry. If you run a spa and are having a hard time finding people, or if your career path is spa-related and you are looking for a job, our goal is to connect you with the information you need.
Candidates can browse our spa job postings, spas can signup for a listing to take advantage of this free service.
January 16th, 2008 by Jeremy
There appears to be little doubt that the US economy is headed towards a recession and spa going is often deemed, by consumers, to be a luxury item its likely to affect the spa industry as a whole. Its important not to loose your focus on customer acquisition as keeping your spa booked will allow you to not only survive an economic downturn but thrive.
Performance based customer acquisition is your best bet because your business does not have to risk precious capital on risky strategies. There are many performance base companies, along with WaySpa, that have proven successful models that deliver.
Performance Based Companies
Share others if you know ones that work!
January 16th, 2008 by Jeremy
No one can make you serve customers well. That’s because great service is a choice.
Years ago, I, heard a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.
He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.
He handed my friend a laminated card and said:
“I’m Wally, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my mission statement.”
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said:
Wally’s Mission Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest,
safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, “Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.”
My friend said jokingly, “No, I’d prefer a soft drink.”
Wally smiled and said, “No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.”
Almost stuttering, Harvey said, “I’ll take a Diet Coke.”
Handing him his drink, Wally said, “If you’d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.”
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. “These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.”
And as if that weren’t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he’d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.
“Tell me, Wally,” my amazed friend asked the driver, “have you always served customers like this?”
Wally smiled into the rearview mirror. “No, not always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.
He had just written a book called You’ll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ‘Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.’”
“That hit me right between the eyes,” said Wally. “Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.”
“I take it that has paid off for you,” Harvey said.
“It sure has,” Wally replied. “My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I’ll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don’t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can’t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.”
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I’ve probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn’t do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
What are you doing to make a difference?
August 20th, 2007 by Jeremy
SPA, the magazine of healthy living, travel and renewal, has announced its new partnership with WaySpa.com, the world’s premier online spa booking agency. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, WaySpa.com was founded in 2004 and is the world’s first spa booking agency. SPA was launched in 1996 and is published by Bonnier Corporation.
“This incredible partnership has joined two major spa marketing forces whose combined strengths are poised to positively impact the spa community, how they drive their business and redefine the manner in which consumers select, book and visit their spas,” says Laura Campbell, WaySpa’s Senior Vice President. “This relationship is smart, strategic and demonstrates a forward-thinking focus on continually improving the spa experience.”
WaySpa.com is the world’s premier online spa booking agency. In partnership with more than a 1000 leading spas across the United States and Canada, WaySpa.com offers competitive pricing and the knowledge needed to make informed choices. WaySpa.com currently books an average of 5000 treatments per month on behalf of their customers.
We are thrilled to be working with Wayspa.com and our partnership presents many opportunities to build our businesses and increase spa-going in North America and beyond,” says Michelle Gamble, SPA’s Publisher.
SPA magazine is your personal connection to the beauty, health and wellness secrets of the hottest spas around the globe. SPA publishes six bimonthly editions plus the award-winning SPA magazine Worldwide Guide annual directory. Check out SPA online at www.spamagazine.com
Contact:
Lianna Nielsen
Associate Director, PR
Bonnier Corp.
Lianna.nielsen@bonniercorp.com
407-571-4622
March 13th, 2007 by Jeremy
Spa Finder Inc is launching an event this summer is Aspen Colorado called the “Aspen Spa Day” in the hopes of providing an opportunity for the booming spa lifestyle industry to connect with consumers. The expo will take place in downtown Aspen on July 28, 2007 and they expect about 1000 consumers to attend.
I have been to Aspen many times and its definitely a town where cash is king. With a long list of celebrities, some of the world’s most influential business leaders and high ranking politicians it definitely makes for some great people watching but, I am not sure its the best demographic to represent the “spa lifestyle”.
The next event will be held at “Grand Central Terminal” from October 31st to November 3rd. I can see this being a far more realistic representation of the spa lifestyle based purely on its location.
As much as I would like to go back to Aspen its more likely that I will be heading to NYC
March 12th, 2007 by Jeremy
To yield or not to yield, that is the question.
Yield management, also known as revenue management, is the process of understanding, anticipating and reacting to consumer behavior in order to maximize revenue or profits.
A good yield pricing strategy can have a very positive impact on your business and specifically your bottom line. While yield pricing has been part of the travel industry, specifically hotels and airlines, for a long time it has only recently started to show up in the spa industry. Granted a lot of destination spas and resort spas have been using the strategy for their room not many (if any) have been using it directly for the spa.
If your spa is running at 100% capacity then there is no point to introducing a yield pricing strategy at all, however, if your spa is running below 100% then you should seriously consider this as a viable method to both increase revenue and control costs. A lot of spas have similar issues when it comes to capacity; three to fours days out of seven the spa is in need of more volume. Usually the under performing days are non-weekends and earlier in the week. If your spa is running with a substantial payroll then these underperforming days are greatly affecting your bottom line. If your spa were to offer a different (lower) price for these underperforming days it’s very likely that you would start to attract a new consumer to your spa.
Who is this consumer you ask? It’s more likely going to be someone who is a little more price conscience then your usual customer but that should not be treated as a negative. Think about it; firstly, this customer is coming to your spa when normally they would not have and most likely visited a competitor’s location. Secondly this customer is bringing positive cash flow to your spa. Yes, its going to deliver a lower profit margin, but, in actuality its going to make your capacity days more profitable as your overhead will remain constant. Finally, a new loyal customer is always a gateway to more customers and we all know the benefit of that.
A yield pricing strategy is not discounting, or special pricing, its exactly as it says “Yield”. Top brands like Four Seasons, Fairmont and Mandarin all support a yield pricing strategy and so should you.
March 12th, 2007 by Jeremy
One of the hardest things to do online is to create a feeling or an essence which a consumer can grasp. We find that spa consumers tend to make decisions about which location to visit based on a few factors, one of which being the spas appearance. Weather it be for your own website or WaySpa, great photos can mean the difference between a customer visiting your location versus someone else’s.
Having quality photos taken of your spa does NOT need to be expensive. Amature or student photographers can do almost as good a job as a professional for only a fraction of the cost.
Below are some key things to be aware of when getting photos taken:
1. Close the spa
2. Make sure the spa is CLEAN
3. Shoot key areas (Massage rooms, pedicure chairs, lobby, product display)
4. Make sure that there is plenty of light.
If you are looking for a quality photographer at the right price a good place to start is: www.craigslist.org
May 30th, 2006 by Laura Mingail
WaySpa.com is pleased to announce the addition of six new spas to the Los Angeles roster.
Kara Spa is an oasis of tranquility located in the West Hollywood Park Hyatt. The five-star spa offers guests meticulously individualized services in the privacy of their own secluded spa villa.
Each Kara visit is specially designed to achieve desired results, be it Purity, Energy, Tranquility or Balance. Each visit to Kara Spa is an unforgettable journey that will enliven your senses and awaken your spirit. Guest begin their time at Kara with a Polynesian foot massage and cleansing ritual designed to release stress and instill a sense of calm.
As a recipe creator and Chef affiliate with Waves Magazine, this will be an exciting showcase of health minded, inspired cuisine accessible to like minded individuals and those they care for.
May 8th, 2006 by Laura Mingail
David Chrystian, elite Executive Chef at Joy Bistro, has become a Chef Affiliate of Waves, and will be contributing a handful of recipes of fine cuisine for readers to enjoy.
As an innovator in cuisine, Chef Chrystian has always stretched the limitations of diners imaginations. David Chrystian is regarded as one who is pushing the envelope, one who is carving restaurant trends within specific culinary circles and media alike.
David Chrystian is a Grimsby native and has been cooking in elite dining circles in Toronto for twelve years. Since early in his cooking career and since becoming executive chef in restaurants such as Cafe Societa, Patriot, Accolade and the Drake Hotel, he has always praised the goings on of the Canadian wine movement. It was Patriot Restaurant that attempted to bring Niagara to the city. Patriot’s wine card featured 80% VQA wine, which was unheard of in Toronto restaurants at the time. Within this framework, the idea of cosmopolitan “Canadian Cuisine” was born, and Chrystian one of the creators.
After recently spending a month in Napa Valley and taking wine and food related courses at the Greystone Campus of the Culinary Institute of America, it was realized that Ontario wine country needed a great restaurant and or culinary spokesperson. The concept of The Centre for Wine and Food Experimentation was created and founded. Currently it is a web based freelance catering business committed to the promotion of Canadian Wine and Food Culture.
As a recipe creator and Chef affiliate with Waves Magazine, this will be an exciting showcase of health minded, inspired cuisine accessible to like minded individuals and those they care for.
David Chrystian is currently Executive Chef at Joy Bistro at:
884 Queen Street EastDavid is also Founder of The Centre for Wine and Food Experimentation, www.thecentreforwineandfood.com.
