Mersberger tells Spa Business he wants to lead ISPA to “big things”
Garrett Mersberger is a busy man. As director of wellness for Kohler Waters Spas, he’s just seen the brand’s flagship European location in Scotland transformed and doubled in size, and he’s also recently been named chair of the International Spa Association (ISPA) in the US.
But neither he, Kohler nor ISPA are standing still and talking to Spa Business he reveals Kohler’s spa growth plans and how ISPA’s going to increase its presence internationally.
From bathrooms to spas Kohler, a household name for bathroom and kitchen fixtures, has recently broken ground on an expansion project for its flagship property in Kohler, Wisconsin – the original Kohler Waters Spa – where they’ll be adding five additional treatment rooms, more Kohler relaxation space, a cafe, and a new bridal lounge. Additionally, Mersberger reveals the company will launch a new spa in the US next year and is working on another potential opening in 2020.
“You’re going to start seeing Kohler Waters Spas expanding – I’d say by one spa annually moving forward,” Mersberger explains. “The hope is growth for the Kohler Waters Spa brand. Customer demand is obviously high, wellness is booming and we see this as a great way to partner with the Kohler plumbing brand and to use our spas as brand showcases.”
Founded in 1873, Kohler Company has an estimated revenue of US$6bn and is one America’s largest companies. It has its own hospitality arm and first entered the spa industry 18 years ago, and now owns and operates four – three in the US and one in Scotland.
“It’s been a nice marriage of brands and the Kohler name,” Mersberger explains. “When we opened our first spa in 2000, we did a lot of research into the history of spa and we kept coming back to water and the Roman bath houses. And Kohler’s been in the water business for the last 150 years, so we know a thing or two about water. So it was a natural fit.”
The St Andrews spa was growing – not just through customers in the hotel, but also through its membership component. “So we decided we needed an expansion and we actually doubled the square footage of the spa,” says Mersberger.
The spa has been completely refreshed and well-known industry figure Kirsty MacCormick came on board as spa director last year. Two couples’ rooms have been added – bringing the total to 13 – as well as a spa cafe serving healthy cuisine and coed relaxation space.
“Everything we did keeps water in mind – the colour schemes, the noises you hear – everything,” explains Mersberger.
“In the thermal area, we have an 8ft waterfall that cascades into the pool. We have little trickling waterfalls in different rooms throughout the spa so you’re always able to hear water.
“But it’s also about being able to see water, so a lot of the artwork uses different water scenes from Scotland. In the colour schemes we chose colours of water, but not just water from anywhere, water specifically from Scotland. We want to stay true to the local area and not lose sight of the fact that we’re in Scotland and we’re right by the North Sea.”
Growth for ISPA In the middle of all this growth for Kohler Waters Spa, Mersberger also has his position as chair of ISPA – a role he takes seriously. He’s interviewed the four past chairs, picking their brains on what their vision was, what their hardships were, what they loved about the job.
“I’d like to carry that torch and lead our association to big things,” he says. “That includes growth internationally – that’s a big push. Right now, with so much going on in the spa industry – it’s growing so fast – spas need someone to turn to.
“Maybe they don’t have harassment policies in place, or transgender policies in place – things like that that they haven’t thought of. Our world is moving so fast that they need to look to ISPA, and hopefully we can provide some of those tools and some of that direction for them. We don’t write policy necessarily, but hopefully we can be a good resource for them to help them create their own policies.”
But Mersberger’s role with Kohler shows no signs of slowing down. Now, he says that the company is getting inquiries from hotels that are interested in putting a Kohler-branded spa in their hotels. Mersberger concludes: “We’re exploring that – absolutely. The future looks bright for Kohler Waters Spa.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 2
People profile: Garrett Mersberger
Garrett Mersberger on the overhaul of Kohler Waters’ flagship spa in Europe, plus his vision for ISPA following his appointment as chair of the association
Spa programmes: On the menu
Underwater yoga, healing breathwork and genetics all feature in Spa Business’ brand new series revealing the latest treatments, programmes and retreats in spas
Promotional feature: Zimmer MedizinSysteme
Cold therapy is suddenly all the rage, but Zimmer MedizinSysteme’s icelab takes it a step further, creating a cold sauna for the whole body. Rainer Bolsinger explains more about this cutting-edge therapy
Promotional feature: The Tides: pure Dutch nature inside
Modern living might be tough on our minds and bodies, but newly-launched Dutch wellness and self-care brand The Tides offers just the antidote with a new class of pure, raw products and treatments
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
Mersberger tells Spa Business he wants to lead ISPA to “big things”
Garrett Mersberger is a busy man. As director of wellness for Kohler Waters Spas, he’s just seen the brand’s flagship European location in Scotland transformed and doubled in size, and he’s also recently been named chair of the International Spa Association (ISPA) in the US.
But neither he, Kohler nor ISPA are standing still and talking to Spa Business he reveals Kohler’s spa growth plans and how ISPA’s going to increase its presence internationally.
From bathrooms to spas Kohler, a household name for bathroom and kitchen fixtures, has recently broken ground on an expansion project for its flagship property in Kohler, Wisconsin – the original Kohler Waters Spa – where they’ll be adding five additional treatment rooms, more Kohler relaxation space, a cafe, and a new bridal lounge. Additionally, Mersberger reveals the company will launch a new spa in the US next year and is working on another potential opening in 2020.
“You’re going to start seeing Kohler Waters Spas expanding – I’d say by one spa annually moving forward,” Mersberger explains. “The hope is growth for the Kohler Waters Spa brand. Customer demand is obviously high, wellness is booming and we see this as a great way to partner with the Kohler plumbing brand and to use our spas as brand showcases.”
Founded in 1873, Kohler Company has an estimated revenue of US$6bn and is one America’s largest companies. It has its own hospitality arm and first entered the spa industry 18 years ago, and now owns and operates four – three in the US and one in Scotland.
“It’s been a nice marriage of brands and the Kohler name,” Mersberger explains. “When we opened our first spa in 2000, we did a lot of research into the history of spa and we kept coming back to water and the Roman bath houses. And Kohler’s been in the water business for the last 150 years, so we know a thing or two about water. So it was a natural fit.”
The St Andrews spa was growing – not just through customers in the hotel, but also through its membership component. “So we decided we needed an expansion and we actually doubled the square footage of the spa,” says Mersberger.
The spa has been completely refreshed and well-known industry figure Kirsty MacCormick came on board as spa director last year. Two couples’ rooms have been added – bringing the total to 13 – as well as a spa cafe serving healthy cuisine and coed relaxation space.
“Everything we did keeps water in mind – the colour schemes, the noises you hear – everything,” explains Mersberger.
“In the thermal area, we have an 8ft waterfall that cascades into the pool. We have little trickling waterfalls in different rooms throughout the spa so you’re always able to hear water.
“But it’s also about being able to see water, so a lot of the artwork uses different water scenes from Scotland. In the colour schemes we chose colours of water, but not just water from anywhere, water specifically from Scotland. We want to stay true to the local area and not lose sight of the fact that we’re in Scotland and we’re right by the North Sea.”
Growth for ISPA In the middle of all this growth for Kohler Waters Spa, Mersberger also has his position as chair of ISPA – a role he takes seriously. He’s interviewed the four past chairs, picking their brains on what their vision was, what their hardships were, what they loved about the job.
“I’d like to carry that torch and lead our association to big things,” he says. “That includes growth internationally – that’s a big push. Right now, with so much going on in the spa industry – it’s growing so fast – spas need someone to turn to.
“Maybe they don’t have harassment policies in place, or transgender policies in place – things like that that they haven’t thought of. Our world is moving so fast that they need to look to ISPA, and hopefully we can provide some of those tools and some of that direction for them. We don’t write policy necessarily, but hopefully we can be a good resource for them to help them create their own policies.”
But Mersberger’s role with Kohler shows no signs of slowing down. Now, he says that the company is getting inquiries from hotels that are interested in putting a Kohler-branded spa in their hotels. Mersberger concludes: “We’re exploring that – absolutely. The future looks bright for Kohler Waters Spa.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 2
People profile: Garrett Mersberger
Garrett Mersberger on the overhaul of Kohler Waters’ flagship spa in Europe, plus his vision for ISPA following his appointment as chair of the association
Spa programmes: On the menu
Underwater yoga, healing breathwork and genetics all feature in Spa Business’ brand new series revealing the latest treatments, programmes and retreats in spas
Promotional feature: Zimmer MedizinSysteme
Cold therapy is suddenly all the rage, but Zimmer MedizinSysteme’s icelab takes it a step further, creating a cold sauna for the whole body. Rainer Bolsinger explains more about this cutting-edge therapy
Promotional feature: The Tides: pure Dutch nature inside
Modern living might be tough on our minds and bodies, but newly-launched Dutch wellness and self-care brand The Tides offers just the antidote with a new class of pure, raw products and treatments
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.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
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