In this episode we sit down with two of Canada’s leading entrepreneurs in the spa industry and take a close look a how each of them responded to the COVID-19 lockdowns, discovered new ways to innovate, and emerge from the worst of the pandemic lockdowns ultimately stronger than they were pre-lockdown.

Celine Tadrissi is the founder / owner of Hammam Spa by Céla. With 2 locations in Toronto, Hammam Spa has been one of Toronto’s most beautiful and renowned spas since opening their first location 15 years ago. Hamman Spa by Céla was recently awarded Canada’s Top Day Spa for 2021 by the London England based World Spa Awards. Celine tadrissi is also the founder of luxury skincare line, Cela and sits on the board of directors of the Leading Spas of Canada, which is how we met.

Elena Zinchenko also on the board of directors of Leading Spas of Canada (and a former chair) is the spa Director at the luxurious TenSpa, which she helped launch 17 years ago in the beautiful Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg, in the province of Manitoba. Elena is also the business director of The Face Bar, also in Winnipeg, which she launched 2 years ago. The Face Bar’s mission is to bring intensive skincare treatments and medical grade products to the public at affordable prices because top quality skincare shouldn’t have to be a luxury.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. How “remembering the why” of being in business provided a focus on where to innovate
2. How a commitment to top quality kept loyal clients guests coming back
3. How strategic collaboration with other brands helped to bring in new clients
4. Much more!

Elena Zinchenko:

1. Click here to connect to Ten Spa
2. Click here to connect to The Face Bar

Celine Tadrissi

1. Click here to connect to Hammam Spa by Céla
2. Click here to connect to the luxury skincare line, Céla

To Connect with Pat Perdue

Twitter: https://twitter.com/patperdue

Website: https://www.patperdue.com

Few would argue that the luxury spa industry requires among the highest standards of guest experience in the world, in which every detail is (or should be) designed not just to please you, or relax you, but to transform you into your better self.

Our guest today, Jean-Guy de Gabriac, is one of the world’s foremost authorities on luxury spas.

In this episode we discuss:

1. The role of “flow” in every spa
2. How designing the “guest experience” can begin at the architecture level
3. The secret of creating a lasting “wow” experience that keeps guests coming back
4. Much more (including World Wellness Weekend)

About our Guest, Jean-Guy de Gabriac

Jean-Guy de Gabriac is an award-winning advisor & educator on the art of crafting the spa experience. Some of the most beautiful destination resort spas in the world have relied on Jean-Guy’s renowned insights to create that “wow” spa experience that keeps clients coming back.

Jean-Guy is also the founder of World Wellness Weekend, which falls on September 18th and 19th this year (this is its 5th year). This year, over 130 countries, over 900 cities, and nearly 1,400 venues so far, have committed to participate in World Wellness Weekend this year. In alignment with the UNITED NATIONS’ 3rd Sustainable Development Goal, “Good Health & Wellbeing for All”, WWW inspires people around the world to enjoy healthy lifestyles through safe, free and fun activities and exciting special offers. If you go to their website (which I’ll link to in the show notes), wherever you happen to be in the world, World Wellness Weekend connects wellness enthusiasts to nearby professionals through its geo-locator on their website. If you’re a wellness professional, go and sign up. It’s absolutely free.

Jean-Guy also serves as Conference producer of World Spa & Wellness Conventions (London & Dubai) ; he is the immediate past Chair of the “Supporting the UNs 17 SDGs” through the Global Wellness Institute. He is a Board Member of the International Massage Association, and Judge at the World Spa & Wellness Awards. Jean-Guy has contributed to over 300 articles in the media, and as of today, at least 1 podcast!

Important Links and Contact Information

To contact Jean-Guy

Please visit his website: https://www.tiptouch.com/en/

To connect with Jean-Guy on Linkedin, click here

To Reach World Wellness Weekend:

https://www.world-wellness-weekend.org/

To reach The Leading Spas of Canada Website

https://www.leadingspasofcanada.com/

To Connect with Pat Perdue

Twitter: https://twitter.com/patperdue

Website: https://www.patperdue.com

Super glad to be back with you! I took some time away from the podcast during this pandemic. And now that I’m back and this is going to be a GREAT show for you!

Now that COVID is becoming part of our history, things are OPENING UP! We have the pandemic on the run! People are thinking about what it’s all going to be like when we can start calling things “normal.”

One of those things is going to be weddings! Remember those? Lots of people, two of whom are pledging their life-long love and devotion for each other, and then there’s drinking, and dancing, and all-around partying? Yeah! That was actually a thing! We did that!

I know a few couples who have actually put off getting married because they wanted to have that “thing,” and now people are really starting to think about making it happen.

Our guest happens to be one of the larger wedding entertainment companies in the New York / New Jersey area. So, if you want to talk about big weddings, amazing entertainment (where the musicians are often Broadway performers), these are the folks who set that up.

And this podcast is about all things Customer Experience, so what is one of the most intense customer experience situations around? Weddings! Our guest, Mike Saulpaugh, has a really interesting take on what it means to deliver a great customer experience.

Michael Saulpaugh is Managing Partner at Elegant Music Group, based out of Montclair, NJ. In addition to his 18 years in the events and entertainment industry, Michael has a professional background in creative advertising. His work has been featured in Adweek and BuzzFeed has called him, “hilariously clever.” Michael, as you’ll hear, is all about leveraging the experience of the customer to drive business growth, and was selected to and is now a contributing member on the Forbes Business Council.

Elegant Music Group Website: https://elegantmusicgroup.com/

To connect with Pat Perdue:

Instagram: @pat_perdue_brand_strategist

Twitter: @patpatperdue