ishga held its annual conference at the iconic W Edinburgh, marking the first time the event has taken place in Scotland’s capital.
The conference brought together leading spa managers for a day-long programme celebrating spa excellence and leadership. The team also laid out its business plans for 2026 and beyond.
Following a welcome address by brand Co-Founder, Leon Trayling; Helena Grzesk MBE led a grounding and energising guided breathwork session. An inspiring keynote was delivered by Paralympic gold medalist, Samantha Kinghorn OBE, who shared her life story from a debilitating injury to achieving Olympic success.
Media Consultant, Mark Smith and Cara Hosie, Head of Marketing for ishga presented the marketing and PR overview of 2025. Natasha Nickson from the Soil Association explained the importance of organic certification and why it matters in today’s market.
Malcolm Macrae, Co-Founder of the brand and Head of Research, Sophia Mackay, offered unique insights into the latest science developments and shared a pipeline of new products set to launch in 2026. Account Managers and Trainers, Lucy Mingo and Katherine Milliken discussed the launch of Tides of Change and the accreditation for Nurturing Touch Training.
The afternoon session featured an expert panel exploring industry trends and how spas can respond to these with their offering. The panel included Teresa O’Farrell, Global Director of Wellness and Spa, Dorchester Collection; Tara Moore, Associate Director of Spa Operations, Galgorm Collection and Helena Grzesk MBE, Business Consultant at ishga. The panel was moderated by Mark Smith, Media Consultant.
“Our annual ishga conference is the most important day of the year for our business, it is a wonderful opportunity for the team to come together and share what has been going on behind the scenes to elevate what a partnership with us means and how this can be maximised.” Leon Trayling, Co-Founder, ishga
“The insight and inspiration from all of our speakers added valuable takeaways from a business and personal perspective - already looking forward to raising the bar at least another 1% next year,” says Trayling.
Award-winning fashion designer, Siobhan MacKenzie unveiled the designs for ishga’s bespoke tartan that will be used across various elements of packaging, marketing and social media in the future. The final speaker of the day, Renee LeBlanc, Founder of Elevated Wellness, spoke about gratitude and goal setting.
The event concluded with the presentation of ishga Awards:
- ishga Star Therapist - Lisa Anderson, Linden Hall
- ishga Star Front of House - Isabella Henderson, Coworth Park
- ishga Ambassador - Alyson Shaw, Si! Spa at The Gailes and the Waterside
- Most Creative Marketing campaign - Kimpton - Katie Palmer and Finlay Anderson for their Stay Well in room amenities/services offering.
- Year on Year Growth - Noreen Hickey, Auchrannie Hotel
Discover more at ishga.com.