Europe currently has 38% of the world’s spas, making Europe the number one spa destination. As a new or soon-to-be graduate of a spa management program, this makes Europe and France in particular, a great place to consider beginning your spa career. Here are a few hints and tips to make your spa career search easier.

Why France?
France has several qualities which make it a great place for launching a spa career. The country offers a range of spa types; day spas, large hotel run spa chains, small health oriented spas which cater exclusively to women, spas along the coast which offer a number of thermal water therapies and seaweed treatments. These varying spa types offer someone considering a spa career in France the opportunity to find employment in a spa which suits their management style and treatment philosophy. Keep in mind, that spas in France, like most of their European counterparts focus more on the health and wellness aspect of spa treatments. The health aspects of spas are a big deal in France, so big, in fact, that each French citizen can have up to three weeks of curative spa treatments prescribed by their physician and covered by the government.

How to start a spa career in France
There are several ways you can approach job hunting in France. Try searching internet job boards. The Institute of Spa Management offers a job search service for students and alumni at www.spacollege.org. Several other websites associated with the spa industry have international job listings. Websites to try are: www.spasworldwide.com, www.experienceispa.com , and www.espa.com. To make the most of your internet job search ensure your resume is up-to-date and that it highlights all of your relevant spa education and experience. Be sure to include that you are willing to relocate.

If the job boards don’t work out, try getting on locally with a major international hotel chain. Both the Hilton and the Westin hotel chains have luxurious spas attached to their hotel properties in France. Westin, in particular, hires for spa directors and assistant spa managers. Look on their website under the category of “Spa, Health Club, and Recreation” for current job openings.

Qualifications
Spas in France want and need experienced and educated employees. If you are truly considering a spa career in France, ensure you have completed an appropriate spa management training course or have significant experience in the industry. It would also be helpful if you were well versed on some of the popular treatments in France such as Thallosotherapy and Vinotherapy. Vinotherapy is an indigenous French treatment created from the wine grapes produced in the country. This therapy uses the seeds, skin and oil from grapes for baths and exfoliation. Spas are big business in France. Make sure you are well educated and prepared.

Legalities
If you are interested in working in spas in France, you need to obtain a residency permit as well as a work permit. Temporary permits allow you to work, but to work permanently, you have to have been employed in the country for three years, have tax statements to prove your work, and have current employment in the country. Check with the French Consulate nearest you to gain up-to-date information on the various permits and Visas required to work.

Check any website which maintains employment listings for spa jobs and you will notice listing after listing for spa management jobs. These listings can range from spa director positions, down to assistant spa managers. While the exact number of jobs is difficult to quantify, there are over 14,500 spas currently operating in the US (according to the latest industry statistics published by the International Spa Association). For anyone considering a career in spa management, the sheer number of US spas means a lot of opportunity. Also, keep in mind that 30% of the world’s spas are located in the US, outranked only by Europe at 38%. Using this statistic as the basis, it stands to reason that the US would then hold 30% of the world’s spa management jobs, making this a career path with enormous growth and potential. The question then becomes, how do you get a spa management job?

The spa industry has a lot in common with several other industries, hospitality and retail in particular, but it is much more specialized than either of those two fields. Customer service skills are not enough, hiring and development skills are not enough, financial acumen and sales forecasting abilities are not enough. Do you have knowledge of spa specific reservation software? Can you discuss at length the benefits of Thallosotherapy or the merits of a hot stone massage? Do you know how to train employees to up-sell products after they perform a treatment on a client? Can you handle managing employees who have professional qualifications that you do not have? Experience in hospitality and retail will benefit you in your job search, but what you really need is a spa management education.

A spa management education will put you on the top of the hiring pile for prospective employers. Why? Without specific spa industry experience and without a spa management education you have no qualifications to distinguish your application from all of the rest. A spa education shows prospective employers that you understand the special needs of the spa business and the needs of their clients. Take a course like the one offered by the Institute of Spa Management and you will learn how to manage spa facilities, understand spa pricing and treatment menus, learn how to run spa marketing and promotion campaigns, revenue benchmarking, front desk management, and extensive business operations skills. These are the skills that employers need their spa managers to have. If you take the initiative to educate yourself, prospective employers will notice this distinguishing characteristic on your resume.

Spa management jobs are readily available in the US and with the growing popularity of spas - knowledgeable industry professionals are in high demand. Take time to study the job listings on web sites like www.exeperinenceispa.com, www.spatrade.com, and the new job center at www.spacollege.org (for students and alumni only). You will find that spa management jobs are readily available, but that they all require the insider’s knowledge that only an education or experience will provide.

Men like to be healthy, and they love to be pampered… they just don’t always like to admit it :)They like to be pampered so much, in fact, that they account for around 30% of all spa-goers, according to a survey conducted by the International Spa Association. Men are obviously booking spa reservations in record numbers, and as a spa owner or manager there are several steps you can take to ensure your spa is man friendly.

Create a “men’s only” menu of treatment option
Your male clients will want a menu of treatment options that cater specifically to them. Male and female clients respond to treatments differently and men should have treatment options which reflect their needs. Put together a menu which uses terms and treatments men can relate to. Create an “extreme” facial, or a “sports” massage therapy, or an “executive” grooming package. These are treatments men will feel comfortable having and they will feel confidant recommending these service to their friends.

Make male clients comfortable
Male clients may not be as savvy regarding treatments as your female clients. They may make a spa reservation but might be unsure how the process works once they arrive for their first appointment. Ensure you have a staff member on hand who can give your male clients a tour of the facilities to show them where changing rooms, pools, showers steam rooms or the location of any other amenities your spa may provide. Tell your male clients exactly what to expect from each treatment. Be sure to use terms the average man can understand, allowing him to feel more comfortable partaking in the treatment.

Educate
During their first appointment, have a member of your staff take the time to educate your male clients on the range of your spa’s services and treatments. Present the information in a man friendly way by using visual aids or even a short video on the treatment options. Make sure the video or visuals feature men using the services mentioned, this will help men visualize themselves receiving the treatment.

Sell Men Friendly Product Lines
Men do not like to shop around (which is REALLY good for your business if you can secure men as loyal clients). They like to buy. Ensure your spa staff is promoting suitable products and thoroughly explaining the benefits to all of your male clients. Suggest products that do double duty such as a body wash which also works as a shampoo. Men want their shopping choices to be easy and straightforward –make sure they are not being overwhelmed with too many product choices. Men are an easy sale if the benefits of a product are presented in a logical way. Make sure your spa staff is promoting complimentary products.

Create Loyalty
Men are loyal customers once you get them through the door. A good way to keep them coming back is to create packages or a range of spa services that they can purchase and use over multiple visits. Also, always make sure your front desk employees are pre-booking spa reservations for the next round of treatments– before the male client leaves the spa.

As a spa owner or manager, it is up to you to create a spa which is man- friendly. These simple steps will allow you to start cashing in on a potentially huge client base.

As a spa manager or owner, you want to create a soothing spa environment for your clients. Many factors will contribute to the feeling of health and well-being in your spa—the friendliness of your employees, the tone of the background music, the size and layout of your treatment rooms—but nothing creates a soothing spa environment like color.

Color is one of the biggest aspects of interior design. Color sets the tone, it sets the mood, and it helps establish a theme and pattern for a space. For your spa to be appealing to clients you should design your color scheme with these tips about color in mind.

Avoid Color Trends

Each season, new color trends are reported via runway reports and design magazines. These articles discuss the new hot colors for each season. Right now, the big color is purple. Clothes, soft home goods, and other products are all available in this must have color. Do you really want it for your spa? Sure, your spa will trendy and hip (for about five minutes) but when the next season rolls around your spa will feel dowdy and hopelessly out of style. Choose classic colors– like blue, green, black, white and brown– that never go out of style.

Know What Each Color Represents

Every color has a psychologically based association, which comes along with it. Fiery colors such as red and orange are said to stimulate the appetite and inspire passion. The colors of the sea—like aqua, blue, and green—promote feelings of tranquility and calm. Earth tones–like brown, tan, and copper—inspire feelings of warmth, comfort and home. The color white is always associated with purity and cleanliness.

Consider Your Clients

Your spa clientele and your spa brand position should dictate your color choice. Consider who your clients are when choosing the color scheme for your spa. Which colors are most likely to create a soothing spa environment for them? If you are running a medical spa, a color scheme based mostly in white with touches of a soft accent color in either blue or green will promote the sense of health and calm your clients are looking for. If your spa client and your spa brand are focused on environmental concerns and all natural treatments and products, look to the colors of the earth for your color scheme. If pampering and wellness are the main priorities of your spa client, draw color inspiration from the sea and the sky—pale greens and blues to soothe your clients.

Choose Your Hue

Each color is an endless variation on a theme. For example, there are hundreds of blues to choose from which are each a darker or lighter version of the primary blue. Choose your hue carefully. Consider the light (both natural and artificial) of the room you are decorating. Too much light or lack of it will change the color you originally selected. The soothing spa environment you create with color will be determined by the hue and the lighting of the room. Try painting small swatches of each color to determine if the hue and light of the color is what you originally intended.

Creating a soothing spa environment for your clients is not difficult. It simply takes consideration of your clients, your spa brand, and the effect you are trying to create.

No matter how old your clients are, they all want to look younger. According to a 2004 study conducted by the International Spa Association, “The emphasis is now increasingly on self preservation” and “baby boomers and their children will pay to look young and healthy.” The study goes on to note that “As the baby boomers age, there is increased interest in cellulite treatments, glycolics, and skincare products. Many of these products are influenced by European and Asian trends, and there is a ‘desire and need for natural versus artificial processes.’” What your clients want are alternatives to plastic surgery, less invasive treatments that provide anti-aging benefits. These less invasive treatments will require more up keep for the client and will cause booming sales for spas that can embrace this market and deliver quality anti-aging treatments. Try some of these treatments or techniques in your spa to deliver the results your clients want.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion needs to be a staple on any spa’s anti-aging menu. The process exfoliates and polishes the surface layer of skin. Miniature crystals are moved over the skin by a handheld device that attaches to the skin with suction. Used crystals and skin cells are gently sucked away, helping to diminish the appearance of aging, sun damage and other facial imperfections.

Body Wraps

Many times the wish to look younger can also indicate a need to look thinner. This makes detoxifying and weight loss body wraps a popular treatment. Body wraps have many cosmetic and therapeutic benefits. They can be used for eliminating impurities in the skin, moisturizing and reducing inches.

Lypossage

This is a mixture of massage techniques like deep-tissue release and lymphatic drainage that originated in physical therapy. The process purifies the client’s body of fluid that can create bumps and lumps. Performed by a massage therapist, it is an all-natural non-invasive treatment, which will eliminate unsightly bulges and in some case reduce inches from areas of the client’s body.

These types of treatments work best in a series — which is a bonus for both the spa and the client. The spa receives the repeat business and the client will see remarkable anti-aging benefits.

Topical Products

Topical products are a crucial factor in the success of a spa’s anti-aging treatment menu. If the client is not taking the appropriate at home steps all of the progress of the regular spa treatments may be undone. Suggest appropriate products to each client interested in anti-aging spa benefits. Recommend products that are rich in proteins and peptides, as well as vitamins. Vitamins are very important because they help fight the effects of pollutants and toxins. When applied topically they help reduce the damage that leads to age spot and wrinkles. Other popular ingredients are dead skin cell removing acids such as glycolic, citric, and salicylic, which all work as exfoliants. They key is to recommend products which suit your client’s lifestyle needs and required anti-aging benefits.

Anti-aging spa treatments created as an alternative to plastic surgery will create younger looking skin without surgery. These treatments require you to educate your clients on appropriate homecare products and maintenance routines; the result is happy clients and a solid income stream for your spa.

We have all seen the film footage– acres and acres of rolling green fields, expansive views of the sea, crumbling cottages nestled into the sides of hills–who wouldn’t want to consider a spa career in Italy? But, before you pack your bags and jump on the next flight to Italy, consider a few of these things first.

Spas in Italy are different. Italian spas are all about water. Italy is one of the largest spots in the world for thermal spas, something the Italians refer to as “terme” or mineral spring waters. Since the time of the Romans, people have been coming to “take the waters” in Italy, an experience which is supposed to restore good health and promote wellness. Due to the reputation for healing these spas have received, Italy is becoming known for “health care tourism” and many of the spas in Italy focus some of their treatments on healing medical conditions. What results, are spas which feel more like clinics with less of an emphasis on pampering. Most of these spas employ at least one physician, and it is routine for clients to meet with the physician before undergoing any treatments.

How to start a spa career in Italy. Once you have acquired the appropriate online spa management training, there are several ways to approach your spa career in Italy. The important thing to keep in mind is that you will probably be denied a visa if you don’t have a job lined up. But lining up a job is difficult if you don’t live there. Try searching internet job search boards for the easiest and cheapest solution. Several websites associated with the spa industry have international job listings. Websites to try are: www.spasworldwide.com, www.internationalspaassociation.com, www.espa.com and the Institute of Spa management has a very busy international job board for current students and alumni. If the job boards don’t work out, you can travel to Italy and make connections that way. Italy has several spa regions, target a few of the areas that look interesting and visit the spas. Try to meet with the person in charge of hiring, and maybe you will leave the country with a job offer. One last method to launch your spa career in Italy is to start working for an international chain. At some point they may have openings for spa jobs in Italy which you can apply for.

Qualifications. Italian spas are like any other spa and they want experienced and educated employees. If you aspire to work in a traditional Italian spa, you may want to consider –studying about and working in –a medical spa. A medical spa is probably the closest equivalent to a traditional Italian spa and having spa director or manager experience in this type of environment would be beneficial in the clinical Italian spa environment.

Legalities. Italy is a notoriously difficult place to find work if you are coming from outside the country. Those coming from other EU countries will have it a little easier, but no matter where you are coming from, Italy has a lot of rules and red tape that must be dealt with. Check with the nearest Italian consulate to get information on the rules and regulations surrounding work visas.

Do you want people to talk about your spa business, the kind of talk which creates a positive image of you and your services? Then you must go above and beyond what your clients believe is good service. As a spa manager, try these tips to promote your spa services via word of mouth advertising.

· Great word of mouth promotion begins in your spa. Each client coming in for a spa treatment needs to leave feeling pampered and delighted with their experience. Why? We have all heard that old cliché about a customer who receives bad service will tell ten people– and those are ten people you don’t want talking about your spa around town. Ensure your clients leave happy and they will tell at least one friend (probably more) about the great time they had—effectively promoting your spa for you.

· Let your clients complain to you. Remember the client who leaves the store mad and tells all of her friends? Well what if she told you, instead? As a spa owner or manager it is important to handle client concerns yourself. Why? Having access to the key decision maker will allow the client to feel supported. She will feel as if her concerns are being heard. If you can diffuse the situation (and you should be able to) your client won’t leave angry. The only thing she will have to tell her friends is how her problem was addressed with ease and concern.

· Train your employees to be experts. Nothing frustrates a client more than inexperienced employees. Your employees are involved with every aspect of client contact, from accepting the initial appointment, to performing the requested services. Each employee is an ambassador of your spa brand, and should represent it accordingly. But can they? Can each member of the staff explain every item on your service menu accurately and in detail? Is the front desk person able to multi-task, ensuring the phone is answered promptly, that every customer is greeted in a gracious and timely fashion, and that complimentary retail products are being up-sold upon departure? Clients will notice these details, and you should too. Train each employee to be an expert on every aspect of your business and your clients will respond by speaking positively about your spa.

· Donate. Every local organization in every town is looking for items for silent auctions, sponsorships for events, and cash donations. Your spa will go bankrupt if you participate in every opportunity, but pick a few each year to be involved in. While these types of activities may offer no outward return on investment, they will get your spa’s name out in the community. Eventually, people will talk about your spa’s commitment to charitable giving.

· Give them something to talk about. What is unique or special about your spa? Do you offer an original one-of-a-kind treatment like the spa in Virginia, which offers a pedicure with live fish? Make sure your clients know about it. Most clients will be afraid to try a service involving tiny flesh eating fish, but they will love to talk about it. And your spa may not have fish, but what does it have? A great view, a signature service, or a luxurious treatment room is all it takes to get people talking about your spa, simply ensure each and every client is given exposure to the one aspect of your spa which makes it a stand out.

Try a few of these tips and you will be surprised how fast they get your clients promoting your spa in the community.

According to a July 2008 study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 8% of Americans or 24 million people suffer from Diabetes. With so many people afflicted with this disease, it is likely some clients who book pedicure treatments in your spa will have diabetes. For a spa owner or manager, a diabetic client will mean a deviation from your spa’s normal pedicure routine in order to treat the client safely.

In general, pedicures and diabetes are a dangerous mix. Some of the complications of the disease - poor circulation, difficulty healing, and decreased sensitivity in the feet due to nerve damage can be exacerbated if the client is diabetic. In order to execute safe and satisfying pedicure treatments for diabetic clients, ensure your staff are equipped and trained to handle special clients. Try these tips in your spa.

· Educate yourself and your staff. Diabetes comes in two forms, Type 1 and 2. Type 1 diabetics are insulin dependent and are more likely to suffer from the physical symptoms, particularly in advanced stages of the disease. Type 2 diabetics produce their own insulin, but their bodies are resistant to it. It is possible for someone to be a type 2 diabetic for several years without knowing it. For this reason it is important for you and your staff to know the signs and symptoms of this disease in order to accurately recognize the signs of this disease in case the client does not disclose the information.

· Conduct a medical history and background evaluation with the client before performing the treatment. Allowing the client to share information about the disease will give you a better idea of what pedicure treatments will be harmful to the client. According to The Salon Professional’s Guide to Footcare by Godfrey Mix a physical evaluation of the feet and legs should be conducted as well. He recommends that the feet, skin and hair growth should look normal as these are all indications of good circulation. He mentions, “if the foot becomes discolored, bluish or deep reddish, when it is on the floor, this indicates very poor circulation.” He also recommends ensuring the client has normal feeling in their feet.

· Consult a physician first. If for any reason you feel hesitant or unsafe performing the treatment in the spa, have the client consult their physician before you begin.

· Be spotlessly clean. Keep in mind that diabetics are much more susceptible to infection than healthy people. Even if the equipment has been sanitized, it may be advisable to do it again.

· Use warm water to soak feet. Water should not be too hot for a diabetic. In his book Godfrey mix suggests that the water stay at or below 100 degrees.

· Avoid using sharp tools or use with extreme caution. In addition to being more likely to get an infection, diabetics heal slowly and occasionally—not at all. Keep metal nail files, nail clippers, and other sharp objects away from diabetic’s feet if you are concerned about causing a small cut or scrape.

If done properly, a pedicure treatment can be very beneficial and therapeutic for a diabetic client. It will create a very loyal client for your business and keep them coming back month after month.

Even the smallest day spa has a dry room where massages, facials, and thermal heat treatments occur. But if you want to add treatments to your menu like Vichy showers, hydrotherapy, and messier body treatments like mud or seaweed, then you will need to install a wet room. If you are planning to remodel your current spa or are designing a new spa from scratch, wet treatment rooms will be an important (and expensive) part of your design. Of course, in most cases, the decision to include a wet room would be made by the spa owner, or the spa manager/director in collaboration with the owners.

Before you make any decision regarding your spa’s wet room ask yourself some questions and create a plan of action based on the answers. How much square footage can you devote to you wet room? What treatments and services would you like to add if you had a wet room? Would you have the money and the space to have more than one wet treatment room? What equipment would you need to invest in? What is your budget? The answer to these questions will help you determine the following:

· square footage needed for the wet room

· number of wet rooms to add

· the equipment needed for each wet room to support your treatment options

The first factor to consider when building your spa wet room is space. By now you should have a rough idea of your space needs. If you are an existing day spa, consider where the space will come from. Will you build an addition or convert dry treatment rooms to wet? If you are converting treatment rooms, don’t forget to crunch your numbers. Your revenue projection for each wet room should exceed what the room made for dry treatments to ensure the room will pay for itself over time. Also, consider your clients and employee comfort. Your wet room should provide enough space for a three foot circle around each tub or table and it should house at least an average sized shower with a 4×4 giving the client even more room and a higher level of comfort. Space in a spa is very important; make sure you plan wisely at the beginning to avoid costly mistakes.

The second factor to keep in mind when setting up your spa wet room is cost. This will be a major capital expenditure and you need to budget accordingly. Not only will you need to worry about the cost of equipment (hydrotherapy tubs, Vichy showers and wet tables) but you need to consider the cost of building the room itself. A wet room needs a drain and proper plumbing to operate the showers and tubs. The whole room will need to be rebuilt with cement board, and tiled so that it can get wet. An electrician will need to be consulted to ensure you have access to a power source in the room and that it is set up to stay dry and safe. Other miscellaneous costs to consider are lighting and cabinetry.

While size and cost are major concerns, so are sanitation and safety in a wet room. As previously mentioned, your wet room will most likely be tiled. Be sure to choose a tile that is textured rather than smooth to ensure clients and employees do not slip on the wet floor. Additionally, build your wet room with some type of ventilation system in order to slow the growth of mold and mildew which are common in wet rooms.

Adding a wet room to your spa will be a useful and profitable addition to your other treatments and services. Approach the project with a space plan, budget, and an idea of what client treatment needs the new wet room will serve.

If you have always dreamed of working in a spa, now is the time to do it. The spa industry is growing at a rapid rate, with the US alone contributing over 230,000 jobs to the spa industry. Add up the numbers worldwide and there are a lot of potential job opportunities for the knowledgeable front desk professional. The keys here are “knowledgeable” and “industry specific”. Anyone can sit at a desk and answer a phone, but employers in the spa industry are looking for front desk employees with spa education or experience.

What are potential employers looking for? They want someone who is familiar with the spa business. Answering phones and greeting customers at a law firm (or any other receptionist type position) is very different than working the front desk of a spa. In a spa, the front desk professional sets the tone for a client’s entire visit. First impressions are critical and front desk management is essential to a successful spa.

Properly executed front desk management goes beyond making a great first impression for clients on the phone or entering the spa. Other skills needed are the ability to monitor staffing and the length of various treatments, tracking appointments with reservation software, and basic computer skills. Additionally, the front desk professional needs to be well spoken and know how to resolve client issues, complete departure interviews, and sell retail products.

A frequent comment from progressive spa owners: “The front desk is an important job. Up front there are a lot of balls to juggle and systems to know. The clients notice quickly if something isn’t right. So I only hire people who already know how to work in a spa.”

Without experience, education is the only way to learn about the spa industry. Read books and magazines on the subject, check out websites related to the industry, and most importantly take a class which will teach all of the ins and outs of the business. Upon successful completion of a class in front desk management you will have a credential to add to your resume. This qualification will show potential employers that you are a front desk professional armed with the industry specific training needed to make you successful in their spa.

The Institute of Spa Management, the leaders in online spa management training, just announced a new program for 2009 — Front Desk Spa Management: Reservations, Retail and Front Desk Supervision (Winter 2009).