Helena joined as a Board member of the UK Spa Association in 2017, working within the benchmarking team where she supported the operator members in realising the value of measuring their KPI's and performance against industry comparisons, before securing the role of general manager in October of 2018. With over 20 years experience in the spa and wider hospitality industry, Helena has a diverse range of long term success and accolades, securing her position as an industry leader, speaking at events such as the World Spa and Wellness convention on topics such as spa revenue management and strategic turn arounds in hotel spa's.
Helena has since joined the British Beauty Council as Chief Operating Officer, however remains active with the UKSA in lobbying as part of our collective industry group for support from government as we re-open the sector.
Formerly as pre-opening Director of Spa, at The Spa at The Midland in Manchester, she developed the multi-award winning spa over 4 years celebrating wins such as, Best Urban Spa at the Good Spa Guide awards 2017 and 2018, Residential spa of the year at the Professional Beauty awards 2017, Spa Manger of the Year, Country Wide 2017 and Luxury Urban Escape 2018 at the World Luxury Spa Awards and was shortlisted as a finalist at The Hotel Cateys for Spa professional of the year, 2017 & 2018. Helena says this was developed through a strategic annual plan and a dedication to guest experience.
With a keen interest in wellness and a desire to make spa's inclusive Helena led many initiatives during her time at The Midland, partnering with Wellness for Cancer to become Manchester's first cancer aware spa, launching a sleep focused signature treatment, Serene Sleep in partnership with ESPA in 2016 and the introduction of guided meditation in the relaxation areas and treatment rooms in 2018.
Helena trained originally in beauty and holistic therapies while running her own salon initially before moving across in 2005 to work for re-aqua whilst completing her level 3 qualifications. Helena was quickly developed and promoted to assistant manager and subsequently to manager of their flagship high street spa in Hale Barns in 2007, where she remained manager for a further 6 years and celebrated winning Manager of the Year at the Professional Beauty, Women in Business awards in 2009. During this time Helena supported the re-branding roll out from re-aqua to Dove spa following the acquisition of the business by Unilever. Helena later moved across into an area manager role where she supported the coaching, development and strategy of her sister spas in the Midlands and North West with a key focus on delivery of top line sales and bottom line profitability before leaving to join the Macdonald hotels group as Spa Operations manager in 2014.
