Jessica Tippler's Pro Insight into Spa Management Success

Industry veteran, Jessica Tippler, newly appointed director of spa and wellness at Isla Bella Beach Resort, dedicates her life the art of spa and wellness. Throughout her career in hospitality, she has made it her mission to assist guests in reaching goals of relaxation, beautification, education and overall health. She has done this through thoughtful spa programming, esteemed customer service and her genuine passion for all things self-care. Similar to her love for gardening, Tippler plants the seed to a successful spa, and nurtures it until it's thriving for both guests and staff alike. She sat down with WellSpa 360 to discuss why meditation is her secret weapon, how to reduce your carbon footprint while still enjoying wellness experiences and more. 

1. What was your first job in the spa/wellness industry? 

My first position in the spa/wellness industry was as a spa programmer at the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville, NC. In the position, I was trained in world class guest service, which emphasizes name recognition, exceeding guest expectations and providing the WOW experience for guests. I also received training with the American Hotel and Lodging Association and obtained certification as a Certified Hospitality Supervisor. I was promoted to a spa management position after a year of service and was elected to the prestigious resort Culture Committee.

2. What is your favorite memory of your time working in this industry?

My favorite memory of my time working in the spa/wellness industry was when I was working at Little Palm Island, in the Florida Keys, as spa director. My team had been creating a wellness program that focused on using indigenous ingredients and using our tranquil island setting to promote wellness. We had a spa team meeting where we came up with an idea for a massage that would be performed on a portable massage table placed in the shallow Caribbean waters just off the beach. The therapists and guests were to wade through the shallow water to the massage table. The guest would lie on the table face down, looking through the face cradle. Their view included lapping water, ocean creatures such as crabs crawling by, fish swimming by, and the occasional piece of seaweed floating by. The sounds from the lapping water, gentle breeze and the hum of distant boat motors served as the music. This is my favorite memory because I had the autonomy to create such an unforgettable experience that promoted tranquility for guests. 

3. What do you love about spa and wellness?

Spa is a culture of making positive choices for our well-being and being consistent in self-care. I love that spas are there to assist guests in reaching goals of relaxation, beautification, education and overall health.

4. What new wellness trends do you find most exciting?

Lately, I have been most excited by people discovering the benefits of the cold plunge. I took my first cold plunge back in 2002 and have been addicted ever since. I always appreciate that it tightens my skin, reduces stress and improves mood. At Isla Bella, we are in the planning phase of bringing a cold plunge to our spa.

Related: Wellness Trifecta: A Holistic Approach to Health and Well-Being

5. What’s the first thing you do after a long day at work?

The first thing that I do after a long day at work is to have tea with my twelve-year-old daughter, Annabel. We have a spot on our porch that she calls, “Tea Corner.” Tea Corner overlooks our giant Buttonwood tree where we can watch families of doves and the occasional lizard. The benefits of consuming tea are incredible, thanks to the polyphenols, and I am very happy that afternoon tea is a positive habit that my daughter craves. 

6. What’s your favorite wellness treatment to receive and why?

A hot stone massage is my favorite wellness treatment to receive. I am a tropical animal, so I am always craving heat; such a good thing that I live in the Florida Keys. Hot stone massage incorporates regular massage techniques with the addition of the stones to deeply relax muscle groups and allow the massage techniques to work even deeper. Towards the conclusion of the massage, in our protocol, while lying supine on the treatment table, the therapist places small hot stones in between each of your little toes and then proceeds to perform a delightful scalp massage. 

7. What’s your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment was writing and publishing my first children’s book, “A Pirate’s Lesson.” I wrote it because my daughter, who was a toddler at the time, was not enjoying the typical story books that we would read that consisted of counting, friendship and sharing. Once written, I realized that I had to illustrate the book or find an illustrator to take on the project. I tried my hand at illustrating and self-published the book that was released in 2017. I went on to write six more books ranging from children’s books to a cookbook. I have several more books in the wings.

8. What advice do you have for someone just getting started in the industry?

I enjoy talking to young adults about their career goals. My advice to someone just getting started in the spa industry is to keep a positive attitude and look for the good things in your day, year, life, and the lives of others. You are going to go far if you are pleasant to be around and you bring a positive outlook to a company that you are part of. Build teams of positive people and the possibilities are endless. 

9. What’s one thing you can’t leave the house without?

I cannot leave my house without a 20 second hug from my husband and my daughter. I find that 20 second hugs really let you connect with the person that you are hugging. Yes, they tried to squirm away at first, but now, I think that they appreciate those close moments.

10. What’s your guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasure is listening to 40’s Junction on Sirius XM. The music from the 1940’s is soft, upbeat and easy to follow. It’s a good mix of jazz and early blues. I probably know the words to most of the songs. My grandparents would be proud.

11. Who or what inspires you?

Nature is an inspiration to me. It is so perfectly real. It continues to exist and create. I am a gardener and get great pleasure from nurturing plants to their most brilliant green of new growth, and then the emerald green of maturity. Any spa that I have been part of really feels like it is part of the natural environment of the location and culture. I feel that when I am running a spa, I am nurturing it like I would a garden. It’s a fine balance of putting time and attention into something but giving it room to grow and blossom.

12. How do you practice self-care?

Meditation is my secret weapon regarding self-care. The act of stopping and taking notice of your inner thoughts and rhythms promotes balance and peace. Some of my greatest ideas have come to me during meditation. My perfect meditation is twenty minutes long. And it's okay if you start thinking about things. Recognize the thought and let it go. I meditate each morning after drinking some water.

13. What is on your bucket list?

Meditating at the peak of Mount Pisgah in Canton, NC is on my bucket list. The walk through the enchanting forest, and then emerging at the peak of the mountain will be an experience of its own. The area is known for inspiration and intuition.

14. What's on the horizon for Isla Bella Beach Resort?

It is quickly breaking the mold of the traditional resort experience in incorporating conservation, educating guests on our Florida Keys environment, including guests in our stewardship towards environmental needs, creating wellness packages, and looking at alternatives for energy and resources. In the spa, we are unveiling a Wellness Package for our spa guests. I am looking forward to incorporating the use of solar energy in heating towels for the spa. It is my goal to educate and inspire guests with ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint while still enjoying a beneficial wellness experience.