Virtual Spa & Wellness Show Launches May 26

Spa Hospitality Expo 2010

The first virtual trade show for professionals in the global Spa & Wellness Market opens May 26, live and interactive on the Internet, the show runs for 90 days.

Hosted by Healing Arts Guide, Spa Hospitality Expo takes the most successful elements of traditional events and brings these elements into a virtual world. Attendees at a very high level have registered to enjoy free education, product demos, event networking, presentations and prizesMore then forty of the best suppliers are exhibiting in two virtual trade show floors. Attendees will be able to chat live with executives from each company, source new products, receive free education and discounts on first orders from most brands.

Jeffrey Hollander, Founder & CEO of Seventh Generation will deliver the Key Note address on May 27. The topic of his presentation: The Responsibility Revolution, How The Next Generation Of Businesses Will Win. “We are excited to have Jeffrey deliver the Key Note address for the first virtual exposition in the Wellness Market”, said Jed Horowitz, founder of Healing Arts. “Responsible capitalism is a topic we have covered extensively since our inception six years ago.”

“Advanced digital delivery of content is an imperative for the Spa & Wellness market,” said Mr. Horowitz. “SHE gives brands exposure and reach at a fraction of the cost of traditional shows, eliminates travel and creates linked integrated solutions for suppliers. We are delivering a new low cost high reach program for our sponsors and connecting them with buyers around the globe in a new dynamic platform.”

For more information and registration visit www.healingartsguide.com

New World Comfort, Old World Charm - Secret Garden Spa

Often called the “Prettiest Town in Canada,” Niagara on the Lake, Ontario is famous for it’s history, charm and stunning gardens. Beautiful baskets hang from historic lamp posts and seasonal flowers dot the landscape in this turn of the century town. Niagara on the Lake’s floral charm is carried through the Prince of Wales Hotel, where uniquely coloured roses can be seen and smelled at every turn.

The Prince of Wales Hotel is the jewel of the Vintage Hotels group, located in the heart of Niagara on the Lake, just steps from the Shaw Festival Theatre. With a strong British influence carried throughout the property from spa treatments to traditional afternoon tea, the four diamond Prince of Wales Hotel is a regal oasis.

With only four treatment rooms, the Secret Garden Spa is small in size, yet big in comfort. An inviting fireplace, tropical aquarium and intimate conversation areas create a relaxing space to await the start of a treatment. My treatment was early on a rainy Sunday morning, so a warm herbal tea from the offering table and cozy fireplace were welcome.

On this visit to the Secret Garden Spa, I enjoyed the Pineapple-Colada Tea Wrap. Speacialtea Treatments at the Secret Garden Spa incorporate red, green and white teas. Its the perfect blend of traditional tea and indulgent spa treatment. Beginning with an invigorating scrub to slough off dry winter skin, my entire body was wrapped in a delicious smelling cocktail of pineapple and rooibos tea. While I relaxed into the soothing warmth of the wrap, complete with heated blankets, my therapist performed a pressure point scalp massage. This treatment was completed with a hydrating and anti-oxidant coconut massage crème. What a perfect way to start my day! I was left with silky smooth skin. The only thing missing was a mini-facial – my face definitely felt a little neglected. The mini facial would have been the perfect compliment to the wrap.

The Head to Toe Tea Taster, combines three of the Secret Garden Spa’s “Specialtea” treatments. These tea-infused treatments include the Silk Road Tea Facial, the Green Tea and Sugar Cane Pedicure and the Pineapple-Colada Tea Wrap. Definitely the thing for this tea-totaler to try on the next visit!

Guests of the Secret Garden Spa may also use the sauna, steam, whirlpool and indoor pool. Lush robes and slippers are provided on arrival for guest use as well. I love the touch of slippers, rather than traditional spa sandals. This little touch definitely makes you feel more at home.

Prince of Wales Hotel, Secret Garden Spa

~ Jennifer Houtby-Ferguson, Spas of America. When not experiencing spas in Hawaii, Jennifer spends her time whale watching on Vancouver Island.

Saskatchewan spa closed over health concerns

WATROUS, Sask. - There's a storm a-brewin' at a luxury resort north of Regina where health inspectors ordered a mineral spa closed this weekend over health and safety concerns.

Dwight Hayter, CEO of the Manitou Springs Hotel and Mineral Spa, said Saturday he's got "24 layoffs and a hotel full of unhappy guests" on his hands.

"We don't think this was necessary," he said, acknowledging there are problems with the spa but insisting he wasn't given enough time to fix them.

"To have another month, month-and-a-half extension on such an important issue as this, we didn't think was a stretch."

But deputy medical health officer John Opondo said the spa has been on probation for more than two years.

"We have been working with them progressively, we've had provincial partners involved in a peer review process to really try and bring them into compliance," said Opondo.

"There's a risk of disease transmission, there's a risk of injury, there's a real risk of death."

The resort's pool licence was revoked after inspectors found the water filtration system wasn't working properly.

The issue lies with the pool's 23 skimmers, which circulate the water through a central filter.

Engineers say that because of the high amount of minerals in the water, 19 of them are no longer working.

On its website, hotel management noted that the resort itself remains open — only the pool is closed.

"Manitou Springs agrees that most of our skimmers are plugged with a very hard encrustation, resulting from 23 years of mineral salt build-up, on the inside of the skimmer piping," said the notice.

However, hotel officials said they are actually running the water through the filters nearly four times more than the regulations require and are draining off water every night and topping up the pool with fresh lake water.

"Our management team would like to express that we are doing everything within our power to try to resolve the situation so we can open up our spa once again," said the notice. "We will be attempting to clear the block skimmers very soon with a special liquid and we are optimistic with the results."

Hotel officials stressed there's no record of anyone becoming ill from the golden waters of the mineral spa — "at least not within the last 10 years for sure."

"We ultimately view this as an unfair attack on what we feel is a world-class resort and spa."

(CTV Regina, The Canadian Press)