SPA FINDER HOSTS FIRST-EVER SPA THERAPIST RETREAT

Retreat at Red Mountain Adventure Spa Gives Therapists Opportunity to Luxuriate in Destination Spa Experience, While Enjoying Educational Sessions

New York, NY—September 19, 2002 — Spa Finder (www.spafinder.com), the leading spa travel, marketing and publishing company, today announced its first-annual Spa Therapist Retreat. The Retreat is available to massage therapists, aestheticians and spa support staff at the over 1,000 day spas that are members of the Spa Finder Partner Program, an initiative that was developed last year to better realize the synergies between Day and Stay Spas.

At the core of the retreat is the desire to give therapists and other spa staff the opportunity to experience a destination spa firsthand, while spending time networking and enjoying educational/inspirational sessions on topics that interest them (including avoiding burnout and creating customized spa programs to increase client retention and participation). Guest speaker Anne Bramham founder of the Bramham Institute, which offers spa professionals the most comprehensive spa curriculum in the industry, will share her "whole body approach" to spa therapy.

"Therapists give a tremendous amount of themselves everyday—helping others through the process of renewal and rejuvenation on a daily basis," said Pete Ellis, CEO of Spa Finder. "We developed this retreat as another way to serve our partner spas, giving their therapists a unique opportunity to visit a destination spa and to take a much-needed break to recharge, refocus and get re-energized.

The Spa Finder Therapist Retreat follows the same general agenda/philosophy of the successful spa owner/manager retreats Spa Finder has hosted throughout the year. During the retreat, therapists will have free time each day to enjoy fitness classes, spa treatments or individual reflection. The afternoons will be saved for focusing on educational break-out sessions and networking opportunities.

The 3-night/4-day retreat is just $450 double occupancy ($550 single occupancy) and includes deluxe accommodations, gourmet spa cuisine, fitness activities and lifestyle education. The retreat cost is largely underwritten by Red Mountain The Adventure Spa, Spa Finder, and retreat sponsors Golden Ratio and Eminence Organics.

"We truly believe therapists will benefit from familiarizing themselves with the destination spa experience—both on a personal and professional level," said Ellis.

The intimate networking retreat at Red Mountain Adventure Spa (St. George, Utah) takes place November 17-20. Therapists can register by calling Spa Finder at 212-924-6800, ext. 247.

About Spa Finder Travel
As the world's leading spa travel reservation service, Spa Finder has been considered the spa authority since its founding in 1986. As the largest aggregator of content and information on spas, Spa Finder has streamlined the booking of spa vacations—connecting more spa goers with their ideal spa experience. The New York Times recently cited the founding of Spa Finder as a milestone in the growth of the worldwide spa industry. In addition to Spa Finder Travel, the Company publishes Spa Finder Magazine, the leading publication devoted to spa travel and healthy lifestyles and operates www.spafinder.com, the most complete Internet source for the spa experience.

Media Contacts:

Cassandra Cavanah
([email protected])
RBI Communications, Inc.
323.960.1360 ext. 30

Betsy Isroelit
RBI Communications, Inc.
323.960.1360 ext. 17
([email protected])