Spa Talk With Kelly Gasspari-Fleming of Waldorf Astoria Spa Chicago

Meet Kelly Gasspari-Fleming, director of spa and wellness at Waldorf Astoria Spa Chicago, who has almost 30 years of experience in the spa and hospitality industry.

Photo credit: Kelly Gasspari-Fleming

What was the path that led you into the spa industry? 

I went to beauty school while I was still in high school and became a licensed nail technician. To support myself and my goals, I worked part-time as a pool attendant at a nearby hotel where I greeted members, folded towels, and scrubbed pool tiles. I was only 16 years old. Shortly after I graduated high school, I became a professional nail technician and makeup artist working in a luxury salon just outside of Chicago. Four years later, I migrated to a spa and salon environment in downtown Chicago. The spa I was working at was adjacent to a luxury hotel--it was my first glimpse into luxury hospitality and a celebrity clientele. After making a decision to retire as a nail tech a couple of years later, I went into the food and beverage side of hospitality, and although I loved working in food and beverage, I desperately missed the spa environment. A golf resort 30 minutes west of downtown Chicago was hiring for a spa supervisor. I met with the spa director and she saw a natural leader in me, taking a chance on a 25-year-old girl, so it was then that I entered my first leadership role. Within two years, I was promoted to spa director and it has been full speed ahead ever since.

What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of being in the spa industry? 

The most challenging is convincing everyone I do not receive massages every day and I am actually running a pretty complex business. The most rewarding part is the teams I work with and the skill set required to be able to run this type of operation, each and every day is unique and different.

What is your proudest accomplishment?  

Getting the opportunity to guest host an Austrian skincare line live on QVC, I followed Joan Rivers one night and felt like I was dreaming.

What has surprised you most about working in the spa industry? 

The resilience of it. I’ve lived through the financial crisis of 2008 and COVID-19 in 2020, and the bounce back we experienced both times was nothing short of incredible.

Where do you think the industry is heading?  

Our industry is shifting cultures right now that is creating foundations of wellness and self-care. Spas are becoming a priority of life as opposed to a luxury, which is the most important lesson we can teach.  

What’s your favorite skincare ingredient? 

Everything that makes up Biologique Recherché P50 Lotion. I do not go a day without using it.

What positions have you worked in that you feel have been most influential to your career? 

A licensed nail technician, bartender, pool attendant, live guest host on QVC, task force for boutique hotel spas, project manager for pre-openings, and a consultant.

Was there a time you had to make a decision in your career that ended up changing your destiny? How did you handle that challenge and what was your thought process?  

When I decided to retire from being a nail tech at a very young age. I had no idea what I was going to do until I was considered for a leadership role in the spa industry. To this day, I still pinch myself.  

If you could work in any other profession in the world, what would you be? 

A private pilot.

How would you sum up your personal philosophy? 

Stay mindful, balanced, and genuine, the rest just falls into place. 

How do you like to spend your time away from work? 

Relaxing. I love to practice meditation, and I am obsessed with sound baths right now. My husband and I love to travel. We have a goal to visit every Waldorf Astoria in the U.S. and we also have two rescue Siberian huskies that keep us pretty busy and love to go for long walks in the woods. 

What are your three greatest priorities in life? 

To stay humble, lead with purpose, and practice self-love as often as possible.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?  

You are your own greatest power, harness it.