Smart Meetings

Stress Takes Flight

Author: Julie Keller
December 2007

Columns

Nowadays, there’s nothing relaxing about business travel.

Long lines, lost luggage, extensive delays, crowded planes and seemingly endless security checks make heading to and from meetings a stressful situation for both you and your attendees. But a soothing solution is on the horizon at several airports around the country with the help of airport spas, in-terminal relaxation havens that are growing in numbers and making travel a little less traumatic.

Airport spas provide travelers with a serene alternative to a typical airport experience. They are normally located inside the terminal and past security. As such, they provide a place for early airport arrivers to bide their time prior to takeoff. They are also an excellent alternative to sitting in those cramped seats at the gate during long delays. “Business travelers see the same thing in the airport all the time—electronics, restaurants, tie shops—so they are excited to see something different,” says Jennifer Shufro, vice president of publicity and airline relations for XpresSpas, a chain of airport spas that are found throughout the country, offering two locations at San Francisco International Airport and one at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, two popular cities for meetings.

Airport spas offer a wide selection of services to travelers with varying comfort levels when it comes to spa-ing, which makes them an ideal choice for most Backrub Hub relaxation stations in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, or the Massage Bar, which offers quick neck and foot massages in a number of airports including Sacramento, Calif., and Seattle.

Other spas are larger and offer more extensive spa services, such as facials, manicures, pedicures, massages and more. Oasis Day Spa in the JetBlue terminal at New York’s JFK International Airport, for example, features two manicure and pedicure stations, three chair-massage stations, one reflexology lounger, one hair station and a private treatment room for massage, skincare and waxing services. Meanwhile, the posh d_parture spa, which has locations in the Newark, N.J. and Orlando, Fla. airports, also offers a full menu with massages, facials, waxing, haircare, nailcare and multiservice packages.

Still other spas get even more creative with their relaxation options. The signature service at OraOxygen at the Calgary International and Detroit Wayne County International airports is a 15-minute session where guests breathe pure oxygen to relieve jet lag, boost the immune system, calm the nervous system and improve sleep. Absolute Spa at Vancouver International Airport also offers oxygen treatments to provide travelers with a breath of fresh air. “True decadence is whecustomer enjoys several treatments at once,” says XpresSpa’s Shufro. “Imagine relaxing in a massage lounger while one technician provides a neck and back massage, another a foot massage, and a third a manicure. Plus, you can experience all of these treatments in just 30 minutes.”

Indeed, the main difference between airport spas and more traditional spas is the length of treatments available, as services often fall into the 30-minute range versus 60 and 90 minutes. Plus, rather than offering therapies intended to create long-term change, nearly all treatments are designed to quickly reduce stress and boost energy.  “The most common trait among business travelers is fatigue,” says Bruce Schoenberg, co-owner of Oasis Day Spa. “If they are on the road for multiple days, their body systems are off-kilter, and many have sleep issues. Many times, the guest just falls asleep on the table, and we frequently hear that a massage was a godsend in helping them get back on track.”

Due to the nature of airport spas, reservations aren’t necessary, and walk-ins are welcome, which makes them an excellent option for business travelers on their way to and from a meeting. Still, gift certificates are available at most airport spas, so consider providing them to your meeting-goers so that they arrive at your event relaxed, refreshed and ready to get down to business. Since airport spas are also a great way to help your attendees unplug after your event, consider setting up appointments as a post-meeting thank you for meeting-goers to enjoy before getting on the plane to return home.

A recent stress study at London’s Heathrow airport found that travelers have higher stress levels than fighter pilots, Formula 1 race-car drivers, parachutists and riot police, a stat that is certainly not conducive to a productive meeting. Thankfully, airport spas are helping to lighten the high-stress load. Get your attendees on board and watch their relaxation take flight.  

Want to ease your meeting-goers’ travel ails before your next event? Look no further than one of these superb airport spas

Absolute Spa
Vancouver International Airport
absolutespa.com
 
A Massage Inc.
Denver International Airport
flydenver.com

Backrub Hub
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport
773-601-0630

Destination Relaxation
Baltimore-Washington International Airport
destination-relax.com

d_parture spa
Newark Liberty Airport, Orlando International Airport
departurespa.com

Jet Setter Mini Spa
Miami International Airport, Logan International Airport
jetsetterspa.com

The Massage Bar
Nashville International Airport, Newark Liberty Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport
massagebar.com

Oasis Day Spa at Jet Blue 
JFK International Airport
oasisdayspanyc.com

OraOxygen Spa
Calgary International Airport, Detroit International Airport
oraoxygen.net

XpresSpa
12 locations across the country, 17 additional sites currently under construction
xpresspa.com