Medical / SPA: Spa Trends Shaking the Planet

Despite experiencing a dramatic boom in the last decade, the worldwide spa market is still highly fragmented. Although there are an estimated 72,000 spas worldwide, the vast majority are independent, single-site or small, regional businesses, whose names have little currency beyond their immediate environs. The few companies that can truly claim to have significant brand recognition – such as Canyon Ranch in the US, Chiva-Som in Thailand and global supplier/operator ESPA – are the exceptions th...

The global financial crisis (GFC) has reduced global spa visits for 2008 by 13% based on survey data collected via Intelligent Spas’ ongoing Global Spa Benchmark Program. Employment has also been hit with spa operators recognizing a fall of 8.1% on the number of staff they predicted to employ in 2008, compared to actual people employed. Revenue results for 2008 was a surprising 8.5% up on forecasts, however spa operators predict a fall of 9.4% during 2009. Asia Pacific’s spa indus...

What sells South African Tourism is by far the diversity of this country. It offers a true first world experience in an African Country with unique experiences such as having a massage while overlooking the bushveld where the Big Five roams free… With the amazing climate and wonderful scenery, there are so many perfect settings for real rejuvenation and ‘decompression’. In South Africa, you will find an abundance of excellent spas and wellness centres scattered all around the...

For the last twenty years the main mantra for the spa consumer has been "make me beautiful”. Spas were places to be spoiled, pampered and indulged. Beauty treatments dominated the spa experience and women became “Queen for the day”. Spa services ranged from body massages and facial treatments to pedicures and manicures. More advanced in their applications, these same treatments still exist today. What has changed dramatically is the consumer mindset and expectation of the spa e...

Discovering this magical and surreal mystical beauty in this particular spa environment makes it an ideal healing destination for both island visitors and the island ‘ohana alike. The aloha spa trends for the treatments/services at the Spa without Walls located at the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii integrate the Big Island of Hawaii’s natural therapeutic environment with the ancient healing arts, and traditional Hawaiian or island enrichment body treatments using locally blended or indigen...