The Global Wellness Summit has announced that its first-ever “Shark Tank of Wellness” competition has already attracted more than 70 entries from 17 countries; submissions continue until August 1, 2016. In addition, the Summit revealed its panel of judges, the “Wellness Sharks.” [read more]

The International Spa Association (ISPA) Foundation has awarded two recipients to receive the Mary Tabacchi Scholarship. [read more]

Educator, massage therapist and spa industry veteran Eric Stephenson has joined supplier Saltability as national educator. [read more]

Dubai-based spa consultancy Esadore International has named Michael Monsod as director of wellness operations and Sally Beighton as spa trainer and consultant. [read more]

The National Spa Association of Lithuania is opening its massage championship to other European countries for the first time this year. [read more]

Industry veteran Kathryn Moore has launched a new company, Spa Connectors, to provide training and recruitment for the global spa industry. [read more]

Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok has hired two blind therapists, Decha Phoosiriand and Paranee Fongta, who rely on their senses of smell, sound and touch to help them understand guests’ needs. [read more]

The fourth panel at Spameeting EMEA at the Meydan Hotel in Dubai yesterday (6 December) was about the relationship between hotel general managers and spa staff. Spa directors and executives asked hospitality experts why GMs are stubborn when it comes to implementing plans for spa. [read more]

The second panel discussion at the Spameeting conference yesterday afternoon (6 December) was focused on how to deliver the best spa service to travellers of all generations. [read more]

Almost all of those surveyed – 98 per cent - who took part in the 2015 pilot mentorship programme found it ‘very successful’ or ‘successful,’ according to a new report released by the programme, and 100 per cent of participants said they believe the programme benefits the spa industry. [read more]

Spa distributor Universal Companies has opened an 8,500sq ft (790sq m) Wellness & Beauty Learning Center in Southern California, where it will provide educational classes and on-site training. [read more]

Skincare brand Skin Authority has added two executives to its team after what it says was a record year for the brand. [read more]

With an estimated total of 360,000 employees in the US spa industry – a record high – the demand for US spa staff does not appear to be slowing down, according to The International Spa Association's 2015 US Spa Industry Study. [read more]

Marilyn Monroe Spas, the US spa brand with 10 locations across four states, which serve 70,000 customers, has received a US$20m (€18m, £13m) investment from JCR Holdings which will be used to fund domestic and global expansion plans. The total capital raised by Marilyn Monroe Spas, including the sum from JCR Holdings, is US$36m (€32m, £23m). [read more]

Nikos Kouremenos, area spa director for Raison d’Etre, is set to hand over spa operations of Soma Bay Thalasso & Spa in Egypt and he will take charge of the spa consultancy’s spa business education division. [read more]

International beauty and spa therapy standard-setter, Comité International d'Esthétique et de Cosmétologie (CIDESCO), held its 63rd World Congress & Exhibition in Sandton, South Africa last month, bringing together more than 300 CIDESCO members and industry professionals from around the world. [read more]

Gwyneth Paltrow and her diet and exercise mentor Tracy Anderson have created 3 Green Hearts – a food take-out company in the US that will offer juice, quinoa, kale ravioli, as well as something called ‘frosting shots’. The third ‘green heart’ and member of the company is Maria Baum – who is CEO of Tracy Anderson’s fitness empire. [read more]

The School of Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality of BKF University of Applied Sciences in Budapest, Hungary, is offering a new educational programme called Thermal Spa and Resort Management for individuals interested in health tourism and spa management based on natural resources. [read more]

The Malaysian government is looking to train 1,500 new spa therapists over the next five years to support the country’s ever-growing spa industry, which is expected to contribute RM400m (US$125m, €93.4m, £74.5m) to gross national income by 2020. [read more]

Dubai’s strict medical healthcare laws which apply to massage therapists are being reformed with the help of principal and owner of the renowned Dubai spa training facility, Healing Zone Academy – Anne Cook and the director of spa consultancy dR Global, Daniella Russell. [read more]