Hospitality Daily Podcast The Istanbul Insight: What Modern Spas Are Missing - Susie Arnett
Mar 16, 2025
In a fascinating conversation, Susie Arnett, a hospitality leader with extensive expertise in wellness, delves into the rich history of spas, particularly the communal hammams of Istanbul and ancient Greece. She highlights the shift from social bonding to solitary spa experiences in modern culture and discusses the detrimental effects on loneliness. Susie advocates for rejuvenating community interactions within wellness facilities, emphasizing that enhancing social connections can significantly improve relaxation and guest satisfaction.
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Hammam History
- Susie Arnett visited the Istanbul Museum of Hammam and learned about the social history of bathhouses.
- Traditional hammams were gathering places for women, offering day-long communal experiences.
Shifting Spa Culture
- Modern US spas prioritize individualism and efficiency, contrasting with ancient communal bathing rituals.
- Self-care has shifted from a social activity to a solitary pursuit.
History of Relaxation
- Relaxation became a practiced activity with Dr. Jacobson's 1929 book, "You Must Relax."
- The concept of "alone time" emerged in 1978, marking a shift from solitude as a stressor to social interaction as one.