Weekly Roundup: Spa Talk With Industry Leaders

Check out some of the Spa Talk features that we've posted to our website over the past few months. It's so interesting to hear all about how these spa directors got to where they are today and the challenges they've faced (and continue to face) in the industry. 

Photo credit: Shane Upson

Spa Talk With Shane Upson of Lapis, the Spa at Fontainebleau: Shane Upson has been in the hospitality industry for 29 years. He got his start in the spa industry working at the front desk, and since then has held leadership roles at many top spas in the U.S., including Away Spa at W South Beach (Miami Beach, FL) and W Las Vegas; Waldorf Astoria Spa at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas; and Serrano Spa at Yaamava Resort & Casino (Highland, CA), which was named a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star spa early this year. Most recently, Upson was named director of spa and wellness at Lapis, the spa at Fontainebleau at Fontainebleau Miami Beach (FL).

Photo credit: Kelly Gasspari-Fleming

Spa Talk With Kelly Gasspari-Fleming of Waldorf Astoria 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. She believes that the 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," she says.

Photo credit: Clinton Cox

Spa Talk With Clinton Cox of OH! Spa at The Preserve: Meet Clinton Cox, spa director at OH! Spa at The Preserve (Richmond, RI), who has 14 years of experience in the spa industry. He says that the most rewarding part of being in the spa industry, is that it is a tight-knit family. "We share the same goals, motivation, and challenges, which leads us to always staying in touch and assisting each other in sharing ideas, concepts, and strategies," he says.

Photo credit: Taniesha Boursiquot

Spa Talk With Taniesha Boursiquot of Waldorf Astoria Spa Atlanta: Meet Taniesha Boursiquot, director of spa and wellness at Waldorf Astoria Spa at Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead, who has been in the spa and hospitality industry for seven years. She says that one of her strongest characteristics is that she has learned how to adapt, find my strengths and weaknesses, and approach them head-on. 

Photo credit: Shana Ominsky

Spa Talk With Shana Ominsky of LakeHouse Spa: Meet Shana Ominsky, spa director of LakeHouse Spa at Lake Austin Spa Resort (TX), who has been in the spa and hospitality industry for 25 years as a spa director at various locations prior to joining LakeHouse Spa, such as The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara (CA); The Fairmont Spa at Claremont Club & Spa (Berkeley, CA), Spa Montage at Montage Deer Valley (Park City, UT), and The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula New York. 

 

Spa Talk With Sabine Schanzenbach of The Dolder Grand Spa: Meet

Photo credit: Sabine Schanzenbach

, director of spa at The Dolder Grand Spa, who has been in the spa and hospitality industry for 15 years. She says that her passion and enthusiasm for sports, wellness, and relaxation is what led her into the spa industry.