Samantha Dunn
Joining the spa industry as a Spa Manager in 1999, Sam was quickly recruited to Asia where she has spent the last 20 years working across all types of spa in roles including: therapist, retailer, trainer, manager and consultant. She has developed over 44 spa & wellness concepts in 14 countries; lived in Thailand, Singapore, Philippines and China, and worked extensively throughout Asia, Middle East and the UK.
With a degree in Management & Marketing, Sam’s career started with 9 years in global advertising and market research; fields which instilled a deep commitment to innovation that is strongly rooted in strategy.
Wellness resort clients included the award winning health resorts Kamalaya and also Chiva Som – for whom she headed Business Development for eleven years. Prior to this, Sam created spas for many hotel and resort brands, including: Amari, Club Med, Conrad, Dusit, Hilton, Le Royal Meridien, Mandarin Oriental, Sofitel, Taj Luxury Hotels & Palaces and many independent properties.
In 2011, Sam formed Destination Spa Management (DSM) with two partners, Joy and Sharon Menzies. The company is headquartered in Bangkok and specialises in the set-up and management of dedicated wellness businesses, including stand-alone wellness centres, full-service health resorts and entire wellness communities. Although now based in Sydney Australia, Sam remains a director and active consultant on DSM’s projects and also collaborate’s with Spa Wellness Consulting to deliver a wide range of capabilities, expert advice and an exceptional vision to our projects.
Sonja Sorich
Sonja Sorich is an accomplished industry professional with a vast knowledge of the luxury spa and wellness market. Having 24 years of direct experience in the spa, fitness, wellness, personal growth, health retreat and hospitality industry’s, along with foundational studies in Interior Design, supports Sonja in bringing exceptional depth and consideration.
Her past experience includes personal training and teaching classes such as yoga, pilates, qi gong, meditation, dynamic fitness, dance and other movement modalities. She has managed wellness clinics, health and fitness clubs, resort and hotel spas, and Australia’s largest destination health retreat spa. In her role as a program manager, Sonja also led guest programs at Australia's leading lifestyle retreat.
With a passion for wellness travel, Sonja's journeys have taken her to some of the best healing sanctuaries and health resorts around the world. Her personal and professional interest in wellbeing and personal evolution, have her continually participating in the experience of therapies and programs. She has lived in ashrams, sat with Buddhist monks, attended many retreats and personal growth programs and continues to actively explore wellness and healing for mind, body, soul.
Spa Wellness Consulting was formed in 2014 to fulfil on providing bespoke consultancy to day spas, health retreats and other unique wellness businesses. During these past years, a wide variety of clients have utilised her consultancy - some for a full turn key solution, and others for certain aspects such as concept, design or feasibility. She has provided spa consulting, spa management, holistic business reviews and wellness solutions, to name but a few.
Simone Flores
With a decade of experience working with business technology, Simone is a freelance VA filling in the role of Operations Manager for The Wellness Makers. She handles the website, SEO, social media, marketing, technology, content writing and other projects under our brand.
Working remotely from the Philippines, Simone works with a team of freelances offering various virtual services aiming to make ‘getting help’ easier for those who need any. You can visit her website for more information: yourworkforce.online