StarrCast

Jim Chenevey left the world of top-five consulting and international business to take ownership of Living Earth Crafts/Earthlite 20 years ago, and has never looked back. In our conversation, Chenevey reflects on owning and managing this global leader of massage & wellness equipment and product manufacturing, with annual sales of over 37k products across 193 countries. Chenevey's passion for wellness, people and the planet is evident throughout all aspects of company operations, and despite the challenges of operating across international borders and in the internet era, he believes the positive momentum for wellness will continue to grow.

In the U.S., not only are massage therapists and estheticians licensed by different boards, these boards have different requirements for licensure in each of our 50 states, making it very difficult for therapists to work beyond their initial licensed area. However, change is looming; Deirdre Strunk, VP of Spa, Beauty, Fitness & Retail for Canyon Ranch, and a member on the Compact for Licensure task force, reports on the movement underway to update these generations-old regulations.

In spring of 2022, much of the world is receding from an active pandemic, although the results still linger. We check in with two spa leaders, Aldina Duarte-Ramos of Accor and Four Seasons' Christelle Besnier on how the spa and wellness industry is recovering in Europe and the Middle East. Recorded live at We Work Well EMEA 2022.

Wellness is in big demand, attracting developers who want to create projects with wellness elements; but the first question always is, where is the data? While we have excellent broad numbers on many wellness-related silos courtesy of the Global Wellness Institute, at the intersection of wellness and hospitality there is a dearth of detailed data on how spa and wellness components affect ADR or occupancy, or which particular services or experiences are in most demand. National Director of Hospitality Analytics for CoStar Jan Freitag, and Laszlo Puczko, Wellness Tourism expert and Co-founder of HTWW, share their insights on why this is such a difficult challenge, and how we might move forward.

Consumers today want wellness at every turn, including while traveling, and hotels are always promoting their wellness offerings, which may or may not be relevant to that guest. But did you know that in German-speaking Europe you could stay in a qualified "Wellness Hotel?" Wellness Hotels & Resorts has been certifying hotels for their quality of stay, food & environment for over 25 years! Managing Partner Michael Altewischer and Brand Ambassador Wilfried Dreckmann explain how a property becomes a Wellness Hotel, and what to expect.

Now that "wellness" is front and center, you can find the term everywhere. While that's probably a good thing, it can also create confusion for those seeking information online. Julie Keller Callaghan and Heather Mikesell of Well Defined discuss how they position their website, and the process of sifting through information to provide content that is relevant for both consumers and professionals.

The world has approximately 160k spas, so what makes one more special than the next? Tune in to hear highly-regarded spa consultants Tracy Lee and her colleague Michael Lahm share their process behind the vision and planning that goes into the creation of a unique spa and wellness retreat.

Hotel spas were among the hardest hit during the pandemic, but their recovery looks bright. US leaders of spa & wellness for both Hilton Worldwide and Marriott join us to share their current operations status, and future growth plans and projections, which are very positive! After a 40% revenue decline in 2020, many are beating 2019 revenues, and experiencing strong pricing power and momentum.

Consumers are seeking businesses that can deliver personal wellness while acknowledging the greater needs of a healthy planet. We chat with Michael Stusser, Co-Founder of GSNPlanet, and Lucy Brialey, Co-Founder and Director of the Sustainable Spa Association, about the mission of their organizations, and the extensive tools they provide to guide wellness businesses on sustainable operations.