Washington Spa Alliance co-founder Mary Bemis reveals details of Spa Hall of Fame
US spa industry leaders were honoured at the Washington Spa Alliance’s (WSPA) fifth Annual Symposium last month, with the inauguration of the Spa Hall of Fame. Mary Bemis – the Alliance’s co-founder and Symposium chair – outlined the significance of the event in an exclusive Thought Leader column for Spa Opportunities.
Thought Leader: Mary Bemis, co-founder and Symposium chair of WSPA
The Washington Spa Alliance’s fifth Annual Symposium
I am very proud to report that spa history was made in Washington, DC, on 17 March, when the Washington Spa Alliance (WSPA) gathered for its fifth Annual Symposium at the National Press Club. A highlight of the day’s activities, Mary-Elizabeth Gifford, pro-bono curator, announced the opening of the first-ever Spa Hall of Fame.
Americans increasingly turn to the spa community to learn about diet and exercise, the benefits of plant-based diets, to redefine ideas of beauty and wellbeing, and to learn techniques of mindfulness and preventive medicine,” noted Dr Brent Bauer, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program and Rejuvenate at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program.
“With the founding of the Spa Hall of Fame, spa comes of age,” said Bauer.
A list of Class of 2015 inductees can be found here.
Gathered to salute these spa giants were the leaders and presidents of the regional spa associations from across the US. As a cofounder of the Washington Spa Alliance (WSPA) and the Symposium chair, I’d been hard at work on this special initiative. It had long been my hope to one day bring together all of the regional spa leadership in the States – in one room in our nation’s capital.
Sales, Marketing and Retention Manager
Exercise Referral Instructor
Epping Forest Keeper (countryside Ranger)
Aquatics Officer - dual site
Fitness Manager
Climbing Activities and Wellbeing Coordinator
Strategic Manager Leisure Partnerships and Health
Centre Manager - dual site
Centre Manager - dual site
Activity & Wellbeing Leader
Chief Executive Officer
Swimming Teacher
Swimming Teacher
Company profile
Featured Supplier
Property & Tenders
Company: Cotswold Lakes Trust
Company: Knight Frank
Company: Belvoir Castle
Company: London Borough of Bexley
Company: Forestry England