Spa Insider

What separates an exceptional spa from an average one? In this episode of Spa Insider , John Cowan sits down with Ginger McLean , Executive Director of Spa & Wellness at Revival Spa at Renault Winery Resort, to explore the leadership principles behind unforgettable guest experiences and high-performing spa teams. With more than 25 years of hospitality leadership experience, Ginger shares pract...

In this episode of Spa Insider, host John Cowan sits down with Mary Bemis, founder of Insider's Guide to Spas, co-founder of Organic Spa Magazine, and the launch editor of American Spa Magazine. Having spent nearly three decades documenting the evolution of the spa industry, Mary offers a thoughtful perspective on where spa has been, where it's headed, and why its most important principles...

Are spas leaving money on the table without realizing it? In this episode of Spa Insider, host John Cowan sits down with Frank Pitsikalis, CMO and SVP of Product Strategy at Agilysys and founder of ResortSuite and to explore the hidden opportunities that can dramatically improve spa profitability, guest experience, and operational performance. Drawing from decades of experience and insights gained...

What does it mean to create wellness for all? We explored that question on this episode with Jean-Guy de Gabriac, founder of World Wellness Weekend, who shares his vision for making wellness more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for people around the world. Jean-Guy explains how World Wellness Weekend has grown into a global movement spanning more than 11,000 venues and 20,000 activities, all...

What separates high-performing spa teams from the rest? We dug into just that on this week's Spa Insider episode with Jennifer Holzworth, Vice President of Spa & Wellness Operations at Montage International and member of the ISPA Board of Directors, who shares the leadership principles, operational strategies, and team development practices that drive exceptional guest experiences and busi...

How can you incorporate wellness into every touchpoint of your spa experience and do it effectively? Tammy Pahel, who oversees spa and wellness at Carillon Wellness Resort Miami and serves as chief wellness officer for Alchemy Resorts, explains how: Carillon integrates wellness across the guest experience, from a 70,000-square-foot spa and functional medicine to AI beds, in-room yoga, and 250 week...

How do great spas create emotional connection with guests? In this episode, Sara Jones, Managing Director & Editor of Spa & Wellness MexiCaribe Magazine and consultant at AraSpa Consulting, shares her perspective on how culture, personalization, and human connection shape truly memorable spa hospitality experiences. We also discuss:• How cultural nuance shapes spa hospitality • The psychol...

What actually makes a luxury spa experience feel memorable? In this episode of the Spa Insider Podcast, Taylor Fields, Corporate Director of Spa, Wellness, & Retail at PCH Hotels & Resorts & ISPA Board Member, shares lessons in creating luxury spa experiences through southern hospitality, personalized service, staff empowerment, and thoughtful guest experience design. From reading gues...

We sit down with Maria Ramos, a six-figure esthetician and founder of the “Money Making Esthetician” community, the largest professional esthetics group on the internet. Maria shares how authenticity, openness around mental health, and smart marketing strategies helped her build both a thriving aesthetics business and a supportive industry platform. The conversation also explores client-building t...

We’re joined by legendary spa and wellness consultant Amy McDonald -- former Miraval spa executive and Global Wellness Summit’s Leading Woman in Wellness -- for a conversation that challenges how spas should think about growth. Amy didn’t follow a traditional path. She built her career (and helped shape some of the world’s most successful wellness properties) by staying relentlessly curious. In th...

She used to open for Britney Spears. Now she opens spas that make every guest feel like a celebrity. Christina Stratton owns multiple spas, built and sold a boutique spa management firm, and later shaped guest experience globally as Chief Experience Officer at Arch Amenities. On this episode of Spa Insider, we explore what music and spa hospitality have in common: How do you take someone on a jour...

In this episode, Nicole Stewart , Spa Director at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards, walks us through her 18-month journey launching a luxury spa at a destination resort in Appalachia. Nicole shares the lessons she learned along the way — from staffing challenges and training for service excellence to designing experiences guests genuinely remember. This conversation blends practical insight with he...

In this episode of Spa Insider , John Cowan, CMO and Co-Owner of Universal Companies, sits down with Tony Angel, Director of Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, recently named the #1 Best Hotel Spa in the U.S. by USA Today . Tony shares what it truly means to deliver an exceptional guest experience, from the small, thoughtful touches to the deeply personal service moments that guests re...