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Sustainable quenching – stay hydrated with a new water bottle
I have been faithfully holding on to a refillable PVC water bottle for years. But it is time for a new one, as the lid is now leaking. I won’t get rid of it just [...]
Empowering Micropreneur Teachers to run their Yoga Businesses
Talking to Wellness people that care, is always fun for me. And even more fun it is to share these insights with you. Today, this is about yoga businesses. I have been in touch with [...]
Meine neue Website AnjaYoga.com / My new website AnjaYoga.com
*please scroll further down for an English Translation* Tadaaaaah! Es ist soweit, es gibt eine neue Website AnjaYoga: www.anjayoga.com. Auf der neuen Seite AnjaYoga publiziere ich meine Artikel und meinen Yoga Stundenplan in Deutsch, [...]
5 Geschenk-Ideen für Yogis und Yoginis
Weihnachten... Und wie jedes Jahr zerbrichst Du dir den Kopf, wen du womit beschenken kannst… Deshalb komme ich heute mit Geschenk-Ideen für Yogis daher. In diesem seltsamen Jahr 2020 ist alles irgendwie anders. Es geht [...]
Joining Yoga teachers around the World in teaching live online Yoga classes
I don’t think that such a large amount of people have ever before practised yoga@home like during those past few months. The pandemic has changed our lifestyles quite dramatically, yet not our need to [...]
Response Time: important key performance indicator, affecting guest satisfaction directly
My article Spa Key Performance Indicators: Which Spa KPIs should Spa Managers know? is one of the top 3 most read articles on my website. Let’s add another important KPI today. Response Time affects customer [...]
Hotel Theresa – a truly authentic service culture
In 2013 I was mystery guesting all of the (at the time) 30+ Best Wellness Hotels in Austria and South Tyrol in Northern Italy. The time frame back then was short. I had to do [...]
Don’t be reluctant to hire a Spa Business Consultant
The answer to the question “Why do you need to hire a spa business consultant ?” is very easy, and very short: To save valuable resources. I can hear some of you ask now: how [...]
Chavutti Thirumal – a very different kind of foot massage
I love trying out local, authentic treatments when travelling. Whilst staying in Kerala in India for my yoga teacher training in April this year, I was able to experience a very different kind of ‘foot [...]
My Ayurveda Oscar goes to…
Not just any Ayurveda village.Ayurveda, the knowledge of life. Holy grail for some years now in the Wellness Industry.I have seen a lot of Ayurveda inspired treatments. And Ayurveda inspired cosmetics, skin care products, and [...]
My Yoga teacher training experience @Padmakarmayoga in Kerala
My Yoga teacher training experience @Padmakarmayoga in Kerala I have just returned from a one month trip to incredible India. I did not travel around, as the purpose of my stay was an intense yoga [...]
Dear Hotelier, please do not abandon your Spa!
…or, is it time for a spa star classification system? I am staying at this beautiful 5* luxury hotel. A Grand Hotel. Rich history. Royals have stayed here before. In a historic European Spa Town, [...]
10 year anniversary for the European Health & Spa Award 2019
Last chance to sign up! The European Health & Spa award is an independent and objective evaluation system for Spa & Wellness Businesses in a variety of categories. Many award winners have profited from the award [...]
Every Hotel needs a Spa! Really?
After a short stay at a hotel in Munich last week, the ever contemporary question ‘what is a spa?’ lingers in my head. Every Hotel needs a Spa! Really? Is a Spa any place that [...]
Face Mask Products for Spa@Home
Face Mask products are a must-have step for any Spa@Home treatment. Actually Face Masks for home use are great in many ways: They can mean an instant boost to your skin complexion. Usually they are [...]
Can we make our Spas more sustainable?
Can we make our Spas more sustainable? I took a drinking cure in famous spa town Carlsbad in Czech Republic. And I promise I will tell you all about it in another article, but today I have a more pressing matter [...]
Co Producer Guest – Spa Services not to the guest, but with the guest
Co Producer Guest - Spa Services not TO the guest, but WITH the guest If we look at the development of marketing, we understand, how the marketing focus has moved away from product (or service) [...]
G.M. Collin – Skin Care for the Stars from Canada
G.M. Collin - Skin Care for the Stars from Canada This is the first time I am experiencing G.M. Collin Skin Care from Canada. I mean, there are soooo many brands out there, you cannot know [...]
Naturhotel Rainer – Nature with a Roof
Naturhotel Rainer - Nature with a Roof Ah, South Tyrolia, this area in Northern Italy close to the Austrian border is my personal red-hot wellness travel destination. There is everything you could wish for for [...]
Spa Mystery Checks – helping the Spa get better at what it does
Spa Mystery Checks - helping the Spa get better at what it does When people ask me what I do for a living and I answer “Spa Mystery Checks” (amongst other duties), I always get [...]
What is a treatment Spa? Linden Spa, Inn at Perry Cabin in St Michaels
What is a treatment Spa? I am about to discover if I am going to unlock an Eastern Shore Hideaway. And try out their Linden Spa, what I call a treatment spa. Lucky me, I [...]
TalkWellness Impressions: attending ISPA Conference & Expo for the first time
TalkWellness Impressions: attending ISPA Conference &Expo for the first time I applied with ISPA conference in January 2018 with a session proposal. After some personal phone conversations and a couple of email exchanges with a [...]
Four Seasons Munich – a different interpretation of ‘Luxury Spa’
Four Seasons Munich - a different interpretation of ‘Luxury Spa’ When you live in a little rural town in the middle of the Austrian Alps, a Sunday at the Luxury Spa of Munich’s Four Season Hotel [...]
Marketing of Senses in Spas: Audio Branding
Marketing of Senses in Spas: Audio Branding Whale songs, bird’s chirping, panpipes, classical music, you name it…. We have had it all, the various music choices in spas. An important topic though, as we strive [...]
Detoxifying Lymph Candy Deodorant – going beyond stopping odour and wetness
Detoxifying Lymph Candy Deodorant - going beyond stopping odour and wetness During a recent visit to FAD Market on a rainy early summer Sunday morning, I picked up a couple of interesting and small batch [...]
SpaTree – bringing the Spa back to Nature
SpaTree - bringing the Spa back to Nature Modern Lifestyles seem to be about downsizing, going back to the roots, simplifying lives, becoming more in tune with nature. So the question today is: How can [...]
Soaking in a Japanese style Wooden Bathtub: Waking up the deepest part of your Spirit
Soaking in a Japanese style Wooden Bathtub: Waking up the deepest part of your Spirit The Global Wellness Trend Report 2017 ranks Wellness Architecture second (and no, just because the identification of wellness trends has been [...]
The future of Spa Marketing – how to market your Spa successfully in the future
Here comes another great guest article about the future of spa marketing by former student Tabitha Leibetseder, who has just successfully completed her master's degree in tourism and leisure management. The topic for her master [...]
W³ – World Wellness Weekend, inspiring millions across the globe to a healthier lifestyle
W³ - World Wellness Weekend, inspiring millions across the globe to a healthier lifestyle Have you heard of W³ - World Wellness Weekend? W³ - World Wellness Weekend is in its second edition in September [...]
Sex sells. Yoga auch. Faszientraining: warum nicht alles yogisch ist, wo Yoga drauf steht.
Sex sells. Yoga auch. Faszientraining: warum nicht alles yogisch ist, wo Yoga drauf steht. Meine Kundenrezession zu fayo Ich habe mich in letzter Zeit vermehrt mit dem Thema ‘Faszien’ beschäftigt. Faszientraining finde ich ziemlich spannend [...]
My Aerial Yoga Experience – fly, Anja, fly!
My Aerial Yoga Experience - fly, Anja, fly! If you like yoga, aerial yoga is absolutely an option. It makes you fly! Basically it is doing your ‘normal’ asanas supported by a piece of fabric [...]
Private Spa Suite at Hotel Quisisana Palace in Carlsbad
Private Spa Suite at Hotel Quisisana Palace in Carlsbad Everyone who is somehow interesting in Spa & Wellness has heard of Carlsbad, the famous spa town located in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, about 80 miles [...]
how a normal girl came to guide on life & consciousness
how a normal girl came to guide on life & consciousness I know, it has been a while since I last published an interview. Yet I feel the wait was well worth it, here is [...]
Kempinski Hotel Falkenstein – city life, nature and sport
Kempinski Hotel Falkenstein - city life, nature and sport What a positive surprise! I knew that the Kempinski Hotel Falkenstein near Frankfurt city in Germany is not a Wellness Hotel but rather offers MICE facilities. [...]
Spa Blogger Relations – Do’s and Dont’s
Spa Blogger Relations - Do’s and Dont’s Writing articles on my website about companies and their products requires being in contact with marketing departments. Oh boy, what different experiences in spa blogger relations I make! [...]
Bollants in the Park – a very two-faced spa resort experience
Bollants in the Park - a very two-faced spa resort experience The Bollants in the Park is said to be one of the best Wellness Hotels in South West of Germany. I had heard so [...]
Kulm Spa St Moritz – a retreat within a retreat
Kulm Spa St Moritz - a retreat within a retreat The invite for a spa review from the Kulm Spa comes as a huge treat to me! I have just had some rough weeks with [...]
What is your spa booking pace?
What is your spa booking pace? Do you remember my article The Different Steps in the Spa Sales Process? It is a case study on how to apply best practise to the spa selling process. [...]
Sunday Ritual Beach Yoga with Outdoor Yoga San Francisco
Sunday Ritual Beach Yoga with Outdoor Yoga San Francisco Yoga in San Francisco has been on my bucket list since I left Kuwait in 2009. Back then I had planned to stay in San Francisco [...]
Merlot and Mud – Wine & Wellness in Napa Valley
Merlot and Mud – Wine & Wellness in Napa Valley I admit, the scale for my recent Wine & Wellness in Napa Valley trip got tipped heavily towards one side…the wine side… Wellness is not [...]
Waltz 7 – Redesigning the Spa@Home Experience
Waltz 7 – Redesigning the Spa@Home Experience During this year’s Tyrollean Wellness Congress in June in Innsbruck/Austria, I had a chance to meet and get to know Waltz 7 better. Waltz 7 is a company [...]
What is a “Healing Safari”? TalkWellness spoke with Tanya Pergola, the creator
What is a “Healing Safari”? Talk Wellness spoke with Tanya Pergola – the creator of the Healing Safari – to find out more about what happens on a healing safari in Africa. You may just [...]
The Spa at Kempinski Grand Hotel Des Bains St. Moritz
The Spa at Kempinski Grand Hotel Des Bains St. Moritz Swiss hoteliers are know for innovative services that secure customer satisfaction and return on investment. To a point, were Swiss Hospitality Management has become a [...]
Regulat Skin Repair – my Glacier Companion
Regulat Skin Repair - my Glacier Companion In the past I have published a couple of reviews on products by Dr. Niedermaier, the company for luxury organic skin care. And here is another little natural [...]
The different Steps in the Spa Sales Process. A Case Study
The different Steps in the Spa Sales Process. A Case Study I have recently stayed in St Moritz. In a 5* Hotel within a superior hotel chain, in one of the prime tourist destinations in [...]
Pine & Stone, self administered Foot Reflexology for Home and Spa
Pine & Stone, self administered Foot Reflexology for Home and Spa Foot Reflexology is more like a love-it-or-hate-it affair. I love it. But understand people that are very sensitive to their feet and may not [...]
Is a man’s skin really different from a woman’s? The booming market of male toiletries.
Is a man’s skin really different from a woman’s? The booming market of male toiletries. By 2023, the global male grooming market is estimated to be worth about 27.76 billion USD, according to statista.com. Euromonitor [...]
Super Summer Thirst Quenchers – healthy, refreshing, and virgin
Super Summer Thirst Quenchers – healthy, refreshing, and virgin They are called Detox Water, or Spa Water, or infused Water… whichever name you prefer, they taste great, are easy to mix, and super healthy. And [...]
Spa Trend 2018? Beauty from Within: Nutricosmetics and Beauty Supplements
Spa Trend 2018? Beauty from Within: Nutricosmetics and Beauty Supplements ‘True beauty is the beauty from within…’ sounds like a cliche? Well, you might argue, why then do we use thousands of external beauty products [...]
How to turn every Shower into a Spa
How to turn every Shower into a Spa Everyone knows how to turn a bath tub into a spa experience with bath bombs, bath salts, bubble bath… you name it. But what if you don’t [...]
Better Alternatives to Tooth Paste
Better Alternatives to Tooth Paste When I was much younger (at a pre-internet age), I did not know much about natural organic skin care or foods. It was not common to talk about it, nor [...]
My newest piece of jewellery is beautiful, stylish, and …. a health tracker
My newest piece of jewellery is beautiful, stylish, and …. a health tracker Women around the world understand that beauty, and wellbeing, and health come by being smart about it. Beauty is something every women [...]
European Health & Spa Awards – winner reviews
European Health & Spa Awards - winner reviews The European Health & Spa Award is an annual competition, open to all Europe headquartered companies that operate in the spa wellness facilities and beauty salons, or [...]
My 2017 Mid Term Product Review – Skin Care from three Continents
My 2017 Mid Term Product Review - skin care from three continents Can you believe it? It is my birthday again, which means we are almost half way through the year! I have been a [...]
Spa Key Performance Indicators: Which Spa KPIs should Spa Managers know?
Spa Key Performance Indicators: Which Spa KPIs should Spa Managers know? What are KPIs? KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator. KPIs basically measure your spa’s performance. They help to evaluate the success of your spa [...]
Shea Moisture, Daily Hydration Virgin Coconut Oil to soften & restore the skin
Shea Moisture Daily Hydration Virgin Coconut Oil I love to browse shops, physically and online, for skin care products that I have not yet tried or used. Particularly when travelling, I love to discover small [...]
Financial Wellness – invest in your future
Financial Wellness – invest in your future An article titled “Will Financial Wellness become hot topic in the future” from economist Thierry Malleret on Global Wellness Summit in Kitzbühel monthly barometer has made me thinking. [...]
Silver Swimmer Paradise: Wellness 60plus
Silver Swimmer Paradise: Wellness 60plus I am driving West, almost 700 km one way on a hot summer Friday, in desperate need of a break, and eventually end up in silver swimmer paradise. To be [...]
Shankara, Ayurveda inspired Skin Care Products
Shankara,Ayurveda inspired Skin Care Products Finally! Since I attended the Healing Summit in Berlin earlier this year and met Gina Preziosa from Shankara, I could not wait to test their products. Not only has Gina, [...]
Ask for help! Global Mentorship Program for Spa, Wellness and Hospitality
Ask for help! Global Mentorship Program for Spa, Wellness and Hospitality Sometimes you are this point in life or career where you realise you need support. This can come from family and friends, if they are familiar [...]
Healing Traditions: Mount Kilimanjaro from your yoga mat, Maasai Yoga & Meditation
Healing Traditions: Mount Kilimanjaro from your yoga mat. Maasai Yoga & Meditation Yoga in the African Bush? Oh yes! Let your eyes stroll over the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, let your ears listen to the [...]
Sanitas Skin Care – suitable products for dry skin
Sanitas Skin Care - suitable products for dry skin This is a long overdue product review for Sanitas Skin Care. I feel like I have had these test products for an eternity now. In fact, [...]
Talise Ottoman Spa Jumeirah Zabeel Saray – the ultimate spa sensory journey
Talise Ottoman Spa Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai Palm – the ultimate spa sensory journey How to instantly feel like a princess out of 1001 nights? Sign up for the royal hammam experience at award winning [...]
Shankara: how to prosper responsibly. Care for your customer, Sales will follow
Shankara: how to prosper responsibly. Care for your customer, Sales will follow. During the Healing Summit 2017 of which I have reported here, I happened to sit next to Gina Preziosa, Vice President for Sales [...]
Bathing History: Hamam, the Turkish Bath
Bathing History: Hamam, the Turkish Bath Bathing traditions in Tirol developed centuries ago from people seeking refreshment with cold, fresh, clean mountain water during hot summer months. What could be more different than another bathing [...]
The Spa at the Intercontinental Dubai Marina – a city hotel spa at its best
The Spa at the Intercontinental Dubai Marina - a city hotel spa at its best I recently stayed at the Intercontinental Dubai Marina Hotel, as the name suggests located on the Dubai Marina, only a [...]
The Charles Spa Munich – Wellness to Millennials
The Charles Spa Munich - Wellness to Millennials I was fortunate to listen to Irene Forte’s presentation at the Global Wellness Summit in 2016 about ‘Wellness to Millennials”. Irene Forte is the daughter of Sir Rocco [...]
Biologique Recherche – French Beauty Haute Couture in Cosmetology
Biologique Recherche – French Beauty Haute Couture in Cosmetology Paris, the city of love is one of the most romantic places in the World. The outstanding beauty of French women is legendary, French beauty recipes [...]
Can doing business and doing good go side-by-side? Healing Summit 2017 Take-Away
Can doing business and doing good go side-by-side? Great take aways from the Healing Summit 2017 What a super treat to having been invited to the Healing Summit 2017! After I just had the [...]
[Comfort Zone] – science based beauty
[Comfort Zone] – science based beauty Skin Care from Italy! Finally and surely a first on TalkWellness. Not sure why I haven’t written about [comfort zone] and their science based beauty approach before. I have always [...]
The Truth about Soap Bars and Liquid Wash Gels – which is better?
The Truth about Soap Bars and Liquid Wash Gels An article on the truth about soap bars? Well, my love for soap bars roots in my childhood. My father, being a business man, used to [...]
Alpienne Skin Care – Power of the Alps
Alpienne Skin Care – Power of the Alps Alpienne is a mid-size company based out of the Tyrollean Alps in Austria. Their outstanding philosophy is based on what they call the ‘purest alpine natural concept’, [...]
Lip Care: 7 Tips for kissable Lips in Winter
7 Tips for kissable Lips in Winter Ice-cold wind, dry heat in overheated rooms, cold dampness, winter sun… our skin around the lips suffers most in winter, and is in dear need of good lip [...]
OKKO skincare – balm sticks every woman needs
OKKO skincare – balm sticks every woman needs Especially every women that travels a lot! I love discovering new skin care ideas, and this is certainly one that suits travelling women greatly: balm sticks in [...]
Spa Geek Knowledge for Spa Enthusiasts and Professionals
Spa Geek Knowledge Those of you who read my articles once in a while will have noticed my section called “Spa Geek Knowledge”. What is Spa Geek Knowledge? In order to provide you with some [...]
Magical Days at Private Chalets Holzleb’n
Magical Days at Private Chalets Holzleb’n I wish I could turn back time. And be a child again. I am currently further exploring the concept of private spa, and have been invited for a research [...]
huna Natural Apothecary – Simple Skin Nutrition from Canada
huna Natural Apothecary - Simple Skin Nutrition from Canada I am impressed! And a little ashamed. I have to admit that I have been rather arrogant in judging organic skin care from around the world. [...]
My first yoga retreat – one week in Portugal
My first yoga retreat – one week in Portugal I began my yoga practice some years ago. The more I practiced, the more I found I really enjoyed it. Today, I love yoga. This autumn [...]
Botanical Skin Care: June Jacobs Spa Collection
June Jacobs Spa Collection - the botanical skin care line I got to know the botanical skin care line June Jacobs Spa Collection at the Global Wellness Summit this year. June Jacobs has been a spa visionary [...]
Four Great Take Aways from the GWS 2016
Four Great Take Aways from the GWS 2016 Four days of non-stop program: Attentively listening to industry leaders Discussing topics Making new friends Catching up with old friends Activities, dinners, receptions, speeches… I was knackered [...]
Sage Tonic – a ‘sensory platform’ approach to our five senses
Sage Tonic – a ‘sensory platform’ approach to our five senses Sage Tonic. Sounds like a new facial spray. But is by far bigger than that! Sage Tonic is a holistic program to stimulate and [...]
Eminence – skincare company with the green factor
Eminence - skincare with the green factor Some years back, facial oil was for skin care freaks, not for everyone. I am so happy that the perception towards facial oils has changed greatly. Skin care [...]
SPA Manufactur®: Superfood Organics for Healthy Skin
SPA Manufactur®: Superfood Organics for Healthy Skin I had already introduced SPA Manufactur® waterfree skin care from Germany recently, when I had tested 2 of their products from the inspiring and soulful indulgence collection: [...]
Luxuslodge – Time for Private Spa
Luxuslodge - Time for Private Spa Anticipation is the most wonderful sort of joy. Followed by more joy about this incredible private spa experience at the Luxuslodge in Annaberg. (c) luxuslodge Ok, at [...]
Hollyberry Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum
Hollyberry Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum Today I have a lovely little product recommendation, a Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin Serum by Hollyberry. Out of the different main product categories serum/gel, creme and oil, I [...]
myrto-naturalcosmetics is a small skin care company with a big soul
myrto-naturalcosmetics is a small skin care company with a big soul I love those kind of stories: young and (family or single-owner run) small skin care company produces innovative and high quality organic skin care in small own [...]
User friendly Spa Website. “Don’t make me think!”
User friendly Spa Website. “Don’t make me think!” A recent -and poor- web experience is the reason for today’s post about the user friendly spa website: I looked up flights between Salzburg and Cologne, two [...]
Experience Authentic Kneipp in Tirol
Experience Authentic Kneipp in Tirol “Everything we need to stay healthy is already given to us by nature” said Sebastian Kneipp. Who was Sebastian Kneipp? German clergymen Sebastian Kneipp (1821 - 1897) came up with [...]
Tooth oil by Ringana – So Fresh!
Tooth Oil by Ringana - So Fresh! I am sooo happy I can present yet another great skin care brand from my chosen home country Austria. The small country wedged between Germany, Hungry and [...]
Luxury Mountain Spa at Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol
Luxury Mountain Spa at Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol My series ‘The Stunning Spas in Kitz’ is not ending just yet. Not before I have taken you to the Kempinski Hotel in Jochberg with their luxury mountain [...]
Hot Yoga at Dimitra’s – inhale peace, exhale love
Hot Yoga at Dimitra Yoga Studio - inhale peace, exhale love Do you remember how exited I was after attending the Yoga in the Park class early this summer? Those classes are part of a [...]
Bathing History II: Spa History at Barbara Baths
Bathing History II: Spa History at Barbara Baths In order to understand our contemporary spa culture, I find it important to dig deep into spa history. Part I of this mini series Bathing History: The [...]
Alpine Spa Indulgence at Wellness Hotel Jesacherhof
An Alpine Spa Indulgence at Jesacherhof It is one of those days… I hardly slept the night before. I am in a pretty foul mood. I don’t feel like driving the two hours to my [...]
The Surprising Beauty Uses of Coconut
The Surprising Beauty Uses of CoconutI could go nuts for coconuts. And particularly for the beauty uses of coconut.Since I have lived in East Africa for a couple of years, I have made great friends [...]
Buddha Exhibition with 232 masterpieces
Buddha Exhibition with 232 masterpieces The Buddha Exhibition in Voelklingen/Germany was an impressing and humbling experience for me. Never before have 232 masterpieces from India, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Indonesia, China, Japan, Nepal, and Tibet been shown [...]
SPA Manufactur® – waterless skincare from Germany
SPA Manufactur® - waterless skincareI know, I am really behind with product reviews, which is owed to the fact that I have had some lovely and exiting addition to the family which totally occupied all [...]
Derma ID – unique skin care concept
Derma ID – unique skin care conceptI don’t like it.I love it, love it, love it!The Phyto Recovery Oil by Derma ID, from the ‘my cosmetic pharmacy’ line. […]
Saarland Therme – successful German-French Wellness Cooperation
Saarland Therme - successful German-French Wellness Cooperation I am always thrilled when I can report about wellness from my home country Saarland, the small and charming region in the south-western part of Germany. And if [...]
The Stunning Spas in Kitz IV: Golf & Spa at Grand Tirolia
The Stunning Spas in Kitz IV: Grand Alps Spa at luxury resort Grand Tirolia If you are into Golf & Spa in Tirol, this is where you want to be! A splendid Alpine hotel, a [...]
Bathing History in Tirol
Bathing History Tirol Wellness has a long tradition in Tirol Tirol (an Alpine region in Austria) is Wellness Country par excellence, and bathing has a long tradition. We can find first written mentions of ‘bathing’ [...]
Kindred Skincare Co. – 100% Organic Oil based Skincare
Kindred – 100% organic oil based skincareDuring my last trip to the US I got in touch with Frances from Kindred Skincare Co. by mail. After communicating back and forth for a while, Frances recognised [...]
Cryo Therapy – Ice Age 2.0
Cryo Therapy - Ice Age 2.0 What was the coldest temperature you have ever experienced? For me until now it was -37 C, which was not so unusual in Finland back in 1985 in January [...]
Jamela Skincare – where fun and beauty go together
Jamela Skincare – where fun and beauty go togetherUsually skin care and beauty routines aren’t exactly great fun, fun an beauty are no common match. My grandmother even used to say “who wants to be [...]
My 10 Skin Care Commandments
My 10 skin care commandmentsYes, good skin care is important. very important. This is why I obey to my own 10 skin care commandments.Our skin is the largest organ in the body and covers about 1.7 [...]
Bathing History: the Romans
Bathing History: the Romans Body cleansing and healing rituals have played major roles in various cultures and within religions for hundreds and thousands of years all over the world. Many of these are still [...]
Yoga in the Park on a Sunday Morning
Yoga in the ParkDo you know of a better wellness way of starting a Sunday morning than with a beautiful 60 minutes of yoga in the park?Between early May and early September, free yoga sessions [...]
Europe’s first forestSPA, experience nature at waldSPA
Europe’s first forestSPA, experience nature at waldSPA About one month ago, the family owned and run 5* Hotel Forsthofgut in Leogang (in the Salzburger County) has opened the doors to their newly expanded waldSPA® (wald [...]
Marketing to Gen Y and Z
…and here is another great guest article by 3 of my students that have something very interesting to say about marketing to generations YZ. Enjoy! Marketing to Generations Y and Z When it comes to marketing, [...]
LaIsla Luxury Spa – take care of your soul
LaIsla Luxury Spa – take care of your soulI am off to the Eastern Shore for a little beach break, and am happy to take along some new products that I want to test and that [...]
The Stunning Spas in Kitz III: Kitz Spa & Wellness at Hotel Kitzhof
Love is in the air at Kitz Spa & Wellness! I think I fell in love… For my series ‘The Stunning Spas in Kitz’ I visited Kitz Spa Wellness in the 4* Hotel Kitzhof Mountain [...]
I say Yes! Ich sage Ja! Je dis Oui! Digo que Si! Nasema Ndiyo!
June 11, 2016 is Global Wellness Day. I say Yes! Why? The 7 Step Manifesto In order to make Wellness a lifestyle, Global Wellness day -represented in 70+ countries and first celebrated in 2012 - [...]
Guerrilla Marketing for Spas – think outside the box
This is a guest article by 3 of my promising students of IUBH on an interesting topic in consumer behaviour, and their thoughts on applying guerrilla marketing techniques to spa marketing. Guerrilla Marketing for Spas – [...]
HURRAW! Lip Balm from premium organic, vegan & raw ingredients
HURRAW! Lip Balm from premium organic, vegan & raw ingredientsDo you remember when you bought your first lip balm? I don’t, I assume I must have been a young teen, maybe twelve years old? maybe [...]
The Stunning Spas in Kitz II: Hotel Elisabeth
The Stunning Spas in Kitz II: Hotel Elisabeth It is a horrible day outside, the clouds are hanging tight over the roofs of the houses, it is pouring down with rain accompanied by a cold [...]
Pedicure Bowls made from bamboo, sugar cane, corn and rice?
Victoria’s Essentials – Incorporating Pedicure Bowls AustraliaPedicure Bowls made from bamboo, sugar cane, corn and rice?Sounds impossible?Well, I admit I haven’t come across such an innovative product in a long time! And it has a [...]
Interview with Anja
Interview with AnjaI have recently been interviewed by the crazy mind with some thought-provoking questions. […]
Irresistible Places of Power in Tirol
Places of Power in Tyrol Yes, Tyrol is Wellness Country par excellence and what better place to chose as venue for the next Global Wellness Summit! Majestic Mountains. Crystal clear lakes and rivers. The [...]
Sodashi – luxurious natural skin care from Australia with a wow-effect
Sodashi – luxurious natural skin care from Australia with a wow-effectI was contacted by Marianne Schnaitmann from Schnaitmann Beauty GmbH, who has always had a keen interest in natural skin care and organic products. Marianne, trained [...]
Spa Guest Loyalty
Spa Guest Loyalty and Value Recruiting new customers is typically a resource-consuming effort for any business, involving a great many – and sometimes costly – marketing activities. It is said that the ratio between recruiting [...]
The Stunning Spas in Kitz I: Spa-Rosa at A-Rosa Resort
The Stunning Spas in Kitz I: Spa-Rosa at A-Rosa Resort Happy news: during the Global Wellness Summit in Mexico in 2015, my adopted home Kitzbühel has been chosen as venue for this years GWS event. All year [...]
Floating – tank, dome, or pool?
Floating – tank, dome, or pool? A recent discussion in a Wellness Facebook Group has triggered my deeper interest in floating. I have done some floating session in the past, including in facilities such as a kind [...]
Spa Marketing: 10 common myths about blogging
Spa Marketing: 10 common myths about blogging In my article 4 reasons why blogging is good for your spa business, I have explained the relationship between Spa & Wellness Businesses and Blogging. Of course, critiques [...]
facilitating health and well being through live music in spas
Rebecca Sabine facilitates health and well being through her live violin music in spas When I heard about Rebecca from Las Vegas, I was stunned. Live music in spas… what a heavenly combination: Violin [...]
SoSpa Sofitel Bayerpost Munich
Spa Review: SoSpa Sofitel Bayerpost MunichNowadays I only live about 1,5 hours car ride away from Munich. The beautiful city in Bavaria in South of Germany is well known not only for its famous Oktoberfest, [...]
4 reasons why blogging is good for your spa business
4 reasons why blogging is good for your spa business Why liaising with bloggers or starting your own blog may not be such a poor idea for your spa & wellness business’ marketing efforts Mixing Marketing [...]
3-Steps to a Successfully Designed Spa Ad
3-Steps to a Successfully Designed Spa Ad Ads are a quick and effective way to showcase your event or business. However, if done improperly they can be a quick way to lose a potential client’s [...]
Spa Check: Watzmann Therme Berchtesgaden
Spa Check: Watzmann Therme BerchtesgadenIt is a gloomy day. The clouds have been distributing snow and rain alternating over the past few days, the tops of the mountains can only be guessed from way below in [...]
The Spa Email Newsletter – useful or a nuisance?
The Spa Email Newsletter – useful or a nuisance? I am convinced about using email newsletter for Spa businesses. Really? Absolutely, and I am sharing with you why: Why email marketing? Spa Marketeers are going to [...]
Active yoga & pilates wear – making a positive impact on the world
Asquith London active yoga & pilates wear – making a positive impact on the worldI am no fashion girl or beauty blogger. When it comes to my private wardrobe, attributes like comfortable, sporty, simple, and homely [...]
Spa online booking: Is the print spa menu outdated?
Spa Online Booking: Is the print spa menu outdated? When was the last time you went to a restaurant/bar/cafe and you were given a hardcopy food/drinks menu? Maybe not so long ago. For me to [...]
Heavenly Spa at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort
Spa Review: Heavenly Spa at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort At the beginning of this winter I managed to get away from Austria for a few days to a warmer spot on the map: [...]
7 Top Personal Wellness Tips by Wellness Professionals
7 Top Personal Wellness Tips by Wellness ProfessionalsI have had the pleasure of interviewing lots of great people from the spa & wellness industry in the past (and hope to continue to do so in [...]
Exceeding spa guest expectation in 2016 – the layer cake model
Exceeding spa guest’s expectations in 2016 – the layer cake model Spa guest become increasingly educated and demanding, expecting more complex services than ever and it will become more and more challenging for spa businesses [...]
A truly oriental spa experience – Hamam Baden Review
A truly oriental spa experience – Hamam Baden Review Whenever I think “I have seen it all” a little gem pops up seemingly out of nowhere. The little gem I am talking about today is [...]
Is Health Care the new Spa Trend?
Is Health Care the new Spa Trend? This article stems from a thought I recently had, when I was asked the question “what is health to you”? Sounds like a pretty straight forward question, doesn’t it? [...]
The Body Wrap Vienna – my mummy experiment
The Body Wrap Vienna – my mummy experimentOnce you have made your way through the shabby lobby and lift to the 19th and top floor of Vienna’s first residential high tower located in Vienna’s 5th district, [...]
5 solutions to counter biggest cost driver in spa businesses
5 solutions to counter biggest cost driver in spa businesses Kohl & Partner have recently published their Benchmark Report 2014 for Austria in Europe. Their findings include an overview of labour costs (52% of total [...]
Römertherme Baden – Wellness like the Romans
Spa Review Römertherme Baden – Wellness like the Romans Just only about half an hour car ride out of Vienna, the small town Baden is a real fountain of health, located along the so called [...]
Regulat® Beauty natural skin care
Product Review: Regulat® Beauty natural skin care I am very happy that the days are over where ‘bio organic’ meant frumpish and out of fashion. Nowadays we find some pretty hip organic skin care brands [...]
Spa Retail Inventory Management
Spa Retail Inventory Management In some spas I know, spa retail inventory management works like this: “Manager, we are out of this product!” reply: “Ok, thanks, I will place an order.” Or even worse, orders [...]
Vinoble Cosmetics
Review: Vinoble CosmeticsAfter experiencing two wine & wellness themed beautiful short trips to Weinrefugium Brolli and LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort, I think it is time to talk more about vino therapy and grape based skin [...]
Spa Retail Facts: Everything you need to know to boost retail sales in your spa
Spa Retail Facts: Everything you need to know to boost retail sales in your spa Retail sales can make up to 50 % of treatment revenue without needing additional resources. This revenue stream should not [...]
Why Mystery Guesting a Spa?
Why mystery guesting a spa? A well rounded, experienced, passionate Spa Manager knows her business and best practises, leads and trusts her staff, can identify her guests needs. A well managed spa offers clean and [...]
LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort Langenlois
Review: LOISIUM Wine Spa Resort Langenlois Since I had travelled to Southern Styria in May for the first time, I was intrigued by the “ Wine & Wellness ” theme. This is so Austria. This [...]
‘Giving Kahuna Massage is my drug’
‘The jaguar comes out in me when I am in Kahuna world’ tells Victoria Moss I had my first Kahuna massage ever with Victoria Moss, visiting massage therapist at Ulpotha. I had arrived in Sri [...]
Felsentherme Bad Gastein
Spa Review: Felsentherme – The Thermal Waters of Bad Gastein Bad Gastein – also called the Monte Carlo in the Alps – is one of 3 towns in the Gasteiner Valley in the midst of [...]
Ayurveda in Sri Lanka
Ayurveda in Sri LankaDuring my Yoga retreat in Ulpotha in Sri Lanka in June 2015 I opted for the 10 day Ayurveda cure called Namaskaraya (Salutation) on site.Sri Lanka with its ideal climate and Ulpotha [...]
Dress for success – how important is appearance of spa staff?
Dress for success – how important is appearance of spa staff? In a previous article “What does tangible evidence do in your spa” I spoke in detail about ‘physical facilities’, also called ‘tangible evidence’. Tangible [...]
the mill to chill – Wellness in Portugal
The Mill to chill – Wellness pure in PortugalNowadays it feels like everything is labelled ‘Wellness’, almost no Hotel package without Wellness. Of course there are some excellent Wellness Hotels and Retreats out there in [...]
“Less effort – more comfort” Interview Padma Nair
I met lovely Padma Nair, a native Keralan, at Ulpotha, where I spent a 2 week Yoga & Ayurveda retreat in June 2015, in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle.Padma, visiting teacher and host [...]
Timeless Spa Dubai Airport
Spa Review: Timeless Spa Dubai AirportDo you remember Mandy’s article “Does travel need to be disruptive to our wellbeing”? Mandy rightly says: “Traveling is disruptive. Be it to our sleep, our diet, our work, our fitness [...]
Weinrefugium Brolli – wine and wellness
wine and wellness – refuge in a Styrian vineyard The latin word ‘refugium’ means something like refuge or hideaway; in some cases also wellness area for relaxation and recovering. Thus I was quiet curious when following [...]
Talk Wellness says ‘yes’ to Global Wellness Day
joins 55 Countries Celebrating Global Wellness Day on June 13, 2015Talk Wellness “Says Yes” to Global Wellness Day, a one-day event celebrating health and wellbeing, taking place this June 13th. By offering complimentary articles, reviews, [...]
Share your story: Maria
‘Because of the nature of our job, people let their guard down and share things with you, you wouldn’t believe.’I first met Maria when hiring her as beautician/therapist for a spa pre opening in the [...]
about gym hardware and softies
about gym hardware and softiesafter having been an aerobics instructor in younger years (yes, i did the glitzy tights 80’s style, but photos of that time over my dead body only) and having managed health clubs [...]
Floating to my heart beat in Vienna
Floating to my heart beat in Vienna I have had a few floating sessions before, mostly in larger pools in public thermal spas or hotel spas, and have never really experienced such profound relaxation that [...]
Eat healthy, sleep like a baby and don’t forget to have some fun!
I am soooo very happy about this interview, that I have had the pleasure of having with one of my former (and excellent!) students in spa management. Spiros’ story is inspiring and refreshing, and if I [...]
Therme Linsberg Asia
Therme Linsberg Asia Having tested Therme Wien the other day, I am intrigued about getting to know further thermal spas in the Vienna area. I have to say, I find the about 40 min car ride [...]
Proven. Smart. Easy to remember. How to apply the AIDA formula to your Spa Business
Imagine you had a tool that helped you structure your spa marketing strategy! Is it not highly confusing hearing all those different advises: “you have to have social media activities for your Spa” “your Spa [...]
Sabai Sabai Thai Massage in Bad Reichenhall
Sabai-Sabai Thai Massage in Bad ReichenhallA piece of Thailand in BavariaSince I had visited THE Thai massage school at the Wat Po temple in Bangkok in 2008 – where, by the way, the only remains [...]
4 crucial steps to customer retention in the spa
4 crucial steps to customer retention in the spa Of course, usually a spa’s core service are spa treatments, respectively facilities, and good spas put a lot of effort into optimising treatment protocols. This is [...]
4 ways of adding value to the spa journey
4 ways of adding value to the spa journey Continuously developing our spa services keeps us ahead of the game. Yet not only developing treatments or spa menus is needed, also additional services that add [...]
3 powerful ingredients for increasing your spa’s hotel guest capture rate
increase guest capture rate a busy hotel does not equal a busy hotel spa and vice versa. hotel occupancy and hotel spa occupancy underlie a variety of factors, and not always necessarily the same. however [...]
What does tangible evidence do in your Spa?
What is tangible evidence and why is it needed in a spa? When talking about the 7P’s in Spa Marketing, we agreed upon ‘Physical Facilities’ being one of the important additional P’s within the Marketing Mix. [...]
Spa Review: Amara Spa Park Hyatt Dubai Creek
The Park Hyatt Dubai Creek is not a brand new development and maybe exactly this very aspect is one of the reasons, why I was so impressed after my visit for this spa review at [...]
Why wait list tracking and turn away tracking are highly important to your spa performance
Are you in the fortunate position of using a sophisticated spa software that does turn away tracking and wait list tracking for you? If not, bad news, as you may have to do this task manually [...]
‘Spas in Dubai become more part of a wellness lifestyle’ says Ghassan, Spa Manager in Dubai
When visting Amara Spa for a spa review, I had the pleasure of meeting the Spa Manager personally. Ghassan was so nice as to take time for sharing his spa career story in an interview: How [...]
7 ideas how to avoid no-shows in your Spa
7 ideas how to avoid no-shows in your spa No-shows. Happen unfortunately all the time and everywhere to all spas more or less frequently. Isn’t it highly annoying when your spa day is fully booked, you [...]
Spa Trend 2015: More time in Spas!
Mandy and Anja from TalkWellness discuss Spa Trends for 2015: We want to see more time in Spas! Anja: Sure, every now and again new so called trends pop up in the Spa & Wellness [...]
La Clairiere, Secret Quiet Escape
ich bin total aus dem Häuschen! Und irgendwie verzweifelt weil ich keinen anderen Ausdruck finde als ‘secret escape’, mit dem ich besser beschreiben kann wie wunderschön dieser Ort ist und warum man unbedingt ins La Clairiere [...]
One Day Vacation at the Tauern Spa Kaprun
Tauern Spa Kaprun …is a wellness highlight to me over and over again, despite the fact that I usually spend a lot of time in thermal spas, wellness hotels and such in general. For once [...]
eforea Spa at Hilton Hotel Queenstown
Why women need to take “Spa time”… at eforea Spa at Hilton Hotel QueenstownThe list of daily commitments can often seem endless: work, children, family and friends, cooking and cleaning and, if you’re really well-organised, daily [...]
Thermal Spa Vienna
Therme Wien Oberlaa Was hab ich mich gefreut, als ich in Wien ankam und der Himmel war grau und winterlich trist… doppelte Vorfreude auf den nachmittaglichen Besuch in der Therme Wien Oberlaa. Ich bin [...]
‘Whatever we do in our lives deserves love and 100% dedication’ says Stavros, Spa Manager in Greece
We have had a Wellness Talk with Stavros Mavridis, who works as Spa Manager in Greece and faces thrilling challenges:Stavros, can you elaborate on your mission statement “Passion and Evolution is key to success” a little further? or [...]
The Dream Job – a Hotel tester?
The Dream job – a Hotel testerWhenever I am asked about my profession and I answer that amongst other things I test Wellness Hotels, I receive envious comments such as “Wow, that must be great” [...]
‘Culture & society, the more I learn the more I find out about myself’. Sasakomol Chamchoy, Spa Manager in India
What triggers people to leave their home countries and comfort zone by moving abroad for life and work in the Spa industry?TalkWellness has had a chat with Sasakomol Chamchoy, who currently works as Spa Manageress [...]
“I didn’t think twice” Alexander Ivanov, Spa-Manager in Bhutan
Living and Working Abroad – Alexander Ivanov is Spa Manager in BhutanDreaming of not only work in the exiting spa industry but additionally in an exotic country? Read this story to learn how to!Industries such as tourism, [...]
Mind the Gap – How to avoid Gaps in Services
The GAP-Model – How to avoid gaps in Services There are plenty of opportunities in service processes to make mistakes, which will be evaluated in a negative way by the customer. Those opportunities are called “Gaps”. [...]
Cocoon Feeling – why visiting a Spa is a must when travelling to Dubai
Always on the search for something special, I have thrown myself into a Spa Marathon in Dubai and checked out these 4 worth knowing Spas for you: […]
Does travel need to be disruptive to our Well-Being?
Does travel need to be disruptive to our Well-Being?Traveling is disruptive. Be it to our sleep, our diet, our work, our fitness routine, and if that travel involves crossing numerous time zones, our whole circadian [...]
Cosmetic Analysis – Ingredients carefully examined
How do I really know which ingredients are in my skin care products?Analysing skin care myself? The answer is cosmetic analysis!How can I, as a consumer, actually know what kind of ingredients are in my [...]
New Age Ayurveda
New Age Ayurveda: Ancient and historically authentic…it’s the new spa-modernAyurveda, the “science of life,” or longevity, is the holistic alternative science from India, and is more than 5,000 years old. It is believed to be the [...]
The 7 P’s in Spa Marketing
The 7 P’s in Spa Marketing In our first part we spoke about different attributes of services, how difficult the duplication of standards and quality is, as well as how people evaluate quality. Let us [...]
What is Wellness to you?
What is Wellness to you?The concept of wellness, a sense of purpose, and a life that allows you to thrive is different for every individual. Obtaining clear insight into your purpose in life, that feeling [...]
In 2 steps to uncompromising quality in service management – Part 2
In 2 steps to uncompromising quality in service management – Part 2 Step 2: The 10 most important factors to customer satisfaction in wellness services In our first part we spoke about different attributes of [...]
Top Trend in the Spa Industry
Top Trend in the Spa Industry? The Spa industry, like any other industry, needs to keep abreast of trends that are short-lived (a ‘fad’, or ‘craze’) and those that are continually evolving. Mistaking a short-lived [...]
In 2 steps to uncompromising quality in service management – part 1
In 2 steps to uncompomising quality in service management Part 1: The 6 most important attributes of Wellness Services In a shop, where products of the same segment, for example tooth paste, shampoo, and face [...]
Tyrol in Austria is Wellness-Country!
Wellness Österreich – Wellness in Austria according to an international report (Health and Wellness Industry Report 2014 by Horwath HTL), so called ‘destination spas’ (hotels, that have made their spa and wellness offers main focus [...]
Yield Management as a special way of Price Differention
Yield Management means dynamic price and capacity-regulation with the goal of maximising revenues through good balance between occupation of the spa and average price of spa treatments. This technology-based strategy of Price-Volume-Control is very well [...]