Tag Bangkok

Tag Bangkok

Linda Harding-Bond
June 30, 2015

The Social Solution for Shabby Service

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Writing
featured image

I’d never heard of GripeO. Then last week I received a direct message from @GripeO_Outreach on Twitter. They were following up on an article published on Huffington Post about my lousy spa experience. They wanted to know if I was interested in escalating my complaint to senior management. Because I constantly write about the impact of social media on the spa industry I wasn’t surprised. The fact that I had been tracked on Twitter by a consumer service company was prophetic and intriguing. I wanted to learn more about GripeO_Outreach so I spoke with the CEO, Mike Klanac.

Want to read more? Click Here>>>>http://linkd.in/1Nsss50

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Harding-Bond
June 30, 2015

5 Tips for Painfully Shy Spa Therapists

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Training
featured image

Most therapists who work in the spa industry are introverts. It doesn’t matter if they are in Bangkok, Thailand or the United States, they tend to be shy. It makes sense; what other personality type would elect to work in a darkened room, one on one with a minimal need for conversation. But even introverts want to be part of the group. Here, Jeff Hayden gives 5 tips on how to fit in. Read More

Linda Harding-Bond
June 25, 2015

3 Social Media Facts Spa Managers Need To Know with Norm Bond

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Master Class
featured image

Moontide Consulting (MC) caught up with Norm Bond (NB) in Bangkok, Thailand and asked for his insights on the global spa industry and social media. We wanted to see if he could give us three social media facts that managers in the global spa industry need to know. Bond is widely recognized as an international authority on marketing. He’s also the author of “Web Traffic Decoded” and a frequent media guest having appeared on CNN, Reuters, FOX News, National Public Radio (NPR), Business Week, and Black Enterprise Magazine.

So give a read and enjoy our exchange below.

MC: Social media (SM) is all I read about now. It’s everywhere. But if I’m a spa manager do I need to be concerned? Isn’t this a senior management area?

NB:  Social media is an integral part of an entire organization. From the senior manager to the entry level employee to the front desk person. Because the nature of social media today is that everybody can be touched by it. 
Read More

Linda Harding-Bond
June 24, 2015

Customer Service Just Died; and Your Training Budget Killed It!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Training
featured image

Once a month the CEO of a certain Five-Star resort company would return to the home office. A status meeting was always held. All vice presidents and middle management would attend either in person or via Skype.

On this particular day as we were waiting for the meeting to begin, he regaled us with a story of his visit to one of the company’s more remote locations. He said 18 hours on a plane had earned him an extremely stiff neck. Immediately upon arrival he’d booked a massage. In a luxurious hut with the ocean as a backdrop, he’d explained his problem to a therapist in detail. He opted for an add-on treatment of Thai herbal balls; heated poultices which are rhythmically applied to sore or stiff body points to promote blood flow. He’d also requested that a heated towel be placed around his neck for the first 10 minutes prior to treatment. >>>To read more click here>>huff.to/1GEycWV

Linda Harding-Bond
June 23, 2015

Five Spa Tips Every Twenty-Something Should Know

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Writing
featured image

My niece graduated from Howard University last year. She’s doing fairly well;  I recently received an e-mail from her informing me that she was thinking of having one or two spa treatments. She wanted to know which ones she should try and as an African-American which were safest for her skin. As a former esthetician and a very protective aunt, I was inclined to tell her that none of them were safe unless I performed them! I realized though  that I was being a bit “extra”, so I calmed down and provided recommendations on who, what and where she should go.

If you are among the other twenty-somethings around the globe also venturing into the world of spa goers, here are five things that you should know;

Want to read more click here>>>http://huff.to/1TQiT4h

 

Linda Harding-Bond
June 17, 2015

Why your New Spa Product Will Probably Fail

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Products
featured image

My friend Cheryl developed a beautiful line of organic body products. She sent me samples and I was thrilled to discover that her creations where some of the best I’d ever used.

When it won a best new product of the year award in New York City, she and I celebrated with a champagne lunch. I remember screaming in delight when it was later selected as one of the swag bag items for the Emmy Awards.  A Five-Star hospitality group  in Asia began carrying her line at their chain of spas. Her product was unstoppable. Read More

Linda Harding-Bond
June 13, 2015

The Culture of Spa Called and It’s Mad!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Writing
featured image

As a spa professional I am often highly disappointed in the level of service delivered at Five-Star spas and resorts. I’m an American living in Bangkok, so I’m particularly sensitive to respecting the local culture.

However, it seems as though a trade-off has taken place which has allowed the universal “culture of spa” to be compromised. It seems to me that it’s been replaced by a lazy, non-caring apathy masquerading as customer service.

Read the rest of my article on Huffington Post>>http://huff.to/1S4gaTc

Linda Harding-Bond
June 10, 2015

3 Social Media Facts Spa Managers Need To Know

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Master Class
featured image

NORM BOND (NB) is widely recognized as an international authority on marketing. A frequent media guest, Bond has appeared on CNN, Reuters, FOX News, National Public Radio (NPR), Business Week, and Black Enterprise Magazine.

Moontide Consulting (MC) caught up with Norm in Bangkok, Thailand and asked for his insights on the global spa industry and social media.(SM)

MC-Social media (SM) is all I read about now. It’s everywhere. But if I’m a spa manager do I need to be concerned? Isn’t this a senior management area?

NB-“SM is an integral part of an entire organization. From the senior manager to the entry level employee to the front desk person. Because the nature of social media today is that everybody can be touched by it. Read More

Linda Harding-Bond
June 2, 2015

Government Wants to Know Your Pain. Not Us ka.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Master Class, Training
featured image

Living in Bangkok, there are no lack of places to get body treatments. After several late night writing marathons which resulted in hunched painful neck and shoulders, I finally decided to get a massage.

I opted on a spa located in a Five-Star hotel.  As part of an international luxury brand, it has a reputation for excellence so I felt safe with my choice. Read More

Linda Harding-Bond
May 19, 2015

What 7-11 Teaches Us About Spa Selling

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Training

Anyone who is passionate about their work knows that it can be difficult to turn off sometimes. This is particularly true with customer service because good or bad, it’s always around us.

As a spa sales trainer I look everywhere for inspiration and the elusive key that will unlock the door to perfect service delivery.  It’s doesn’t matter if I’m having dinner at a sky bar restaurant or buying a bag of freshly sliced fruit from a street cart vendor. I always notice how they deliver their service.   Read More