NEtWorKiNg guidE
vations for as-of-yet-unknown guests makes life easier for
others; however, it’s also a great way to ensure you won’t
head upstairs for room service when you could be making
friends, memories and connections at a group meal. Beyond
that, having great reservations near the hotel makes a good
impression on others. Flip to page 52 for Phoenix restaurant
recommendations.
The daily lunches on the Expo floor are another oppor-
tunity for professional networking. “There will be a lot of spa
directors, managers and vendors eating on the floor, so make
a point to sit next to people you don’t know,” advises Conte.
“Have a few icebreakers ready, and don’t be shy to ask people
where they’re from, how their week is going and if they’ve
had a favorite Education Session or speaker.”
7.
Don’t underestimate icebreakers. Try to
pick out five topics or questions that you can keep in
your metaphorical back pocket for when you’re at a loss for
words. Here’s a smattering of ISPA-themed questions that
Jeannine Sowers, owner of Fusions Spa in North Carolina,
uses to break the ice:
1. “What’s your favorite spa product right now?
2. “Seen anything at this year’s ISPA Conference & Expo that
you recommend I try?”
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3. “What education sessions are you interested in attending?”
4. “What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever done at an ISPA
Conference?”
8. Think outside the box. Finding people with
9. You’re not alone in being alone.
similar personal or professional interests is a great way
to network, but it can also keep your connections “inside the
box,” so to speak. Push yourself to your limits and talk to
people you might not usually speak to. There are numerous
strategies for this; Clark recommends picking a color—say,
green—“then [making] a point of seeking out people wearing
that color.”
Another recommended tip for connecting with people,
particularly any subject-matter expert whose brain you want
to pick, is to interview them. Whether for your spa’s social
media, a blog, podcast or newsletter, asking a spa superstar
for an interview frames your first interaction with them as
“one of giving, because your interview will expose them to
new audiences,” according to Clark.
Sometimes it can seem like everyone else is at the ISPA
Conference & Expo with someone but, according to Conte,
that’s far from the truth. “Remember that there will be several