Back for its third edition, American Spa’s Women in Wellness Awards honor those who are making an impact in the industry and beyond. These exceptional women are transforming the wellness world with their noteworthy contributions such as serving on related industry boards and organizations, discovering untapped opportunities, giving back, and bringing their unique perspective to all that they do. Nominated by their peers and chosen by acclaimed wellness journalists, these women are showing they’re a force with which to be reckoned.
From August 26 through September 4, American Spa will be announcing one new winner and two finalists of the 2019 Women in Wellness Awards each day. Today, discover the Spa Director of the Year.
Spa Director: This award honors a female spa director who leads a successful team and inspires her staff, her employer, and her clients with savvy business skills, courage, integrity, fairness, and creativity.
Winner: Tammy Pahel, director of spa, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort;
founder and principle, Spa Management Solutions
With an innate talent for developing world-class spas and wellness facilities, Tammy Pahel began her career in 1989 as executive director at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort (Farmington, PA). She also led spa operations at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa (Phoenix), The Spa at Caesar’s Palace (Las Vegas), and Deer Lake Lodge & Spa (Montgomery, TX). In 1999, Pahel founded Spa Management Solutions (SMS), a spa consulting and management company. She also served on the International Spa Association (ISPA) Board for four years and participated for an additional eight years on various ISPA committees. More recently, she led the creation of a successful collaboration at Turnberry Isle Miami (FL) with spa-equipment brand Gharieni, an integrative-medicine company, and more. The unique partnership led to the rebranding of the spa to Âme Spa & Wellness Collective. Today, Pahel is director of spa at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort (FL) and manages a team of 100 professionals. “Tammy is a visionary,” says Kim Marshall, founder and principle of The Marshall Plan. “Unlike other spa directors with years of experience who take the tried-and-true safe route, Tammy is bold enough to adapt to the changing times and use her years of accumulated know-how to create ‘the next evolution in wellness’ wherever she goes.”
FINALIST: Terry Prager, director of spa and wellness, The Spa at The Estate Yountville (CA)
Terry Prager is the director of spa and wellness at The Spa at The Estate, one of Napa Valley’s premiere wellness facilities in Yountville, CA. Prager joined the management team with more than 30 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, bringing her valuable insight into the day-to-day operations to further elevate the overall guest experience.Prior to her role at The Estate Yountville, Prager held the positions of vice president of development and vice president of operations at ESPA. Here, she secured many five-star accounts and was responsible for the overall management of operations, ensuring outstanding luxury guest experiences. From 2009-2012, she oversaw 16 of ESPA’s international facilities and management teams, and the opening of several world-class spas in Europe such as Bulgari Milan, Bulgari London, and Metropole Monte Carlo. Before her roles at ESPA, Prager served as spa director at a number of well-known hotels and resorts, including The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman, Delano Hotel in Miami, and more. Prager also served as the Chair on the Advisory Council for the Florida Spa Association for two years prior to moving to her current position as spa director.
FINALIST: Sienna Creasy, Spa Director, Playa Hotels & Resorts (Jamaica)
Sienna Creasy discovered her passion for wellbeing during her years at the University of New Hampshire where she became a certified fitness instructor, all while pursuing dual undergraduate degrees. She branched out into both yoga and Pilates prior to graduation when she joined the United States Peace Corps. Her passion for service and spreading peace initially brought her to Bangladesh before spending a second term in Jamaica, which subsequently inspired the creation of her signature, trademarked Reggaelates. Creasy’s pursuit of wellbeing eventually brought her to Thailand and India where she was trained by masters at the top of their field. Trained by the very best in class, Creasy holds certifications in yoga, Thai Yoga Massage, Ayurveda and many more healing arts therapies. After years of study and immersion into the foundation of spa and overall wellness, she returned to Jamaica to continue her journey as the spa director for renowned resorts including GoldenEye Resort, Strawberry Hill Hotel and The Caves Hotel. Her accomplishments include private label product lines, wellness retreats and designing the 30,000-square-foot Grande Spa, home to the Caribbean’s largest Himalayan salt lounge at the Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa. Currently, Creasy is the spa director for Playa Hotels & Resorts and is currently responsible for Laramir Spa, which is part of the Hyatt all-inclusive flagships—Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana resorts—scheduled to open fall 2019. In her free time, Creasy teaches Reggaelates and yoga workshops at intentional wellness centers including the Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, and the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health.
Congrats to our winner and finalists of the Spa Director category. Check back tomorrow for the Brand Founder of the Year. Stay tuned on American Spa online, as well on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more info about the winners and finalists of the 2019 Women in Wellness Awards as well as upcoming Women in Wellness Leadership Conferences.
RELATED STORIES:
2019 Women In Wellness Awards: Educator And Trainer Of The Year
2019 Women In Wellness Awards: Philanthropist Of The Year
2019 Women In Wellness Awards: Industry Insider Of The Year
2019 Women in Wellness Awards: Environmental Leader of the Year
2019 Women in Wellness Awards: PR and Marketing Guru of the Year