 SUSAN HARMSWORTH
Founder & CEO, ESPA Universally recognised as the world’s leading spa expert, Susan Harmsworth's innovative and forward thinking approach has shaped the luxury spa industry into what it represents today.
Since the age of 21, Susan has devoted her professional life to spa and wellness. Her passion and aptitude for the creation and management of spas has underpinned the success of French thalassotherapy centres, traditional British health spas, Canadian health retreats and luxury spa and wellness centres across the globe. Susan’s international career has also included health and beauty journalism, spa education programmes, and the extensive development of skincare which is based on the principles of nature and science.
In 2010, Susan was honoured with an MBE from the Queen in recognition of her services to the spa and beauty industry.
The culmination of this knowledge and a clear vision for what the spa industry should become, led to the creation of ESPA in 1993. ESPA swiftly became the world’s first total spa company, specialising in the innovative design, development and management of five-star spas throughout the world.
The ‘E’ within ESPA represents ‘Education’ and Susan’s belief that advanced staff training is vital to the success of a spa. ESPA’s post-graduate therapist training school trains hundreds of therapists each year in advanced techniques and the ability to provide a seamless guest experience.
Today, via its offices in the UK, USA, Hong Kong and Dubai, ESPA prides itself on delivering a complete and commercial solution to hospitality companies who wish to incorporate a spa and wellness offering into their property. ESPA also manufactures a comprehensive range of natural skincare products from their development centre in Somerset, England.
ESPA’s spa portfolio now spans 55 countries and includes many of the world’s leading spas. Recent spas, which Susan has been responsible for the creation of include:
The Peninsula Spas by ESPA in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo; ESPA at Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Thailand and many other Ritz-Carlton spas such as those in Dublin, Moscow, Pudong, Sanya and Tokyo; the One&Only resorts in Cape Town, Reethi Rah and Royal Mirage – The Palm; ESPA at Leela Palace in Udaipur and Delhi; The Spa at Gleneagles by ESPA; and ESPA Riga in Latvia.
ESPA spas have won over 140 awards over the past 4 years from organisations such as Conde Nast, Leading Hotels of the World, Luxury Link and 5 Mobil Star. These awards are voted for by the industry but, most importantly, the spa guests themselves. | |
