Five National Spa Brands Form Association to Elevate Safety in Massage Profession

Five national massage brands—Hand & Stone, Elements Massage, Massage Heights, Woodhouse, and Spavia—joined forces to create the National Association of Spa Franchises (NASF), a group committed to enhancing current safety procedures in the massage and spa industry.

As a crucial first step in its mission, the NASF launched the Employment Verification System (EVS), a program that for the first time allows NASF members the ability to capture and share important information about service providers who were separated from a spa for breach of safety protocols. The EVS went live in 2022.

“Since launching last summer, we have already seen more than 10,000 searches across all the brands,” says Cindy Meiskin, president of the newly formed NASF and chief experience officer at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. “We are pleased that the Employment Verification System is working. The safety of our staff and guests is of utmost concern, and we hope that the launch of the National Association of Spa Franchises and the use of the Employment Verification System will serve as a deterrent to inappropriate behavior across all our participating spas.”

The EVS is powered by Crimcheck, a DISA Company, which provides comprehensive employment background screening solutions including criminal record checks, verification services, drug testing, and occupational health services. This service allows for unlimited access to the EVS, providing individually owned spas with additional protection when hiring new massage therapists. Through the EVS, franchisees who join the system can screen candidates and process background checks, with easy-to-read results that allow them to hire massage therapists with confidence.

“Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) believes the client experience is paramount,” says Les Sweeney, president of ABMP. “The new Employment Verification System sounds like the appropriate next step to help improve the safety standards for bodyworkers and—most importantly—the clients.”

Franchise and multi-unit companies interested in joining the NASF and learning more about the EVS can contact Meiskin at info@nationalassociationofspafranchises.com or visit nationalassociationofspafranchises.com for more information.