The International SPA Association (ISPA) recently agreed to extend its management contract with Host Communications, Inc. (HOST) for another three years.
HOST, an affinity, sports and lifestyle marketing and management company, first represented ISPA in 1997 and since that time has more than tripled ISPA`s membership and significantly increased its revenue.

“With more than 2,000 members in 58 countries, ISPA is the most respected association for spa professionals. Throughout the next three years, HOST is committed to enhancing ISPA`s reputation with spa professionals, consumers and the media,” said HOST`s CEO, W. James Host. “This has been and will continue to be an outstanding partnership”.

The HOST/ISPA relationship has many components :

HOST manages the Annual ISPA Conference & Expo, the 13th annual event will be held in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 12 - 15. The company oversees ISPA`s networking and education events throughout the year, the ISPA Knowledge Networks, set for four North American locations in 2003, are a proven resource for the educational needs of spa professionals. HOST manages the ISPA Media Event, which is held annually in New York and attracts top journalists from magazines, newspapers and television. It also produces ISPA`s bi-monthly member magazine, Pulse.

ISPA`s studies are a key reason behind the association`s solid reputation within the spa and hospitality and leisure industries. HOST and ISPA have commissioned four comprehensive studies on the overall spa industry and spa-goer demographics. Conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the ISPA 2002 Spa Industry Study shows that the industry generates $10 billion in revenues, includes more than 9,600 spas in the U.S., with 155 million spa visits reported annually.

“In my second year as ISPA president, I have had the pleasure of working daily with the HOST team,” said Jeff Kohl. “The successes that ISPA has experienced in recent years are directly attributed to our alignment with HOST”.

For more than 12 years, ISPA has been recognised worldwide as the leading professional organisation and voice of the spa industry. Since 1991, ISPA has been committed to forming and maintaining alliances that will educate, set standards, provide resources, influence policy and build coalitions for the industry. ISPA`s vision is to revitalise humanity, and its mission is to educate the public about the value of the spa experience and engage its participation.

Based in Lexington, Ky., HOST is the centerpiece subsidiary of Bull Run Corporation (Nasdaq: BULL). With more than 20 U.S. offices, HOST provides comprehensive sales, marketing, multimedia, special event and convention/hospitality services to domestic and international grassroots sports and lifestyle events, NCAA Division I universities and conferences and national/global associations.

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