Finlay Anderson is named Spa Professional of the Year 2022

Finlay Anderson, area spa and leisure director UK, IHG Hotels and Resorts, has been named Spa Professional of the Year at the 2022 Hotel Cateys.

Anderson was recognised for his understanding of the spa and wellness industry and his fresh, forward-thinking ideas to integrate new trends into the hotel’s offering.

The short-list for the Spa Professional of the Year category included, Julia Butt, spa manager, Hand Picked Hotels; Dee England, spa and wellness manager, the Headland Hotel; Robbie Leung, spa director, Pan Pacific London; and David Taylor, health club and spa manager, Leonardo Royal London City.

The winners of the awards, organised by The Caterer magazine, were revealed at a ceremony at the Royal Lancaster London.

Spa Professional of the Year

Anderson is responsible for seven leisure clubs and spas within the IHG-managed estate, including Kimpton Blythswood Square, Kimpton Charlotte Square and voco St David’s Cardiff, which contribute £2 million profit to the group annually.

“I love the spa and wellness industry,” said Anderson. “Because our job is to help people both mentally and physically, it’s such a great job to wake up to do every day.”

Across his portfolio, the spas are operating at a 40% profit margin – 2% ahead of the market average and 5% ahead of when he took over – demonstrating Anderson’s sound commercial awareness. His business acumen led him to personally set up the IHG Spa and Leisure central reservations team in 2022 after carrying out an analysis of ways to improve guest booking experience and team productivity.

An award-winning approach

Anderson has also introduced a shared booking system across the IHG group, created and launched SOPs, KPI’s and management tools for the group, and streamlined its branding and operating model.

He has introduced new revenue streams by launching CBD, sound therapy and biophilia-inspired treatments, with the latter’s non-therapist-led treatments allowing increased revenue generation despite the challenging recruitment issues being felt throughout the industry.

He is also keenly focused on driving staff retention and attracting new talent to the team – 8% of whom have five years’ service, with several approaching reaching their ten-year anniversary.

Wellness innovation 

Anderson has most recently been working with an award-winning music producer and sound psychologist Brian D’Souza to create sound therapy treatments that can be performed during or post treatments using ishga products. Combining ancient sound therapy techniques with modern recording and audio systems has resulted in a unique and highly effective wellness treatment that can be utilised in any spa or hotel space.

Kimpton Charlotte square spa has just launched the UKs first stand-alone sound therapy room with an ultra-sonic bed.

Anderson was also instrumental in leading the way for CBD treatments at Kimpton Blythswood Square – the first Scottish property to launch CIBTAC accredited CBD treatments.