Laura Parsons, Robert Vance and Jennifer Wayland-Smith have announced they are collaborating to launch a brand new spa consultancy named The Spa Collective.

The new consultancy is the product of two existing spa consultancies uniting under one roof, with Vance and Parsons joining from The WellSpring Group and Wayland-Smith coming from Wayland-Smith Consulting.

With the strapline ‘smart alone, brilliant together’, the consultancy firm is providing management, leadership and development services for the spa and wellness industry. Its offering ranges from pre-opening consulting, spa branding and concept coaching to review of SOPs and retail strategy.

The trio brings over 60 years of industry experience combined to the company, with each member having served on the ISPA Board of Directors during their career.

Parsons has worked with branded and boutique hotels and resorts in the US, Caribbean, and Europe, leading spa teams of many sizes. She has also held a role as director of operations in the Americas for ESPA and is principal and CEO of The WellSpring Group.

Currently working as chief wellness officer at The WellSpring Group, Vance’s experience as a wellness consultant has consisted of planning, pre-opening, renovation and ongoing facility management. He has worked with major brands including Accor, Four Seasons, Sensei, Golden Door and Mii amo.

Wayland-Smith has previously worked for a collection of independent and global hospitality companies, including Mandarin Oriental and Golden Door Spa. Her emphasis has mainly focused on daily operations, but she has also been involved in spa planning and development, construction, expansion and opening.

Vance spoke to Spa Business: “The Spa Collective evolved organically from a conversation about how we could better support each other and serve the industry that we love. We realised we’re strong as individual consultancies, but working as a consortium – with our collective knowledge, experience, and passion – we could support our clients and this industry in a more dynamic way.

“While many spas are taking this time to reimagine their business strategy, we recognised we could and should be doing the same. No matter what part of the spa world we work in, it’s about providing the best experience for our guests, for our clients and for our colleagues,” he concluded.