Mindful Travel Planning: Decide what type of wellness you are seeking in your life so that you can narrow down your destination. Research places known for their natural beauty and cultural richness. With living in Florida for the last 12 years the most enticing travel destination for me would include cooler weather and mountains!
The pandemic has shaped the way we travel and live, with a growing trend leaning towards health, wellness, and a holistic lifestyle. More than ever, individuals are seeking not just getaways, but immersive wellness retreats that help rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul. Destinations that provide a serene environment, unique wellness offerings, and an unparalleled experience are in great demand. In this interview series, we are talking to property owners and hospitality companies who are at the helm of these wellness havens. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lindsey Sappenfield.
As a seasoned Spa Director, massage therapist, and esthetician with over 20 years of industry experience, Lindsey Sappenfield combines expertise in holistic wellness with a dedication to delivering exceptional client experiences. Known for skillfully integrating therapeutic techniques and skincare knowledge, Lindsey consistently achieves high standards of customer satisfaction and operational excellence.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
Iwas raised in rural Nebraska, and spent my entire childhood in a very small town, population roughly 5,000. Small town life can be stifling, with a big wide world to discover. I appreciate the calm and open spaces so much more now, when I go back to visit.
Who or what inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
My family is in the medical field. I grew up being fascinated with the human body, but knew that I didn’t want to be a doctor or a nurse. I still wanted to help people and massage was a natural fit. The other influence was my Grandmother and Aunt. They co-owned a hair salon in Pender Nebraska, called the Hair’m. I spend many afternoons in the salon, chatting with their clients, listening to the small town gossip, watching perms get rolled, and hair set and curls. I loved the camaraderie and laughter that was always happening in their salon. I didn’t know it at the time, but it definitely set the stage to enter the spa industry.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
I’m lucky to say that I have a favorite boss, one that was a leader, mentor and a friend. He has a wealth of experience in many different spas and “grew up” in the industry like I did. Beny Koe was the person who took a chance on me when all I had was treatment room experience and I was eager to transition into management. He read my therapist resume and asked why I wanted to make the change. I shared with him that I wanted to be a Spa Director and needed to start moving in that direction. The spa that we worked at together was an opening and we cultivated the team together. I wrote treatment protocols and did therapist training. He sent me into interviews where I was more nervous that the person being interviewed. He gave me full ownership of the retail boutique, purchasing, merchandising and inventory control. He gave me so much room to grow and flourish. We brainstormed seasonal treatments. We would compare whose treatments were booking more, and why we thought they were. Beny let me figure it out, but was always there when I had questions. He wasn’t afraid to let me try things and then would offer his guidance on what or how he might have handled a situation differently. He is a genuinely authentic human being, and I am so grateful to him.
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your career? What lesson or takeaway did you learn from that?
Don’t push buttons if you don’t know what they do! I was working at a spa that had an amazing Hydrotherapy tub with 100 air jets. The cleaning was monotonous, and was set to a certain cycle. Right next to the cleaning cycle was an innocuous button, named, descale. One night as the spa was closing I had to clean the tub and I pushed the descale button. That was a huge mistake! The tub started filling and the water wouldn’t turn off. I hit the emergency red stop button. It didn’t work. Now panicking I tried every button that I knew. The tub wouldn’t stop filling until it was to the edge. Once it stopped I thought, no problem, I’ll just drain it. Wrong! The air jets turned on full blast and shot water everywhere. At this point I went searching for help and let the lead massage therapist know that the tub was flooding. She couldn’t fix it either. By this point the entire room was filled with an inch of standing water; it even started spilling out into the hall. We rushed to gather everyone left in the spa. We were armed with push brooms, squeegees, and towels. Five of us got to work cleaning up this epic mess. By the end of the ordeal we were all soaked up to our knees and laughing. That tub and room were sparkling clean, but I never lived down the night that I flooded that room.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does it resonate with you so much?
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill. This one in particular means so much. My husband will tell you I’m not afraid to dive in and try something new, even if I’m not as prepared as I should be. I’m not afraid to make a mistake, and believe that everything can be fixed. The only way to grow in this life is to try something and learn from it whether it goes perfectly or is a total failure. Both outcomes are learning experiences.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think it might help people?
Our spa is currently working on bringing in more energetic services, like Reiki, and Chakra balancing. Currently none of the spas on Clearwater Beach are offering any energetic treatments. We have a spectacular flotation table with chromo-therapy lights. The weightless sensation of floating with the gentle transition of lights and energy work is quite transformative. People are hungry for authenticity, and energy work is deliberate and unique to the individuals giving and receiving the treatment.
Ok, Thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview about wellness destinations. Let’s dive deeper into these together. Based on your research or personal experience, why do you think travel can lead to better wellness? Can you share a story?
I spent a wonderful weekend on Lanai, Hawaii at the Four Seasons Ko’ole lodge. It was a brief, but incredibly memorable trip; jam packed with activity from sunrise to sunset each day. The morning started with snorkeling followed by a game of tennis. We had a quick lunch and then went on a several mile hike to the top of the mountain behind the resort. Other fitness and wellness options were resort horse-back riding, guided hikes, skeet shooting, and various fitness programs. In my day to day life I would never make that much time for fitness and being outdoors. On vacation you are able to connect with yourself and push yourself to make the most of your time.
What are a few things which distinguish your property from thousands of wellness properties around the world?
The Wyndham Grand is perfectly positioned on Clearwater Beach, Florida, which is highly regarded and consistently appears on lists of top beaches for its beautiful white sand, clear waters, and vibrant atmosphere. With sunshine year round it is easy to make recreational activities such as beach volleyball, paddle boarding, kayaking, and riding bikes on the beach. You can start and end your day with fitness. You can also find many excellent golf courses within a short drive as well. At our property we host yoga poolside and have a gorgeous gym overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. We also partner with One Team Fitness that creates a personalized full day or half day program of personal training. In my opinion Clearwater gets its edge over other destinations with diversity of offerings. You are able to find night-life, dolphin boat tours, and the marine aquarium. If you crave a little bit more of an urban flair it is a short drive into downtown Tampa or Saint Petersburg with additional museums, fine dining and multiple live music options and concerts. Some wellness destinations are one dimensional, Clearwater has it all.
What type of experience do you want your visitors to have when they visit?
I want each guest to feel acknowledged for where they are at this moment. Every day our energy levels, body and mind are in a different state. My team needs to be able to adapt to each individual. No two people are exactly the same in what brought them to our resort, and that is part of the fun too! The Wyndham Grand Clearwater and Pallavi Spa can cater to everyone. We have a comprehensive spa menu, and talented personnel that truly care about the individual in front of them. My main goal is to make sure every guest feels listened to, and is able to leave with their experience fulfilled.
Can you share any transformative stories or testimonials from guests that visited your property?
Testimonial
Featured
by Rebeca Martinez on 05/26/2024
Review for Wyndham Clearwater, Pallavi Spa
Beautiful, modern, professional, respectful, kind, thoughtful, thorough, precise, and above expectations are just a few of the words to begin to describe my experience at the spa this weekend. I took my mom and we had a mother-daughter spa day. Massage and facials, totally enjoyed the environment, exceptionally restful and beautiful spaces. Can’t wait to come back to the Wyndham
Grand and Pallavi Spa Again!
Why do you think the experience you offer is so needed nowadays?
The experience we offer is so necessary for stress relief. Most of us experience high levels of stress due to demanding jobs, busy schedules and constant connectivity. A luxury hotel provides a tranquil environment where you can focus on relaxation. Another bonus of staying in a hotel is restorative sleep with the comfortable beds, luxury linens, and black out curtains. Awareness of overall health, wellbeing and physical health has grown. Staying at a luxury resort gives you the space and time to take care of all aspects of your wellness.
Do you think travel enhances our mindfulness, optimism, or sense of gratitude? How? Can you please explain with an example or story?
Absolutely! Some years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Sedona Arizona and do some hiking. When surrounded by natural beauty the scenery was striking, and you could feel the energy of the many vortexes in the area. Strong energy can be awe inspiring and bring a deep sense of awareness to your life. I spent a very memorable day with my parents and my brother. We still joke about how my Dad nearly ran us off the road looking out the window while driving. Time spent with loved ones always makes you feel grateful for all of the joy that life can bring, and it’s even sweeter when spent traveling.
What are your “5 habits You should develop in Order to Make Travel into an Opportunity for Wellness & Personal Growth.
5 habits you should develop in order to make travel into an opportunity for wellness and personal growth:
- Mindful Travel Planning: Decide what type of wellness you are seeking in your life so that you can narrow down your destination. Research places known for their natural beauty and cultural richness. With living in Florida for the last 12 years the most enticing travel destination for me would include cooler weather and mountains!
- Prioritize Self-Care: Incorporate self-care routines into your travel itinerary. For me this would include morning meditation or yoga sessions, and scheduling spa treatments. I love a destination with a spa that features hydrotherapy circuits, steam rooms or saunas. I also like to travel with an essential oil or two. They are great for promoting relaxation or invigorating after a long travel day.
- Plan to be nourished: Travel with your water bottle, always. Bring healthy snacks that will keep you satiated while in route. Fruits, granola bars, protein cookies and popcorn are my favorites for travel. I always feel better when I arrive at my destination having eaten real food instead of grabbing whatever fast food is in the terminal. I also love to research restaurants in the area that feature fresh ingredients or unique dishes.
- Engage in Physical Activities: Incorporate physical activities that connect you with your destination. This could involve hiking in scenic landscapes, swimming in natural bodies of water, or participating in yoga retreats or wellness workshops offered locally. I’ve kayaked in Fiji, biked volcanoes in Hawaii, snowboarded mountains in Colorado, sailed off the coast of Antigua. Each destination I’ve been to has a memory of an outdoor adventure and often becomes one of the highlights of the trip.
- Self-Development: The time spent in airports, planes and transfers is the perfect time to journal. I also love a good book and find that I don’t often have as much time dedicated to reading as I would like. It’s nice to spend time with prose instead of a phone. You may be able to shift your mindset before you arrive at your destination. There’s nothing like journaling about your day and what you experienced during your trip. Recording it in the moment can have a lasting impact.
Based on your experience, where do you see the future of wellness travel heading in the next 5–10 years?
There will be a rise in more holistic offerings, including mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Mental health will continue to be a bigger conversation as there is a rising expectation of remaining connected. Due to the demand of constant connection I think that wellness travel is going to become intentionally disconnected, or at least that is where I hope things are going. We all deserve to live our lives to their fullest, and sometimes that means getting away and unplugging completely.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports and entertainment red this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them.
Deepak Chopra, I have read Perfect Health, and it was life changing for me early in my career.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I can be found on LinkedIN.
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent on this. We wish you continued success.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
