Wahanda is delighted to announce that from June 2012, it shall be managing the spa category for the largest and most renowned lifestyle site in the UK, lastminute.com.

The partnership provides lastminute.com customers with the bespoke lastminute.com-branded Spa platform including full search and filter capabilities as well as expanded inventory and exclusive deals on spa days, breaks and pampering, opening up a huge breadth of choice not previously available. Crucially, the platform also provides Wahanda suppliers with a single integrated offering to seamlessly promote their business on both Wahanda and lastminute.com.

Since its launch in 2008, Wahanda has led the digital revolution that is reshaping the health, wellness and beauty sector. With more than 11,000 health and beauty offers across the UK, Wahanda provides over a million consumers a month with an unparalleled service to help them book spa breaks, spa days, massages, facials and hair deals in their local area.  Wahanda will be providing their unmatched range for the lastminute.com audience, whilst also delivering a host of unique offers across the new area.

Wahanda CEO, Lopo Champalimaud, says, “This is a hugely exciting development for our business that will make us the largest health & beauty marketplace in the world. lastminute.com is one of the UK’s leading internet brands, and together we can give our merchants and suppliers access to the biggest audience of health & beauty consumers anywhere.  This means we can deliver even greater volume of customers for our suppliers with no additional workload on their part, as it will be managed across the same technical platform. These are exciting times ahead.”

lastminute.com President & CEO, Matthew Crummack comments, “We’re thrilled to be working with Wahanda, to help further upscale and differentiate our spa offering in the UK. Spa is one of the most popular products within our diverse lifestyle category, attracting millions of customers each year. Through this partnership, we will significantly expand our spa product portfolio (including exclusive deals on spa days, breaks and pampering) and make our search and filter capabilities even more efficient to exceed our customer’s expectations.

With Wahanda providing a bespoke lastminute.com-branded Spa platform, we’ll have the product breadth, knowledge and expertise to provide possibly the most comprehensive and compelling spa propositions on the market today.”

For more information on Wahanda contact Helen at Imagination PR T: 020 3384 9750 / e: helen@imaginationpr.co.uk

For more information on lastminute.com contact Carey Withey T: 077925 85220 / e: Carey.Withey@lastminute.com

About Wahanda.com
Wahanda is the world’s leading marketplace and online home for health, beauty and wellness, with a comprehensive directory of over 250,000 businesses, practitioners and services. Offering a plethora of pampering possibilities, Wahanda provides the ideal platform to satisfy every beauty need, from great local offers, reviews of local salons, recommended spa breaks and fitness bootcamps to the latest health and beauty news and advice. The first interactive beauty community of its kind, Wahanda allows customers to voice recommendations and write reviews, whilst also listing over 11,000 health, beauty and fitness offers at any one time. Beauty addict, fitness fanatic or yoga guru? Wahanda offers a whole world of wellbeing at your fingertips.

About lastminute.com
lastminute.com is the UK’s largest online hotel, travel and leisure specialist, with over 1.65 million visitors per week.  It provides customers with the best ways to make their free time go even further.  Whether planning a great night out, an amazing weekend away or a relaxing two-weeks somewhere far away from home, lastminute.com has it all – and at great prices.
lastminute.com offers customers the opportunity to book hotels, city breaks and flights, buy tickets and experience packages and make restaurant reservations through its one-stop shop. From adventuring in the mountains to relaxing beach breaks, spa stays, theatre trips and dining, there really is something for everyone.
Get all the latest lastminute.com news at the press room. Visit _http://pr.lastminute.com/

In 2004 the rise of the Metrosexual heralded by David Beckham’s overt display of his groomed face and depilated body, ensured waxing was no longer a ‘no go’ for men around the world.  David and his footballer comrades have a lot to answer for: back waxing, followed gingerly by the full Monty (Aka back, sack and crack) were catapulted into the limelight making them de rigour on the British male grooming menu.  A hirsute backlash caused a slight wax-waning in the years to follow, however figures reveal that since 2010 men in the UK have been by far the greatest back wax adopters, with Australian and US men next in line.

The treatment sales tend to peak in the summer when the ‘Boy-zilians’ head for a hot wax before hitting the hot beaches.  However, it’s not just a ‘pink pound’ phenomena – throughout history the back wax has had peaks and troughs, mirroring the socio-economic and fashion trends of that era.

Wahanda’s back wax stats research:

•    Unlike the USA, the UK male (a known early adopter) has made this an essential part of his grooming regime.  (Source: Google Insights Search)
•    Per capita, five times as many UK men are interested in waxing than their US counterparts (Source:  Google Insights Search) with London and the main city centres making up the main purchases – (Source: Wahanda data)
•    Interestingly, there is a north/south divide in the capital with a higher concentration of sunny south-of-the-river men preferring to bare all.  (Source: Wahanda data)
•    Only 2.76% of back wax offers are bought as gifts. (Source: Wahanda data)
•    In the UK, ”back sack and crack” has a very high affinity with “back wax”. This is not the case in the USA. (Source: Google Insights)
•    Search volume usually peaks in July/August, however in January 2007 figures show there was an unusual spike, not surprisingly this coincided with the launch of several men’s make-up lines in the mainstream and Self Tan was big news in the grooming sector, too. (Source GCI Beauty Business, Brand Impact)

Award-winning international educator in the art of male waxing, Andy Rouillard (owner of Axiom Bodyworks, men’s grooming salon in Hampshire) comments:

“In the past 5 years we’ve seen male waxing rocket, perhaps spurred on by media interest in fuzz-free celebrities such as David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and the TOWIE set, with salons up and down the country reporting a dramatic rise in the number of chaps booking themselves in for a spot of ‘border control’.  It’s no longer considered something that’s ‘just for girls’ – guys want to get in on the act too – from builders to bankers, personal reasons for waxing are as many and diverse as the men who get it done.  As the weather warms up, there’s no denying that many guys find being hair-free feels cleaner, cooler and more comfortable.

“A lot of men are encouraged to book their first treatment by a wife or girlfriend, but once they discover for themselves the advantages of the trusty wax strip over stubbly shaving rashes and messy hair removal creams, they’re hooked. I suspect we’re still several years away from seeing men discussing the intricacies of waxing over a pint and a packet of pork scratchings, but one thing is certain: male waxing is big business, and is only getting bigger.”

The back wax has always been a hidden grooming staple and as more UK men ‘dare to bare’; it is indeed here to stay.  So if you are searching for that special gift for the man who knows his gommage from his golf clubs, be it your Metro-sexual man, GBF or a ‘groom-curious’ relative, go to Wahanda to find the best, personalised services guaranteed to give him a smooth seasonal transition.  It beats yet another pair of socks, a tie or more golf tees – no?

Accredited by Visit Britain and awarded the accolade of ‘5 bubbles’ by the Good Spa Guide, hotel spa Moddershall Oaks now has another award to add to the cabinet. Named Best Destination Spa in the West Midlands in February’s Wahandies awards, the business has clearly impressed our community – so we asked Lucy Farringdon, Sales Executive at the spa, to tell us some of her secrets:

Can you tell us a bit about what you do?

Moddershall Oaks is a family run spa resort in the Staffordshire countryside. We offer a selection of spa days, spa breaks and treatments with various special offers and deals. We also offer fine dining, beauty and hair treatments, weddings, events and membership. We are a small and personal business, very customer focused, constantly developing and looking for ways to improve.

How has Wahanda helped your business?

Wahanda has given us the opportunity to be placed on a popular customer-focused interactive site, helping to promote Moddershall Oaks even further nationwide. The ability to amend and upload various offers ourselves gives us maximum flexibility and the opportunity to partake in short term, highly discounted Spotlight Offers is also useful for creating a lot of attention around the company.

What’s the secret to getting positive reviews from your customers?

Nowadays, we find customer expectations are very high – therefore, in order to impress customers and potentially lead to positive reviews, we find that we need to exceed their expectations. Wherever possible, we try to go the extra mile to make people feel at home here and truly pampered.

Inspired by Moddershall Oak’s success? Your business could be in with a chance of winning, too – just ask your customers to leave you a review of their experience on the site. Fingers crossed!

We love getting the opportunity to chat with our monthly Wahandies winners and to find out what makes them tick. This month, we’ve interviewed Jon Mclelland, Commercial Director of Surrey’s Brooklands Hotel – the venue which won Best Destination Spa in the South East for February. Here’s a look at how Jon runs the hotel and spa, and what he thinks makes a business successful:

Can you tell us a bit about what you do?

I am the Commercial Director of the Brooklands Hotel, overseeing the proactive and reactive sales teams, together with the revenue management of the business. I joined the Brooklands Hotel in 2009 prior to the hotel opening in March 2010 and I have been really pleased to see the hotel go from strength to strength.

How has Wahanda helped your business?

We have a great working relationship with Wahanda and we see them as a great platform when it comes to offering their loyal customers our spa days and breaks. Thanks to their proactive outlook and interactive website, we are delighted to be listed with Wahanda.

What’s the secret to getting positive reviews from your customers?

The Brooklands Hotel opened in March 2010 and we have been recently celebrating our second birthday (8th March). Our priorities have not changed since we opened our doors, and we continue to firmly believe that our guests are the most important entity. We pride ourselves on our customer feedback and this is shown within our company vision, which is to establish the business as a large, independently run hotel that provides a good return to its investors, is an excellent place to work and, most importantly, continues to be a first-class place to stay for all of its guests.

Reckon your business could be in with a chance of winning in next month’s Wahandies awards? Make sure you encourage your customers to leave glowing reviews and who knows, you could be polishing your award in no time.

Voted Best for Therapeutic Massage in Wales in February’s Wahandies awards, City Marshall is clearly a pretty popular venue within the Wahanda community. Offering shiatsu, sports massage and reflexology, the treatment centre encourages clients to combine a variety of therapies to create a tailored session that specifically targets their needs.We spoke to Phillip Marshall, owner of City Marshall, to find out what makes his business different, and how Wahanda has been able to help:

Can you tell us a bit about what you do?

City Marshall specialise in tailor making treatments to suit individual needs, combining a wealth of expertise and therapeutic knowledge with a deep insight into Oriental massage benefits. A single treatment session can combine a deep tissue sports therapy treatment using a personalised aromatherapy essential oil blend with a shiatsu facial or reiki chakra balancing. Other, more exotic, combinations are also available. The free spa facilities and gym access are simply an added bonus.

How has Wahanda helped your business?

Wahanda is undoubtedly the UK premier web site for spa treatments. As our location is in a gym, attracting the Wahanda clientele is very welcome, as some people may dismiss a health club or gym when looking for reiki, shiatsu, hot stones or facials etc.

What’s the secret to getting positive reviews from your customers?

We believe in listening to our clients and actually offering them a treatment session of their own choosing. The client is king (or queen!) and we aim to address their therapeutic needs and wellbeing with a suitable treatment that is both enjoyable and beneficial.

If you’d like to see your business receive one of our monthly Wahandies awards, then don’t forget to encourage your customers to get reviewing! All of our Wahandies winners are chosen based on community reviews – get plenty of five star feedback and you could find yourself holding an award in no time.

At Wahanda we love a bit of red carpet action so we were delighted to attend the annual Professional Beauty Awards 2012, which this year also hosted the World Spa Awards all in the same glamorous evening.

The glittering trade event was held at London’s Hilton Park Lane on Sunday 4th March, so we donned our heels, threw on some fake tan and made our hair as big as possible for the big night and got ready to cheer for all of our wonderful partners.

Rufus Hound was presenting the show, keeping everyone in good spirits as spas, salons and beauty professionals were rewarded for all their hard work. We were excited to see some of our great suppliers up on stage in their Oscar-worthy dresses, and have added all of the nominees of the World Spa Awards to our travel wishlist (we can dream, right?). So without further ado, here’s a list of the winners – and very well-deserved they are too!

Make-up Specialist of the Year (Sponsored by Mii)

Winner: Abigail Rose Crook

Nail Professional of the Year (Sponsored by Nail Harmony)

Winner: Elise Scholes Pilkington, Flawless Nails, Staffordshire

Nail Salon of the Year (Sponsored by Melville)

Winner: Bodylines, Kent

Employer of the Year – 20 Employees or Fewer (Sponsored by Babtac)

Winner: Saks Kings Hill, Kent

Employer of the Year – 21 Employees or More (Sponsored by Lash Perfect)

Winner: Hand Picked Hotels

Medical Aesthetics Clinic of the Year (Sponsored by Candela)

Winner: The Cosmetic Skin Clinic, Buckinghamshire

Day Spa of the Year (Sponsored by Bliss)

Winner: Pure Spa, Aberdeen

Residential Spa of the Year – 10 Rooms or Fewer (Sponsored by Dalesauna)

Winner: Delphi Spa, Connemara, County Galway

Residential Spa of the Year – 11 Rooms or More (Sponsored by Elemis)

Winner: Oceo Spa, Seafield Golf & Spa Hotel, County Wexford

Therapist of the Year (Sponsored by Decléor)

Winner: Alison Smith, Skin and Tonic Beauty Salon, Hertfordshire

Beauty Salon of the Year – Three Rooms or Fewer (Sponsored by Kéraskin)

Winner: The Potting Shed Spa, Batley, West Yorkshire

Beauty Salon of the Year – Four Rooms or More (Sponsored by Sienna X)

Winner: Zen Lifestyle, Hanover Street, Edinburgh

Looking for more award-winning venues to visit? Once you’ve worked your way through this lot, why not take a look at our Wahandies winners – they ought to keep you busy for a while.

Despite only having opened five months ago, urban spa Metta is already a huge hit with the Wahanda community. Awarded a Wahandies award back in November for its excellent Thai massages, the venue continues to be a favourite with the folks at Wahanda HQ – particularly CEO Lopo, who’s a huge fan. We caught up with Metta’s Alicia recently to hear her thoughts on promotions, pampering and desert island products. Here’s what she had to say:

How do you think that working with Wahanda has helped your business?

I think that working with Wahanda has definitely helped our business. When we’d just opened, five months ago, we ran an offer, and that’s really helped us to build up our customer base. We’ve had lots of people returning as regulars, so it’s worked very well.

I think the review system is really good, because it allows new customers to make a more informed choice about what they want and where to go. A lot of people have said that they find the reviews a really good reason to come and try us out, so working with Wahanda has been very helpful for us.

What other ways do you use to promote your business?

We have our own website, and we have our own Facebook page where people can keep up to date with what we’re doing. We also have a growing email database, which we use to send out promotions or last-minute offers. We get quite a few customers from local businesses who want to fit in a quick fix massage over the lunch hour. Those are our main ways of promoting ourselves at the moment.

What do you love about Wahanda?

I think it’s a great service, because there aren’t very many services that also offer reviews. I think the reviews are particularly helpful. When you have a rating, people know more about what they’re going to – it’s often pot luck otherwise. Because Wahanda is particularly focussed on beauty and wellness, it gives us the right audience – people who are already interested in the services we have to offer. It’s also a very friendly company, which is nice.

Where do you go when you want a bit of pampering?

Very often I don’t have much time to go anywhere else, so I swap massages with my colleagues. The thing about working in massage is that you need regular massage yourself, so it’s something which we try to do every week. Otherwise I go to Six Senses, and it’s a real treat to try something completely chilled out and relaxing.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could choose one treatment to have and one product to keep with you, what would you choose?

Treatment – I would definitely have a massage, probably a two hour Thai combination massage, with a bit of stretching as well as relaxation. And product-wise, I’d probably take an Origins moisturiser.

A huge thank you to Alicia for sharing her thoughts and advice – we can’t wait to head to Metta for our next Thai massage!

Want to see your business receive a Wahandies award? All Wahandies winners are selected based on community reviews – so start encouraging your customers to write reviews and who knows? You could be one of next month’s winners…

Not just your average beauty salon, the Beauty Room Nottingham was recently voted Best for Body Treatments in East Midlands in the February Wahandies Awards – and it’s not surpising, giving the glowing reviews the team has received from the Wahanda community. We caught up with therapist Lauren to find out more about what makes the salon special and why customers leave such good feedback:

Can you tell us a bit about what you do?

We are a full service salon and offer all the usual beauty treatments, but also unusual treatments such as acid peel pedicures (Callus Peel), Hot Stone Rituals and Faith Lift Mask treatments.

How has Wahanda helped your business?

I  think that it provides a really brilliant service with the reviews, as clients can read up on other people’s experience before booking appointments.  Sometimes clients can be very nervous about going to a new salon and can be intimidated, but if they read great reviews it is very reassuring.

What’s the secret to getting positive reviews from your customers?

We treat all our clients as though they are our only client and we devote the time of the appointment to them instead of being distracted with other things.  We also really love to help clients with skincare problems and love answering questions and recommending products.

Want to receive a Wahandies award? All Wahandies winners are chosen based on community reviews – so don’t forget to encourage your happy customers to get typing. You never know, you could have a nice shiny award in your hands sooner than you thought…