Innergize 2024: Recapping the premier beauty and wellness industry event

Just this once, what happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas. As the dust settles on the second annual Innergize beauty and wellness summit, there’s a lot to share from this year’s landmark event – starting with a rewind of three unforgettable days.

Industry heavyweights took to the stage to share where they started, how they achieved greatness, and what they learned along the way.

In a session titled Unleashing Your Greatness, Bethenny Frankel, a successful entrepreneur, best-selling author, and founder of the Skinnygirl brand, shared her wisdom on the importance of risk-taking, trusting your instincts, and the power of authenticity.

The main takeaways from Frankel’s keynote were the values of resilience, innovative business growth strategies, effective use of social media, and the importance of maintaining a work-life balance.

Attendees also heard from John M. Cashion, Senior Practice Director & Head of Global Delivery at The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center as he shared the importance of going beyond the expected to set your brand apart from competitors. Cashion gave attendees tips to create a culture of personalized service and care, inspired by the approach of the legendary Ritz-Carlton.

Zenoti CEO and co-founder Sudheer Koneru delved into industry benchmarks for beauty and wellness service businesses, sharing technology innovations and stories of growth to inspire attendees.

Koneru noted the importance of customer retention stating that regulars (those who visit six or more times a year) spend more overall.

Another Innergize highlight: the opportunity for attendees to connect with Zenoti experts in one-on-one sessions.  

The Growth Clinic offers in-depth consulting with Zenoti experts, providing personalized guidance on maximizing revenue and getting the most out of the Zenoti platform. At the Zeenius Bar, attendees receive time with experts, live demos, and assistance with software features.  

The Zeenius Bar and Growth Clinic are free for Innergize attendees, helping unlock user potential and answer burning questions in real time.

The three-day event was packed with sessions covering topics that matter to our industry.  

There were panels and workshops for all interests – from broader themes like accelerating business growth, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), and devising strategic marketing, to more specific sessions on mastering metrics using benchmarks, establishing successful membership programs, maximizing gift card sales, and mapping customer journeys.

In the Founders’ Odyssey session, we heard from three visionaries who navigated the twists and turns of entrepreneurship with unwavering determination – Anthony Tjan, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of MiniLuxe; Rachel Liverman, founder and CEO of Glowbar; and Kyle Jones, co-CEO and co-founder of iCRYO.

Although their journeys were different, the founders agreed upon several key themes, including the importance of character when building out your team and the need for a solid company culture and core values from the beginning.

Rachel Liverman explained why she filmed herself taking the stage and offered this tip:

“Social media is a free channel. It's free for all of us to be posting constantly and reaching new customers. And that's what really drove our growth up until a year and a half ago.”

This sentiment resurfaced during a session on mastering social media marketing when panelist Adam Arnette, Chief Growth Officer at Removery, asked attendees: “You are here at the Innergize conference. How much content have you actually posted on your social media while you've been here? Your customers want to see what you're doing to improve your business.”

Want more insights from Innergize 2024 sessions? Check out our 'Innergize' category for exclusive coverage, actionable tips, and winning strategies from industry experts.

On top of learning sessions and workshops, Innergize provides the perfect opportunity to connect with industry professionals.

Attendees could make new friends, expand their network, and simply enjoy being part of the group that is shaping our industry.

Many attendees particularly loved the chance to catch up with members of the Zenoti team in person, leading to some touching reunions...

This year, we debuted Deep End, a Shark Tank-style competition for budding entrepreneurs in the beauty and wellness space, with a $50,000 investment for the winner. Well Infused emerged the winner, with Drs. Staci Blume and Lacey Book impressing the judges with their concept of a holistic clinic in a spa-like setting. They walked away with $50,000 to develop their business beyond the two clinics they operate in Noblesville, Indiana and Naples, Florida.

Deep End participants pitched their concepts to a panel consisting of entrepreneur and television personality Bethenny Frankel, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa CEO John Teza, Massage Heights co-founder and CEO Shane Evans, and Paul Hackwell, partner at TPG Capital. In addition to winning a $50,000 award, Drs. Blume and Book will receive mentorship from Teza and Evans.

The competition was tight with Deep End finalists Angelo Khoshaba of Regal Grooming Lounge, and Garrett Ahlberg and Rachel Ahlberg of RISE Modern Wellness giving Drs. Blume and Book a run for their money.

Read more about the finalists here.

Think you could be the next winner? Deep End will be back at Innergize 2025 – so start getting your pitch ready now, and keep your eyes peeled for your chance to register.

A yearly highlight at Innergize, the Golden Hands Awards celebrate the top service providers in beauty and wellness. This year’s winners topped a pool of 320,000 providers across North America based on their impact on guest experience and business revenue.

With a crowd of peers cheering them on, the eight winners were awarded and celebrated for the uplifting work they do.

Check out more about the winners here.

An event this impactful couldn’t go out without a bang and the iconic Hakkasan was the perfect place to host a high-energy party.

Over 700 attendees bonded, networked, and celebrated the beauty and wellness industry. The party kicked off with the Deep End winner announcement and the Golden Hands Awards, before attendees danced the night away.

‍Now that you’ve seen what Innergize 2024 had to offer, secure your tickets to Innergize 2025 in Seattle, September 14-16. The summit is your chance to shape the future of beauty and wellness.

Register today to take advantage of early-bird pricing.