1) The Langham, Huntington Hotel and Spa 2) John Satir of Wellbridge, Chris Fleming of LaRiche, and Julia Sutton of Exhale
at the opening night networking event 3) Buyers sampling the various wares at the vendor showcase 4) The Green Team, winners
of the team-building event, celebrating their victory at the closing night gala dinner
The fourth edition of SPATEC NA, held at The Langham, Huntington Hotel and Spa (Pasadena, CA) in February, was a smashing success, according to many of the delegates who attended the event. "It did exactly
what it said it would—get me in front of people I could otherwise have spent months trying to talk to—and made them friends
as well as potential clients," says Chris Fleming of LaRiche. "SPATEC was an amazingly efficient use of my time," adds Liz Hutto, spa director at the Watermark Hotel & Spa (San Antonio). "I was able to meet with quality suppliers, building relationships and accomplishing our mutually beneficial
goals in a short, concise period. I feel that I accomplished in two days what would have taken two months in a traditional
trade show setting."
4) Attendees discuss the industry during the roundtable session 5) Dragonfly's Michael Dzama, ty.group's William Serbin, ZENsei's
Danny Levin, and BODYCOFFEE's Julie King 6) Ann Emich-Patton of BluSpas, Jim Croghan of The Island Hotel Newport Beach, Kevin
South of Four Seasons Resort Aviara, and Liz Ratcliff of Kor Hotel Group 7) TRUE Beauty's Denise Dente and Alphonse Wiebelt
8) éminence Organic Skin Care's Boldijarre Koronczay and B. Kamins Chemist's Howard Kaminsky 9) Lindsay Curtis and Allison
Nassey of Spa Uniforms 10) Cosmopro Group's Ron Jean 11) American Spa's Julie Keller and Peggy Wynne Borgman of Wynne Business
12) Anderson and Associates's Peter Anderson with Kelly Ford of Chi Herbal Formulas
SPATEC highlights included a first-night welcome and networking event; a seminar and roundtable session focusing on important
spa industry challenges; one-on-one meetings between corporate spa owners, directors, design and management companies and
spa suppliers; a team-building event; a vendor showcase; and a closing night gala. "For busy professionals who need to make
the most out of time away from operations or the office, this conference really delivers," says Ann Emich-Patton of BluSpas. "The format is fast-paced, high-energy, and extremely results-driven—I highly recommend SPATEC to both the buyers and vendors
of this unique industry that we all serve."
Up next will be SPATEC Fall, which will be held Sept. 25–28 at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort (Braselton, GA), and SPATEC Spring 2009, which will be held Feb. 18–21 at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort (Orlando, FL). Call (954) 942-8143 or visit http://www.spatecna.com/ for information.
