Beginning in April, Massage Today will launch SpaTherapy.com - your gateway to everything spa! As an offshoot of MT and MassageToday.com, SpaTherapy.com will feature resources for both spa professionals and consumers, including spa and industry news, consumer and practice-management articles by knowledgeable spa industry leaders, general health and wellness information, practitioner and spa profiles, a national spa locator, and much more.
Additionally, MT and SpaTherapy.com will recognize one spa each year for providing the Best Spa Massage. The recipient of this honor will receive a beautiful award and a virtual logo for the spa's corresponding Web site, courtesy of MT and SpaTherapy.com. The Best Spa Massage award is the culmination of the spa ratings feature we have been publishing over the last year in which various spas have been reviewed anonymously by professionals not affiliated with the spa or massage industries, and who paid full price for services.
Attention Massage Therapists: We Need Your Expertise!
But why should those outside of the profession rate spa massages? Who better to evaluate massages than massage therapists?
We are recruiting massage therapists who are interested in volunteering to rate spa massages for SpaTherapy.com. Volunteers can choose to rate any spa in the United States, but cannot currently work for a spa in any capacity. Spa massages will be rated on a 100-point scale to include the following criteria:
Reservations Desk (5 points) - Evaluation based on the helpfulness, friendliness and promptness with which the task was handled.
Waiting Area/Changing Room/Locker Room/Showers (10 points) Evaluation based on spa amenities, atmosphere and cleanliness.
Massage Room & Massage Table (10 points) - Evaluation based on ambiance, cleanliness, lighting, music/sound, aroma, the temperature of room as applicable, and the comfort of the table, as well as the type of linens and bolsters/support devices employed.
Massage (75 points) - Evaluation based on whether appropriate questions were asked of client; technique and pressure; time allocation; response to client needs, requests, questions and feedback; use of massage oils, lotions, devices and aids; proper draping technique; relaxation/therapeutic effect of massage; water/refreshments offered to client; overall attitude of the massage therapist; and final impression.
Look for the winner of the 2004 Best Spa Massage in the February 2005 issue.
If you would like more information on becoming a volunteer spa rater, would like to write for SpaTherapy.com, or have questions, comments or suggestions, please e-mail us at
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