Where’s Anne? Bali – Part 2

May, 2011
The Beautiful Indonesian Island of Bali

Part Two: Work – The Global Spa Summit

The little vacation didn’t last long. I had to get ready for the start of the Global Spa Summit (GSS) 2012, Bali.

This year I had the honor of Co-Chairing the GSS, which is an invitation only business forum. Spa leaders from around the world come together to share information and business ideas and to shape the spa industry of the future. This was the first year we’d held it in Asia and we were so excited to focus on this region.

I’d spent the last year working with Susie Ellis on the agenda and content. Jeff Matthews, the other Co-Chair and head of Mandara Spas, focused on the logistics – set up and fun – which is even more important to the success of the conference.

We had speakers and discussion forums on a wide variety of topics from investing and growing business in China to new technology that will shape the preventive health industry. We launched an evidence-based medicine web site that brings together all the scientific research on many of our key spa therapies such as massage, fitness, and water therapies.

The theme was all about engagement and we took it to heart. Discussions were lively, panels were full of rich content and varying points of view, and keynote speakers stimulated us to think beyond our own industry for ideas to change our business and expand the things we could introduce to our guests.

We had some fun, too. The Indonesian Government sponsored a dinner that seemed like an elaborate tour of the history and culture of this fascinating country. We played musical instruments I had never seen before and some delegates formed an impromptu band.

The biggest learning was the power of engagement. This year I got involved in the GSS in a much more active and meaningful way than ever before. I’d been nervous because we’d put so much of ourselves into the program and so wanted it to go well. We felt immense satisfaction when something went perfectly and made notes for future conferences when other things could be even better. There is no doubt that our heightened levels of engagement as organizers infected the delegates and lifted the conference’s level of energy.

“Engage” is my new rallying call. Get involved in a passionate and meaningful way in everything I do: work out with engagement, eat with engagement, spend time with friends fully engaged and even get engaged in bringing interesting new dimensions to our Willow Stream spas.

I am very excited about our future.