ISPA and CIDESCO Announce New Collaboration

The International SPA (ISPA) Association and CIDESCO, a beauty and spa therapy training organization, are collaborating to elevate and celebrate careers in the global spa industry. This collaboration furthers ISPA’s mission to strengthen the spa industry by working alongside organizations who provide its members with meaningful, industry-advancing resources and opportunities. Through their internationally recognized diplomas and certificates, CIDESCO has been promoting high standards in beauty and spa therapy since its founding in 1946.

“ISPA is constantly seeking collaborative ways to raise the profile of our industry and promote opportunities for growth and advancement among our members,” says ISPA President Lynne McNees. “CIDESCO’s commitment to high educational standards for current and future generations of spa professionals makes them ideal in pursuit of those goals. We’re excited for our members to learn more about everything CIDESCO has to offer.”

In addition to providing accreditation to beauty therapy schools and colleges, CIDESCO equips spa professionals with training in a wide array of subjects, including beauty and spa management, skin care, esthetics, body therapy, and facials. This training is delivered both in-person and online through CIDESCO schools located around the globe. ISPA member spas whose leaders, therapists, and service providers complete these programs will achieve recognition as among the most outstanding practitioners in their fields. 

“With this collaboration, we are very excited to raise the awareness of CIDESCO resources and look forward to working more closely with ISPA to elevate the esthetics experience and create further success and growth in the spa industry,” says CIDESCO Section USA Chairman Lydia Sarfati.

Recent ISPA data suggests that nearly half (46%) of all spas are actively hiring massage therapists, while more than a third (37%) are seeking nail technicians and almost a quarter (22%) are searching for estheticians. Often, the greatest challenge to filling these vacancies is finding qualified candidates. ISPA and CIDESCO trust that the collaboration of these two global organizations will respond to that challenge by increasing awareness of and demand for careers in the spa industry, which is critical as spas continue their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.  

Additional details about ISPA and CIDESCO’s collaborative efforts will be announced as they develop.