Advantages To Online Education

There are some major advantages to online education, including the ability to set your own study time. There are dozens of reasons to go back to school but there are also dozens of reasons not to. You may be looking for a promotion or career change that requires additional training, or you may simply be ready to learn something new. But with today's busy lifestyle, there's little time to devote to regularly scheduled class time. That's where online education can be a great asset for a motivated person.

Many people - especially adults who have already started a family - are faced with some major decisions as they decide how to spend their time. Typically, work takes the majority of the daytime hours. That leaves only a few hours each day that could be dedicated to education. If there are children, soccer practice and dance recitals will take up a large part of the time that's left. Creating some time for personal socialization is necessary to avoid burn out and you may very well be left with only an hour or two each day to work on an education.

Even with the few hours you have free on an average day, you're faced with the problem of finding those courses you need close to home. Unless you're fortunate enough to live in a university town, you're likely to be traveling several hours each time you attend class. That's never a problem with online education because the "classroom" is as near as your computer room and you'll "attend class" at your convenience.

The fact that you have no location requirements and can actually work on your online education from anywhere is another great advantage. Perhaps you can spend your lunch hour each day with a sandwich in front of your computer at work. Maybe you schedule study time at night after the rest of the family has gone to bed or you may even be an early bird who likes to study in the mornings. No matter what your time requirements or restrictions, you'll find that you can easily make your online education a reality.

The Extreme Shortage of Online Education in Professional Spa Management

According to the latest research from the American Society for Training and Development, people learn best when they receive new information in small bites, have enough time to digest it, get plenty of opportunities for practice and have help is available when needed.

Studies show that most people retain information better when it's presented in relatively brief segments, and that "water-cooler" training--the kind that happens when someone new to a job is taught how to perform a task by an experienced co-worker--is more effective than training provided in formal classroom settings because information presented where it will be used can be practiced immediately, which in turn reinforces the learning curve.

In other words, the most successful training programs are about receiving information, then practicing hands-on performance, preferably with a mentor or coach nearby. These conditions can be far more effectively met with online training modules that allow both apprentice and seasoned spa managers the opportunity to refer back to the information they need at the time that they need it.

Unfortunately, good online programs for spa managers and professionals in the spa industry are few and far between. A good online spa education program should prepare students for success in the spa industry. Students who enroll should be able to learn those specific business and management skills needed for successful day-to-day spa operations plus the long-range marketing and management strategies essential to sustain growth and grow profits, retain good employees and develop customer loyalty. A good online program should cover not only spa management, but operations, finance, human resources, marketing, products, and customer service as well.

One very good online program is available through the The Institute of Spa Management, the leaders in online educational opportunities for spa managers, directors, owners and anyone that wants to break into the booming spa industry. Offered entirely via distance education, students study at their own pace from anywhere in the world. They also offer budget friendly payment plans that are unheard of in private education. which offers a Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program that covers all of the above. ISM offers full college level programs including Spa Management and Spa Ownership. They also offer individual courses that are applicable for spa professionals and hotels or spas looking for high quality in house training solutions.

Students not pursuing the certificate program are welcome to take as many individual courses as they wish. Here is a lo-down of the programs and courses currently offered:

ISM FULL PROGRAMS:

1. Spa Management: An all-inclusive college level program that covers all aspects of spa management including but not limited to facility management, spa services and pricing management, client services, human resources, retail sales, marketing and promotions, public relations, revenue benchmarking, financial management, front office management and extensive business operations. This program is suitable for anyone wanting to become a spa manager or director; or for those already in a supervisory or management position but would like to solidify their career with cutting edge education in the industry.

2. Spa Ownership - Starting a Day Spa in the US: A comprehensive college level program that will equip the graduate with all the tools necessary to confidently open an independent day spa. This program includes study in the following areas: facility design, funding and financing, business plan development, human resources, legal issues and compliance, hiring staff and management, finance and accounting management, marketing and public relations, spa equipment and inventory, spa services and competitive pricing, client relationship management and business operations.

ISM INDIVIDUAL COURSES:

1. Customer Service Training for Spa Managers: An intensive training course designed to provide spa managers with skills and tools necessary to manage a spa through excellent customer service. Upon completion of this course, you will have an in depth understanding of how client/spa relationships work, what it takes to keep customers happy and loyal and how to train your spa staff to excel in all aspects of client management and customer service. This course is appropriate for spa managers, supervisors and private spa owners.

2. Conflict Management for Spa Personnel: Effective training to deal with spa clients and staff that increases revenues and improves client loyalty. One of the toughest parts of any spa employee's job is dealing with daily conflicts between clients and employees and internally between staff members. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to practice and implement proven and effective ways to turn negative situations into positive experiences through progressive conflict management. This course is appropriate for spa managers, spa owners, and any spa employee anyone working with clients on a continual basis in a day or destination spa.

3. Exceptional Front Desk Operations in a Spa Setting: First impressions are critical and front desk management is essential to a successful spa. Upon completion of this course, you will be trained to operate a front desk operation with expertise including staffing, scheduling, technology and reservations software, reception skills, client satisfaction departure interview techniques, and product selling at checkout. This course is appropriate for spa managers, spa owners, and anyone working at the front line of a day or destination spa.

4. Human Resources for the Spa Industry: Finding, compensating and holding onto best of breed staff in the spa industry. Learn the best practices of the trade. This course covers staffing issues for day and destination spa situations including hiring, behavioral interview techniques, various compensation options, employee contracts, legal issues surrounding HR in a spa setting, creating a learning organization, training and mentoring and more. This course is appropriate for spa managers and spa owners who are responsible for hiring, payroll and supervision of spa staff.

5. 3 Pillars of Spa Management: All programs and courses offered by the Institute of Spa Management are based on our trademark pillars of spa management: SPA: Specialization, Personalization and Adaptation. Exclusive to ISM, learn about the critical pillars to spa success. This is an essential course that every spa manager should take part in, to best serve clients, confidently lead staff and to ensure business success in the highly competitive spa industry. This course is appropriate for spa managers, spa owners, and any spa employee who wants to learn the fundamentals of successful spa operations.

6. Spa Industry 101: If you have seriously considering a career in the spa industry, Spa Industry 101 is a great place to start your research. Study includes: History of the Spa Industry, Trends and Industry Changes: Past, Present and Future, and The Role of the Spa Manager in Today's Spa, to name a few. This course is appropriate for anyone wanting to break into a career within the spa industry. The background information learned will become invaluable.