Spa Business will launch The Spa and Wellness Hall of Fame on 3 May to celebrate the pioneers of our industry, with Deborah Szekely the first inductee, as we celebrate her 100th birthday
Deborah Szekely will be the first WellHOF inductee / Photo: Rancho la Puerta
In this issue of Spa Business we profile the wonderful Deborah Szekely, who celebrates her 100th birthday on 3 May this year. Jane Kitchen travelled to Rancho la Puerta in Mexico to talk to Deborah for our special interview which you can read on page 36.
We all rightly acknowledge Deborah as the ‘godmother’ of spa for many reasons, from her entrepreneurial spirit and business achievements, to her personal philosophies and commitment.
In an age where many in the industry preach about wellness, but do not themselves live a well life, she has walked the talk and has the incredible health, vitality and life force to show for it.
Deborah has pursued a lifelong quest for knowledge, coupled with a mission to educate that sees her lecturing each week to share her century of learnings with all who wish to hear it.
My time at Rancho la Puerta has been hugely enriched by her lectures and it’s clear those present feel they’re in the presence of greatness and privileged to have their minds opened by her fresh, challenging, invaluable perspectives.
Celebrating the wisdom of the tribe is an essential part of building healthy, vibrant and enduring communities and over the last few years it has become apparent to all of us at Spa Business that we’re witnessing history in the making, as our industry maps out its course and drives forward. We believe pioneers such as Deborah who are doing this work must be celebrated and acknowledged, so we create our own mythology as an industry, celebrate our achievements and create a positive record of the great work being done.
As a result, I’m delighted to announce that the Spa Business team is gearing up to launch a global Hall of Fame for the industry, so we can recognise the work of our industry pioneers, while also enshrining their collective wisdom in a central library that we can all be proud of.
I’m delighted to share with you that Deborah Szekely will be the first inductee into The Spa and Wellness Hall of Fame and that Andrew Gibson is to chair the organisation, which will go by the name of WellHOF, with a website at www.wellHOF.org.
We’ll be making further announcements in the coming weeks and I look forward to working with you on this exciting project.
Liz Terry, Spa Business editorial director [email protected]
@elizterry
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2022 issue 1
"When you know you're doing things right, you have power" – Deborah Szekely talks to Spa Business
Spa People: Zoe Wall
Zoe Wall talks about driving the global spa and wellness agenda at Kerzner
New opening: Healing oasis
Zoya, a new integrative health and wellbeing retreat, is opening in the Middle East, as Megan Whitby reports
Interview: Deborah Szekely
As the 'godmother of spa' approaches her 100th birthday, Jan Kitchen travelled to Rancho La Puerta to find out more about her extraordinary life
First Person: Siempre Mejor!
After 82 years, Rancho La Puerta is
still beloved among guests around
the world, who return year after
year for a dose of holistic wellbeing.
Jane Kitchen spent a week at the
Mexican resort to discover how the
spirit of ‘Siempre mejor!’ or ‘Always
better!’ lives on in the 21st century
Sponsored: Phytomer: Celebrating the sea
The story surrounding Phytomer is one of a unique wellness vision, a loyal family, remarkable marine science and pioneering skincare. We talk to deputy general manager Mathilde Gédouin-Lagarde as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary
GWS: Boston strong
If you missed the GWS – or even if you were there – Jane Kitchen's detailed report will give you endless useful actionable insights
Promotion: Yon-ka: Plant power
Benefiting from its founders’ passion for plants, Yon-Ka’s new brand identity reflects its past and its continued research into the healing power of plants which enables the company to craft innovative formulas that deliver results
First person: Paradise at Preidlhof
Lisa Starr travelled to Italy to interview Patrizia Bortolin for Spa Business and experience all that Preidlhof has to offer
Q&A: Patrizia Bortolin
Lisa Starr talks to the award winning visionary
who’s injecting new vigour into Preidlhof
Promotion: Reconnect with ISPA
After a two-year absence, ISPA’s annual Conference offers its
members an opportunity to reconnect and to learn more about
the available tools that can help them recharge their businesses
Q&A: Daniele Vastolo
Chiva-Som has opened a major new property in Qatar, with treatments focused on Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine. We talk to the GM
Research: Human nature
Anne Dimon reports on the latest research insights from the Wellness Tourism Association
Saunas: Aufguss
The first aufguss sauna experience in the US has opened in Las Vegas, as Cassandra Cavanah reports
Software: Getting (Hyper) personal
Software that drives generational marketing can create hyper-personalised offerings, as Karen Maxwell discovers
Supplier showcase: Art of Cryo: Best of both worlds
Art of Cryo is blending its high-performance cryotherapy
solutions with intermittent vacuum therapy to offer a
complete and effective whole-body wellness experience
Promotion: Comfort Zone
From 2022, Comfort Zone’s products are going plastic-neutral, certified by Plastic Bank
Spa Business will launch The Spa and Wellness Hall of Fame on 3 May to celebrate the pioneers of our industry, with Deborah Szekely the first inductee, as we celebrate her 100th birthday
Deborah Szekely will be the first WellHOF inductee / Photo: Rancho la Puerta
In this issue of Spa Business we profile the wonderful Deborah Szekely, who celebrates her 100th birthday on 3 May this year. Jane Kitchen travelled to Rancho la Puerta in Mexico to talk to Deborah for our special interview which you can read on page 36.
We all rightly acknowledge Deborah as the ‘godmother’ of spa for many reasons, from her entrepreneurial spirit and business achievements, to her personal philosophies and commitment.
In an age where many in the industry preach about wellness, but do not themselves live a well life, she has walked the talk and has the incredible health, vitality and life force to show for it.
Deborah has pursued a lifelong quest for knowledge, coupled with a mission to educate that sees her lecturing each week to share her century of learnings with all who wish to hear it.
My time at Rancho la Puerta has been hugely enriched by her lectures and it’s clear those present feel they’re in the presence of greatness and privileged to have their minds opened by her fresh, challenging, invaluable perspectives.
Celebrating the wisdom of the tribe is an essential part of building healthy, vibrant and enduring communities and over the last few years it has become apparent to all of us at Spa Business that we’re witnessing history in the making, as our industry maps out its course and drives forward. We believe pioneers such as Deborah who are doing this work must be celebrated and acknowledged, so we create our own mythology as an industry, celebrate our achievements and create a positive record of the great work being done.
As a result, I’m delighted to announce that the Spa Business team is gearing up to launch a global Hall of Fame for the industry, so we can recognise the work of our industry pioneers, while also enshrining their collective wisdom in a central library that we can all be proud of.
I’m delighted to share with you that Deborah Szekely will be the first inductee into The Spa and Wellness Hall of Fame and that Andrew Gibson is to chair the organisation, which will go by the name of WellHOF, with a website at www.wellHOF.org.
We’ll be making further announcements in the coming weeks and I look forward to working with you on this exciting project.
Liz Terry, Spa Business editorial director [email protected]
@elizterry
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2022 issue 1
"When you know you're doing things right, you have power" – Deborah Szekely talks to Spa Business
Spa People: Zoe Wall
Zoe Wall talks about driving the global spa and wellness agenda at Kerzner
New opening: Healing oasis
Zoya, a new integrative health and wellbeing retreat, is opening in the Middle East, as Megan Whitby reports
Interview: Deborah Szekely
As the 'godmother of spa' approaches her 100th birthday, Jan Kitchen travelled to Rancho La Puerta to find out more about her extraordinary life
First Person: Siempre Mejor!
After 82 years, Rancho La Puerta is
still beloved among guests around
the world, who return year after
year for a dose of holistic wellbeing.
Jane Kitchen spent a week at the
Mexican resort to discover how the
spirit of ‘Siempre mejor!’ or ‘Always
better!’ lives on in the 21st century
Sponsored: Phytomer: Celebrating the sea
The story surrounding Phytomer is one of a unique wellness vision, a loyal family, remarkable marine science and pioneering skincare. We talk to deputy general manager Mathilde Gédouin-Lagarde as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary
GWS: Boston strong
If you missed the GWS – or even if you were there – Jane Kitchen's detailed report will give you endless useful actionable insights
Promotion: Yon-ka: Plant power
Benefiting from its founders’ passion for plants, Yon-Ka’s new brand identity reflects its past and its continued research into the healing power of plants which enables the company to craft innovative formulas that deliver results
First person: Paradise at Preidlhof
Lisa Starr travelled to Italy to interview Patrizia Bortolin for Spa Business and experience all that Preidlhof has to offer
Q&A: Patrizia Bortolin
Lisa Starr talks to the award winning visionary
who’s injecting new vigour into Preidlhof
Promotion: Reconnect with ISPA
After a two-year absence, ISPA’s annual Conference offers its
members an opportunity to reconnect and to learn more about
the available tools that can help them recharge their businesses
Q&A: Daniele Vastolo
Chiva-Som has opened a major new property in Qatar, with treatments focused on Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine. We talk to the GM
Research: Human nature
Anne Dimon reports on the latest research insights from the Wellness Tourism Association
Saunas: Aufguss
The first aufguss sauna experience in the US has opened in Las Vegas, as Cassandra Cavanah reports
Software: Getting (Hyper) personal
Software that drives generational marketing can create hyper-personalised offerings, as Karen Maxwell discovers
Supplier showcase: Art of Cryo: Best of both worlds
Art of Cryo is blending its high-performance cryotherapy
solutions with intermittent vacuum therapy to offer a
complete and effective whole-body wellness experience
Promotion: Comfort Zone
From 2022, Comfort Zone’s products are going plastic-neutral, certified by Plastic Bank
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
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