I just returned from the Face & Body 2007 Spa & Healthy Aging Conference and Expo, presented by Skin Inc. magazine and held
at Moscone South in San Francisco from August 25–27, where more than 7,200 industry professionals convened to network and
conduct business.
The three-day event began with the full-day product-neutral Advanced Education Conference Program that set the tone for the next few days. This year’s line up offered 22 speakers in five tracks: Esthetic Science; Healthy Aging; Spa, MD; Trends; and an all-day Owner’s Forum.
Saturday’s Conference Program kicked-off with the Attack the Morning Networking Breakfast featuring Richard Williams, spa director for The Peninsula Bangkok in Thailand, who I originally met at Chiva-Som in Hua-Hin, Thailand, one year ago. In his lecture, he shared insights about the dynamics of networking and explained how attendees can create their own spa networks.
Bryan Durocher, president of Durocher Enterprises, facilitated the Conference Program’s Networking Box Lunch, during which nearly 500 attendees joined to discuss common situations and dilemmas encountered in the spa environment. During the luncheon,
I also had the honor, alongside associate editor/Web editor Cathy Christensen, of presenting awards to the winners of Skin Inc. magazine’s second annual Best of the Best Awards. You can read more about this year’s award-winners in Cathy’s article, Skin Inc. magazine’s Second Annual Best of the Best Awards.
The two-day expo that followed provided attendees with the opportunity to meet with more than 245 manufacturers and suppliers occupying 450 booths, and to choose from among 39 manufacturer classrooms.
“Face & Body attendees come to our show with a clear agenda. More than 75% said they came to identify new products or services, and more than 75% came to purchase new products or services,” says Sandy Chapin, director of events. “Of all the goals, including education and networking, nearly 92% of Face & Body attendees indicated that they achieved their pre-show agendas.” How’s that for success? Be sure to read Abby Penning’s article Building a Better Spa: Face & Body 2007 Spa & Healthy Aging Conference and Expo of this issue for more details about the show.
Although this year’s Conference Program was a huge hit, I’d like to build an even better one for next year’s show. To do this, I need your input and would love to pick your brain. Please help me out by answering these questions:
What do you look to achieve from participating in continuing education?
What topics do you feel need to be addressed in an educational setting?
How do you prefer your education to be presented—in panels of industry experts? Tracks? Workshops? Hour-long sessions?
Who are the speakers that interest you?
Do you want a full day of education only, or would you prefer that it be spread out during the course of the show?
Would you prefer that the show lasted only two days?
Please take a few minutes out of your daily grind to drop me some suggestions via e-mail.
And, of course, as we wrap up Face & Body 2007, the Skin Inc. magazine team roars full speed ahead on the planning of America’s Expo for Skin Care & Spa®, which will be co-located March 1–3, 2008, with America’s Beauty Show (formerly Midwest Beauty Show) at McCormick Place in Chicago. The show program will be inserted into our January 2008 issue, but for
up-to-the-minute updates, be sure to visit www.AmericasExpo.com.
Thanks to all of you who have helped to make Face & Body a success, past, present … and future. I look forward to receiving your thoughts and ideas.
Until Next Time,
Melinda Taschetta-Millane
Editor in Chief
