Last week, I attended the 7^th annual Les Nouvelles Esthetique Spa Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.  This lively two day conference is the largest gathering of spa and wellness professionals in South Africa, and couples keynote and panel presentations with a small trade fair and a gala awards dinner.  Many of the attendees are among the over 200 members of the South Africa Spa Association, and also come from some of the neighboring countries such as Namibia and Mozambique.

Just as in America, presentations covered a wide variety of subjects including social media best practices, the introduction of wellness services, innovations such as stem cell products, optimizing hotel spa operations, and a panel discussion on Groupon and deal sites. This, coincidentally, received the same mixed reaction that we’re seeing here stateside.

Jackie Avis, Spa Director at the Oyster Box Hotel

The South African spa landscape is vibrant and varied, offering destination spas and resort/hotel spas as well as a wide variety of day spas and, unique to South Africa, safari spas, which are spas located at typically remote safari retreats.  These spas may have only a few treatment rooms but have many logistical challenges in operations, as you might imagine, which make running an American day spa feel pretty easy by comparison!

The annual Spa Awards Gala Dinner runs in conjunction with the conference, and was attended by over 200 people, many of whom had spas entered in the prestigious contest.  Master of Ceremonies Peter Krug and Les Nouvelles Esthetique SA editor Dr. Nadine de Freitas presided over the evening, which had an Asian theme and featured entertainment including a Dragon Dance Troop, Martial Arts Demonstration, and live singing by former SA Idol contestants.

The 2011 Spa Award Winners were as follows:

• Day Spa Category - The Pyramid Day Spa, Johannesburg
• Unique Spa Concept – Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat, Western Cape
• Boutique Hotel Spa – Spa de la Veille at Marion on Nicol Boutique Hotel, Johannesburg
• Hotel / Resort Spa – Life Day Spa at Crystal Towers, Cape Town
• Safari Spas – Tswalu Kalahari Spa, Kuruman

Additionally, Spa Recognition Awards were given to individuals who, according to Dr. de Freitas, “Go above the call of duty and through their work the entire industry benefits.  These awards are a true reflection of the Spa Industry’s opinion, as individuals are nominated and voted for by the spa industry in their individual categories.”  These award winners were as follows:

• Spa Ambassador – Mark Barkett of Spas of Distinction, a group of award-winning spas
• Spa Humanitarian – Carina Franck of Kalahari Spas who has created the Kalahari Beads Project benefitting the Khoi San community
• Spa Visionary Award – consultant Emmy Stoltz of Spa Fusion, who has personally contributed to the success of some of the country’s top spas
• Spa Management Excellence – Francisco Caceres Garcia of Mount Grace Country House & Spa, an innovative and attentive leader

The LNE South Africa Spa Conference and Awards are a great example of a publication leading a region, or in this case a whole country, to strive for ever growing levels of success and performance.  I’d like to congratulate not just the winners, but all of the worthy entrants and organizers for their efforts to elevate and recognize the spas in the region.