Spa Finder, Inc., the global spa resource, is stepping up its international marketing strategy with the launches of Spa Finder Europe and Spa Finder Japan this month. The new Spa Finder ventures will offer regionally targeted spa consumer websites throughout Europe (www.spafindereurope.com), beginning with the UK (www.spafinderuk.co.uk) and Ireland (www.spafinder.ie), and in Japan (www.spafinderjapan.jp). The new sites feature Spa Finder's industry-leading spa property database and research tools, each tailored to reflect the spa-going tastes and preferences of its market while promoting visits to local, regional and global spa destinations. Online shoppers will also have the ability to purchase Spa Finder Gift Certificates/Vouchers, which can be used at the finest spas in Europe and Japan.Details of the Spa Finder Europe rollout were announced on Wednesday, June 7th in London. Spa Finder Japan will hold its media event in Tokyo on Monday, June 19th.
Spas - A Global Industry
'Today 'spa' is, by nature, a global industry - with great spas all around the world and people all around the world who are interested in visiting them,' said Spa Finder, Inc. CEO Pete Ellis. 'Spa information, meanwhile, is also becoming more complex, with the emergence of new spa models such as medical spas, spa real estate communities, cosmetic spas, and others. As always, our mission is to be the information and marketing bridge that brings it all together. In the past that meant integrating the world of spa for the North American market; now it also means integrating the world of spa for other strong markets - beginning with Europe and Japan. This regionally-focused approach is good news for spa-goers in those areas, and for all the different types of spas worldwide who would like their business.'
Global Reach, Regional Effort
To illustrate his point, Ellis notes that Japanese spa consumers, who will be targeted by Spa Finder Japan, account for roughly half of all spa travel throughout Asia and Hawaii. The new SpaFinderJapan.jp site will provide these active spa travelers with the first Japanese-language integrated spa information resource to research spa properties, while in turn providing spas throughout the Pacific (and worldwide) with a low-cost way to showcase their properties to in-market Japanese spa consumers and generate incremental business.
The European and Japan Spa Finder sites will enlist regional spa properties to participate in Spa Finder Gift Certificate/Voucher Programs and will carry unique online advertising for product companies and other non-competing advertisers related to spa travel. Spa Finder's Inc.'s Gift Certificate program is the world's largest, with more than 3,500 spa properties under redemption contract. Ellis will sit on the board of directors for each of the new ventures to ensure the integrity and consistency of Spa Finder's global brand and programs.
Spa Finder Europe Company Details
Spa Finder Europe, Ltd. is a joint venture between Spa Finder Europe principals and Spa Finder, Inc. The company will be headed by Kevin Turnbull, who worked closely with Pete Ellis on another successful Internet-based marketing venture as CEO of Autobytel UK and director of Autobytel Europe, introducing the Internet automotive marketing concept across Europe. More recently, Turnbull has acted as director of Daimler Chrysler UK's luxury car brand division, overseeing sales and marketing for the ultra-luxurious Maybach and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren - brands that epitomize luxury in the automotive sector. Turnbull also was also a group director of Inchcape plc, a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, and CEO of Toad plc, a technology business start-up for which he raised over $30 million during its successful listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Spa Finder Japan Company Details
Spa Finder Japan is a joint venture and licensing agreement between Conceptasia Inc., one of Asia's leading spa consulting and management companies, and Spa Finder, Inc. Co-founded by Yoriko Soma and Suzanne Ng, Conceptasia's spa clients, which include Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Mandara Spa Tokyo and Windsor Hotel, have consistently been ranked among the top-10 spas in Japan. Ms. Soma, chairman of Conceptasia Inc., is also a partner in Ajia Partners, one of Asia's most active private equity firms. Ms. Ng, president of Conceptasia, has more than 15 years of experience in the spa industry. She is recognized as one of the pioneers in the development of the Asian spa industry and has launched spas in New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong and South East Asia.
About Spa Finder, Inc.
As the world's largest spa marketing and media company, Spa Finder reaches millions of health conscious consumers via its award-winning website, SpaFinder.com. The company publishes Luxury SpaFinder Magazine, the trusted authority on luxury spas and associated lifestyles; The Spa Enthusiast®, a leading publication for active spa-goers; as well as its annual Spa Finder Worldwide Directory, the ultimate spa-goers' resource. Spa Finder also operates the world's largest spa gift certificate and incentive programs as well as the Spa Distribution Network, the Internet's first online spa booking program.