In reponse to the keen interest in spa management; students are now given even greater choices when seeking spa-related degrees.

"There are some 14,000 spas in the United States, and with nearly $10 billion in annual revenues, the spa industry is the fourth largest leisure industry.  Today it is very difficult for a hotel to be considered a luxury property if it does not have a spa," explained ISPA Foundation President John Korpi.

"The rapid growth of spas has resulted in a significant challenge in identifying qualified professionals to lead and manage spa operations. Additionally, hotel general managers of the 21st century find themselves supervising spa operations, which they are often totally unfamiliar with.  This partnership between ISPA, the ISPA Foundation and EI will result in a core of educational resources that will amend this situation." 

"Retail Management for Spas: The Art and Science of Retail" is the first ISPA and ISPA Foundation textbook within the spa curriculum that EI will offer to its academic customers. This book explores retail planning, inventory management, maximizing profits, sales and service, visual merchandising, and marketing within the spa environment. 

The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, is adding spa-related textbooks and educational resources to its line of hospitality management textbooks thanks to a collaboration with the International SPA Association and the ISPA Foundation. The curriculum will help students prepare for area of hospitality that has exploded in recent years.

Through its exploration of the art and science of retail, the textbook provides essential business information on retail strategies, planning, management and administration. It uses a variety of case studies, stories, learning activities and quizzes to help illustrate the concepts and lessons being presented.

Additional spa-related textbooks are planned, including an introductory textbook on the spa industry, which will be published in early 2008. EI, ISPA and the ISPA Foundation will celebrate their partnership at a reception for hospitality educators during the annual conference of the Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE) on Thursday, July 26, in Dallas.

"The Educational Institute is pleased to work with the ISPA Foundation and ISPA to offer materials that address the education and training needs of this fast-growing segment of the hospitality industry," said Roy Kennington, CHA, EI's president and COO.

Academic institutions may also purchase the "Uniform System of Financial Reporting for Spas" directly from EI. This spa-specific reference book provides a financial reporting system that gives spa operators the tools to measure, compare and report on the financial health of their business. The book was developed by the ISPA Foundation in collaboration with ISPA, author Raymond Schmidgall, the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, and Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals.

Academic institutions that are interested in purchasing Retail Management for Spas or the Uniform System of Financial Reporting for Spas should contact EI at 1.800.344.4381 or 1.517.372.8800 (outside the U.S. and Canada, call 1.407.999.8100). Hotels and other hospitality industry organizations may purchase these books directly from the ISPA Foundation by calling 1.888.651.ISPA (4772) or by visiting www.experienceispa.com.

Also of interest to students is the scholarship program created by the ISPA Foundation. Named in honor of spa industry pioneer Cornell University Associate Professor Mary H. Tabacchi, Ph.D., R.D., the $1,500USD scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student who has completed at least one year of college and is seeking a spa-related degree with a demonstrated interest in spa management.