Workee x ICES Long Beach 2025: Top Insights for Med Spa Owners

The International Congress of Esthetics & Spa (ICES) Long Beach, held August 24–25, 2025, brought together thousands of estheticians, med spa owners, and beauty professionals. Beyond the exhibition floor and education sessions, the event highlighted four major trends: simpler booking, automation, AI adoption, and community. Here’s what Workee learned, and why the right medical spa software will be at the center of these shifts in 2026 and beyond.

Why ICES Long Beach Matters

The International Congress of Esthetics & Spa (ICES) is one of the leading U.S. gatherings for estheticians, med spa teams, and spa professionals. Each year, it serves as a hub for business growth, treatment education, and technology innovation.

The 2025 Long Beach edition brought thousands of attendees to the California coast for two full days of networking and discovery. For Workee, a company building all-in-one medical spa software, it was the perfect opportunity to listen to industry professionals and see firsthand where the market is heading.

Who Attended: A Snapshot of the Industry

The ICES crowd reflected just how diverse, and rapidly evolving, the esthetics world has become:

• 43% solo estheticians

• 19% med spa and cosmetic professionals

• 17% massage and bodywork specialists

• 11% lash, brow, and PMU artists

• 10% day spas, wellness centers, and luxury destinations

This mix shows the wide range of business models, from solo practitioners to multi-location med spas, all united by the need for smoother operations, better marketing, and smarter client retention tools.

Four Major Trends Revealed at ICES 2025

1. Booking Still Needs to Be Simpler

Even in 2025, too many med spas are losing clients during the booking process. Some platforms require logins, app downloads, or six or more steps to confirm an appointment. Others fail to send reminders, leaving clinics with preventable no-shows.

So what?

Every extra click in the booking flow can cut conversions by up to 10–20%. For med spas, that means lost revenue and frustrated clients.

Action Checklist for Owners:

• Audit your current booking flow: how many steps from homepage to confirmation?

• Test the process on a mobile phone (over 70% of spa bookings now happen on mobile).

• Remove barriers like logins, mandatory app downloads, or unnecessary forms.

• Try Workee’s 2-click booking flow to reduce drop-offs and increase conversions.

• Combine booking with conversion tactics — see our guide: 10 Ways to Get More Med Spa Bookings from Your Website.

2. Automation Has Become Essential

No-show rates still hover between 17–30%, according to industry data, a huge revenue leak. At ICES, professionals agreed: automation is no longer optional. That’s why modern medical spa scheduling software like Workee is designed to handle these tasks automatically, giving owners more time to focus on client experience.

So what?

Manual reminders and follow-ups aren’t scalable. Without automation, clinics lose thousands annually in wasted time and empty slots.

Action Checklist for Owners:

• Automate SMS + email reminders to cut no-shows.

• Require deposits or prepayments to secure high-value appointments.

• Set up automated rebooking flows to bring back clients after 60–90 days.

• Use cancellation policies to protect revenue (download our free Med Spa Cancellation Policy Template).

• Implement proven scripts with our 25 No-Show Text & Email Templates.

3. AI Curiosity Is Rising Fast

In 2023–24, AI was a buzzword. In 2025, it’s a real tool. At ICES, spa owners asked:

• Can AI predict which clients are likely to churn?

• Could AI personalize follow-ups or promotions?

• Will AI assistants handle scheduling and FAQs soon?

So what?

Clinics adopting AI early gain a competitive edge, not just in marketing, but in retention and client experience. Solutions like Workee are already embedding AI-powered marketing and retention funnels into medical spa workflows. Attendees were excited about AI that feels practical, not experimental.

Action Checklist for Owners:

• Use AI to flag clients who haven’t booked in 90+ days.

• Automate rebooking offers tied to birthdays, seasons, or client history.

• Personalize promotions (e.g., Botox reminders at 90 days, facial packages at 6 weeks).

• Explore AI assistants for booking and FAQ handling — start with tools like Workee’s AI for Med Spas.

• Learn how automation + AI combine in our guide: 8 Med Spa Marketing Strategies That Work in 2025.

4. Community Is the True Growth Driver

The most inspiring part of ICES? The community.

• Solo estheticians shared growth stories.

• Med spa teams compared scaling strategies.

• Educators led packed sessions on everything from injectables to marketing.

So what?

Growth doesn’t happen in isolation. Owners who engage in community (online or in person) are faster to spot trends, solve challenges, and grow.

Action Checklist for Owners:

• Attend at least 1–2 industry conferences per year (like ICES or AmSpa).

• Join local esthetician/med spa groups for referrals and peer learning.

• Encourage team training + certifications to stay sharp.

• Share your own client success stories online (link them to your website booking).

• Build a referral system with clients — our Referral Program Guide for Med Spas shows how.

What This Means for Med Spa Growth in 2026

The conversations at ICES pointed to clear priorities for the next year:

1. Simplify the client journey → Fewer clicks = more bookings.

2. Automate admin tasks → Reduce no-shows, save staff hours.

3. Adopt AI early → Clinics that implement AI-driven marketing and retention will lead.

4. Stay plugged into community → Conferences, groups, and education drive sustainable growth.

How Medical Spa Software Supports These Trends

The future of med spas revealed at ICES 2025 aligns perfectly with what modern medical spa software is built to solve:

• Booking: A smooth 2-click flow keeps clients from dropping off.

• Automation: Smart reminders and rebooking flows keep calendars full.

• AI: Predictive insights and behavior-based marketing campaigns nurture retention.

• All-in-One Simplicity: Instead of juggling 3–4 platforms, Workee unites scheduling, payments, and marketing in one place.

Workee’s vision is clear: give med spa owners the tools to reduce friction, grow client bases, and focus on delivering 5-star experiences.

👉 Learn more about Workee’s Medical Spa Software.

Final Thoughts

ICES Long Beach 2025 wasn’t just another industry conference, it was a snapshot of where aesthetics is headed: simpler booking, smarter automation, practical AI, and stronger community.

For Workee, being there confirmed that the right technology can make all the difference. We left energized by the passion of this community and committed to building tools that help med spas and estheticians grow faster with less effort.

👉 Ready to simplify your bookings and grow your med spa? Book a free growth audit with Workee.