In the Media
Healthy growth in spas from coast to coast
Number of facilities in Canada nearly doubled between 2002 and 2004, new report shows
By ALBERT WARSON
Tuesday, May 31, 2005 Page B8
Special to The Globe and Mail
Spa developments across Canada have been massaged by at least $2.5-billion worth of investment, with developers expanding facilities from the Cariboo region of British Columbia to a former monastery in St. John's.
Relaxation, wellness and pampering has become a huge business. Over the last two years alone, the number of spas across Canada has nearly doubled, according to the latest International Spa Association (ISPA) study of the North American industry.
One industry expert expects growth of 20 per cent or more annual growth, especially in condo-hotels, resorts and prominent office towers in Canada. And foreign interests are grooming the industry for more expansion.
The industry has matured to the point that one of Canada's leading spa schools expanded to a 20,000-square-foot space in Toronto.
The $2.5-billion investment figure is based on ISPA's estimated 12.5 million square feet of spa space across the country, and industry estimates of $200-a-square-foot building costs. This excludes land and equipment, and depends on location.
The costs can soar to closer to $350 a square foot, depending on the level of wall and flooring finishes, lighting and general decor, says Gordon Tareta, director of spa facilities at Hyatt Hotels Corp. in Chicago, which operates spas in its Toronto and Calgary hotels.
Spa operators are making those kinds of investments to cater to a huge market of people "who want to look or feel younger, want relaxation, and possibly need services offered at medical day spas, which have grown at a rate of 100 per cent in recent few years," he says. (Medical day spas operated by doctors can offer botox injections, and other services beyond what estheticians can offer.)
Vivienne O'Keeffe, president of Vivienne O'Keeffe & Associates Inc., a Vancouver-based spa consulting company that helps develop spas from the ground up, foresees "phenomenal spa growth in [upscale high-rise condos and condo-hotels], resort and destination spas, and in office towers in Canada. There could be, conservatively speaking, a 20-per-cent increase in that growth."
There is also foreign interest: Chinese, U.S. and European investors have contacted her firm about developing spas in Canada, she says.
Although healing and rejuvenating facilities date back to early civilizations, spas in their modern incarnations -- day, destination, hotel or resort, or medical -- are a recent phenomenon as a new type of property development category.
The latest spa association study indicates that the number of spas in Canada increased from 1,200 to 2,100, and revenue rose from $610-million to $1.1-billion, between 2002 and 2004.
In 1982, Sherry Brydson, a health and wellness entrepreneur, opened a private women's club with a small spa and Thai restaurant in what was originally a YWCA residence in downtown Toronto.
Today, the Brydson Group Inc. health and wellness empire, which she runs from Victoria, is renovating the four-storey, 38,000-square-foot building -- now one of the largest day spas in Canada.
The company also owns one of Canada's leading spa schools, the Elmcrest College of Applied Health Sciences and Spa Management in northwestern Toronto, which aside from teaching massage therapy and esthetics, has developed a leading-edge spa management program, according to industry association Leading Spas of Canada.
The school helps meet the surging demand for trained spa personnel, and Ms. O'Keeffe, who helped design the college's curriculum, hires its graduates to staff international clients' spas. The college outgrew a 7,000-square-foot building and acquired a 20,000-square-foot former factory in northwestern Toronto for $1.8-million. The renovation cost $5-million.
Paul Stevens, a principal of Toronto-based ZAS Architects Inc., who designed the renovation and interior design, says the college is "an excellent example of how a vacant, run-down factory on a well-located urban site can be stripped to its bare bones and rebuilt. We installed three turret-style skylights to allow natural light to penetrate, rebalanced the floors and replaced the roof, in an energy and technologically efficient building."
The lobby contains a ceiling-high waterfall fountain and the layout of therapy rooms were designed with the advice of a master from Victoria in Chinese feng shui layout design.
Although a certain hesitation characterized some earlier spa projects, the public's increasing use of these facilities is emboldening developers from coast to coast.
In St. John's, Paul Madden, a suburban infrastructure and commercial development builder and developer for 20 years, and more recently president of Spa at the Monastery and Suites, expects to start construction in June of a $2.4-million, 20-suite luxury spa overlooking the ocean.
The project is about 20 minutes' drive from his first spa venture -- an abandoned 10,500-square-foot monastery in the downtown core of the provincial capital, which he bought, redeveloped and opened in 2001.
Then he acquired an adjacent religious school and turned it into a 20-suite property connected to the spa by a tunnel he added and which opened late last year. The two facilities cost about $3.1-million.
Mr. Madden recalls he had been "nervous about the [first] project" because he wasn't sure how Newfoundlanders would react. As it turned out, he needn't have worried.
"I started out with a staff of eight, now there are 63. We went from five days a week to seven days and then six evenings..." he says. "We had 265-per-cent growth from the first year to the next and it has only come under control last year."
There wasn't any opposition to redeveloping the former monastery and school, Mr. Madden says, because city planners and neighbours realized an upscale spa and accommodation with king-sized beds and fireplaces is infinitely more desirable than a parking lot, which was in the works. Nor would there be any traffic problems or disturbing noises, or late evening boisterousness because there is no bar.
On the other side of the country, Pat Corbett has also been in land development and construction for more than 20 years, and is president of Hills Health Ranch Ltd., at 108 Mile House, in the Cariboo region, more than 480 kilometres north of Vancouver.
His company opened a 26-room health and fitness spa in 1985, in a 25,000-square-foot central lodge it built on a ranch-style 20,000 acres, and added 20 Swiss-style chalets. Mr. Corbett says his spa attracts about 8,000 guests a year from across North America and abroad.
He intends to start work this year on a $50-million, 250-unit "health village" on the site, with regional government zoning and development application approvals in hand.
Given the rapid growth of the spa industry, it is appropriate that 108 Mile House takes its name from the stations on a road travelled by gold rush prospectors flocking to the Cariboo in the 19th century.
Spa speak
Averages for Canada from a 2004 industry study
- Indoor square footage: 6,081
- Revenue: $752,000
- Annual spa visits: 10,090
- Full-time employees: 9.9
- Profit margin: 4.9%
- Revenue/square foot: $148
SOURCE: INTERNATIONAL SPA ASSOCIATION
BOOMING Spa Industry, can take you away
The spa industry has grown at an astounding rate of 20% annually over the past eight years. It is poised to double over the next five years. This explosive growth continues to outpace the number of qualified spa personnel available. This unprecedented growth has also produced new challenges for the industry including the need for professional Spa Managers, Supervisors and Service Providers, who are a critical part of client care.
According to the International Spa Association's 2004 Spa Industry Study:
- North Americans now spend more money at spas than they do at amusement parks, movie theatres or ski resorts.
- There were approximately 2,100 individual spas in Canada, a 62% increase over 2002. (12,000 in the U.S.)
- While over 40% of Canada's spas are located in Ontario, steady increases are evident in British Columbia at 19%, Quebec at 18% and Alberta at 12%.
- The Canadian spa industry generated an estimated $1.5 billion CDN (doubled in 2 years) in revenues for 2003 and the annual number of spa visits was 20.2 million (was 8 million 2 years ago). (In the U.S. = $11.2 Billion U.S. with 136 million visits each year).
- In 2003, the Canadian spa industry employed an estimated 33,200 people consisting of 20,442 full time, 7,075 part-time and 5,673 contract staff, double the number employed by the industry in 2002. (281,700 in the U.S.)
Throughout North America the number one major challenge to continued industry success was the lack of quality staff. The number two major challenge was educating and maintaining quality staff. These concerns have been consistent for the past number of years.
* A recent survey by Statistics Canada found that an estimated 5.4 million people reported having used some type of alternative or complimentary health care. The most common form was chiropractic followed by massage therapy.
This sustained growth means lots of career opportunities for well-trained individuals in massage therapy, esthetics and spa management.
Career Colleges like Elmcrest College, the first private Career College in North America that is wholly dedicated to the Ministry approved curriculum for the spa and wellness industries, lead the way with new groundbreaking training and education programs.
Full-time Spa Management programs qualify students, with or without prior spa experience, who want to drive their careers to the next level in this booming industry. Spa Manager/Director diploma programs equip participants with the essential business skills required to face the challenges of managing in today's fast-paced spa environment. Over the course of this comprehensive program, focus is placed on strategic decisionmaking, developing management skills, understanding of accounting and marketing principles through case studies and group assignments in relation to the spa industry.
Courses like the Spa Leadership certificate program are for those seeking the knowledge and skills necessary to manage day-to-day spa operations and positions graduates for growth into senior management roles.
With the tremendous growth in the spa industry, spa management graduates are in high demand. Spa services such as Massage Therapy, Esthetics and Spa Management are careers that can take you all over the world because many of these positions are in vacation and luxury resort areas or on cruise lines. Spa Management and Spa industry careers can really take you away.
As appeared in 'Training Places', April 2005
The State of Spa An Industry Update by Nancy Griffin
In the past decade the spa industry has experienced unprecedented growth.
Spa Finder, a media and travel company, estimates the total revenues generated in the spa industry to be $12 billion. (In addition to the revenue generated from the spa services and products, this number includes travel and lodging figures.) And the Day Spa Association estimates the overall day spa market to be $7.3 billion. These facts combined with an annual growth rate of 20% - 25% and there is every indication the spa industry will continue to grow. The driving force behind the growth is consumer demand. Day spas, which represent more than three-fourths of all spas, have opened the door to a whole new generation of spa-goers who have little time or money to
embark on a destination spa vacation. Even still, the spa industry has a long way to go - less than 13% of the general public has been to a day spa in the past three years. According to the analyst, Peter Yesawich, "The large gap between the current usage of spas and the intention of the public to use a spa will drive the industry into a wild ride in the future."
Excerpt from Massage & Bodywork June/July 2002 Pg.123
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Spa Industry Exploding
"Spa Industry Surpasses $1 Billion Mark with Tremendous Continued Growth Likely"
The spa industry has surpassed the $1 billion mark, and fuelled by diversifying demographics, increasing numbers of spas in hotels and on cruise ships, and a rise in corporate spending, the industry is likely to be one of the fastest-growing in the 21st century, according to the April issue of Spa Business Monthly, the industry newsletter published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc. (For further information, visit www.liebertpub.com) With annual revenues (including accommodation, meals and treatments) of the spa industry
topping the $1 billion dollar mark, the industry is capping two decades of spectacular growth. Between 1986 and 1992 spa revenues rose by 10 percent a year, doubling from 1992 to 1998 and rising by more than 20 percent in each of the past two years.
The United States and Canada have been fuelling this boom, looking to catch up to Europe and the rest of the world. There are a quarter of a million visitors annually to spas in North America, which comprise about I percent of the population compared to 5 percent in Italy, 12 percent in Germany and almost I 00 percent in Japan, according to a survey by the Strategy Group.
Destination and Resort spas are increasing both in number and in size as many expand their facilities in response to growing demand. Spa Finders, the New York City-based vendor of spa trips and visits, represents some 500 spas, works with 30,000 travel agencies and alone books some 75, 000 room nights annually, earning the company gross revenues of more than $20 million a year. Indeed, a Gallup Poll survey found that 33 percent of respondents said that access to a spa while on vacation was a prime consideration when making their plans.
Day spas, which offer treatments only without accommodation, are growing faster than any other segment in the spa industry. According to Spa Finders, the number of day spas has jumped dramatically during the past decade--from 30 in 1987 to more than 600 today.
Excerpt from Spa Business Monthly by Mary Ann Liebert Inc. April 12, 2000
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State of the Spa Industry
These are exciting and historic times. There many changes in the medical,
technical and information fields in the last decade that were unimaginable 50 years ago when the first baby boomers were born. And in response to these rapid changes, the wellness evolution and explosion has been equally as dramatic. Who could have predicted just a few years ago that the number of spas and spa visitors would increase exponentially and that "spa" would become a common household word?
Results from a 1999 member survey reveal this healthy growth. Day spas, hotel/resort spas and destination spa members all report sales volume increases in the $1- to $5-million category from 41 percent in 1998 to 47 percent in 1999; and in the $5- to $10- million category, sales volumes increased from 18 percent in 1998 to 27 percent in 1999. That means that nearly one-third of the spas are bringing in a sales volume of $5 to $10 million.
The number of spa visitors has increased 16 percent over last year with an average of 33,000 annual visits per spa - that is approximately 90 visits per day. And the message is spreading. Thirty-nine percent of the spa visitors were first-time guests. Many guests are "testing the waters" for the first time, while savvy spa goers are branching out to sample greater numbers and various types of spas.
Who are these spa goers? Men now represent more than a quarter of spa clients, and in response, 68 percent of ISPA spas offer treatments specifically designed for men. The 31-44 and the 45-54 age groups make up more than half of the spa market, while the 20-30 age group is on the rise.
Members also report a number of growing trends: children as spa goers, Thai
massage, hot stone massage, increased demand for facials, more men requesting facials, and massage as therapy versus luxury.
Excerpt from ISPA, The International Spa Association
Spa Industry Predictions:
The Spa & Esthetic industry is experiencing monumental growth year after year with some countries reporting it to be the second largest in terms of overall dollars spent. Esthetics has taken first place as the fastest growing service industry in the world.
This roaring trade is principally due to the aging "boomer generation" in its pressing pursuit of longevity and the desire to maintain youthful appearances. It is also greatly influenced by the rapid expansion of the Spa and Wellness communities that are opening worldwide.
Esthetics is a vital and exclusive cornerstone of the cosmetic industry and the room for growth is limitless. The excitement surrounding the future of this industry and its ever-increasing demand for qualified estheticians/beauty therapy specialist's presents endless opportunities for well-trained individuals.
While some people view the spa phenomenon as a luxury, and opportunity for
pampering, which spa treatments can certainly be, it should be kept in mind for the future that the spa serves a basic human need.... it is a necessity, not a pamper palace. Whereas spas and resorts used to be geared to the wealthy leisure class, as time goes on, we should recognize that the trend is changing to necessity of providing "wellness". This has to be the overriding trend as spas continue in their development.
If we are looking for trends or buzz words to represent the spa industry, the future will certainly be marked by spas dedicated to providing services as a necessity of thriving in today's life, not on luxury. While the facilities themselves will continue to provide ambiance and an atmosphere of luxury, it should be kept in mind that this is a secondary necessity. People may feel a pull of a tighter economy and harder lifestyle, which will often negate the spa visit if it isn't considered a necessity of health and good grooming. While it is so easy to convince people of the need to have their teeth professionally cleaned at the dentist to prevent gum disease and preserve teeth, are
we prepared to educate the consumer on the necessity of professional facial, body, hair, and nail treatment for the same preservation of health, good looks, and to slow down or forestall the aging process in a world so "youth" oriented. Are spa treatments truly necessary? Absolutely!
Excerpt from Preview Magazine, June 2002
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The Global Spa Evolution:
Interest in spa in a multitude of ways is no longer an American boom. It's a global boom with an evolution taking place the world over in different ways.
The key to keep pace with this developing industry through continual education. Education is not only the professional via techniques and product knowledge seminars, trade shows and the general trade press, but also through massive consumer education that is oiled by the vast numbers of spa openings and the press coverage afforded this burgeoning industry.
The spa will change often, and will have a global vision that includes the best from throughout the world. It will serve the educated, savvy, globally minded client who also is a seeker...a seeker of peace, joy, wellness and longer life.
Excerpt from Erica Miller, President of Expertise Inc., and Sara Mason - "Skininc.com-Magazine/articles"
Spas the Way to Go
Spas are now a billion dollar industry and continue to experience explosive
growth with day and urban spas leading the charge. More than 250,000 people visited spas in North America last year alone. Along with this growth, there has been a shift in focus from cosmetic pampering to inner body nurturing. It's a sign of the times - a response to our frenetic lifestyles. In this high tech, high demand world where everything is on fast forward, more and more people are feeling 'stressed' and 'burned out'. We're on the go more and we need to get away more.
Excerpt from - By Jacquie Lewing, Airborn Spring/Summer 2001
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The ISPA 2002 Spa Industry Study Reveals Phenomenal Growth
The spa industry had larger revenues than amusement/theme parks and box office gross receipts last year, and that is only one of the key findings from the
International SPA Association's 2002 Spa Industry Study.
As the voice of the spa industry, ISPA commissioned Pricewaterhouse-Coopers in 2000 to conduct the first study on the true size and magnitude of the industry. "For two years the ISPA 2000 Spa Industry Study has been a benchmark for the industry; now, the 2002 study is the new standard," said ISPA Executive Director Lynne Walker McNees. "The 2002 study is an essential tool for all spa professionals."
- 2001 revenues for the United States spa industry are $10.7 billion; revenues in 1999 were $5 billion.
- Aggregate industry revenues have grown by 114 percent between 1999 and 2001.
- The size of the United States spa industry is estimated at 9,632 locations; in the 2000 report, that number was 5,689.
- Day spas continue to be the largest category by far, accounting for 75 percent of all spa locations with 7,208. Resort/hotel spas are the second largest group with 1,150 locations.
Visits
- There were nearly 156 million spa visits in the United States in 2001.
- Day spas had 68 percent (106.2 million) of these visits. Resort/hotel and club spas received the next largest numbers of spa visits.
Employment
- An estimated 282,000 people are employed by the U.S. spa industry, up from 151,000 in 1999.
- Employee wages and salaries totalled approximately $4.9 billion in 2001.
Product Trends
- The Eastern/Asian influence continues to be very strong in the industry, influencing products, services and spa design.
- There is a strong trend toward medical-type products and services.
- Food- and plant-based treatments have also gained widespread popularity.
- Many people are no longer seeing spas as "pampering," but as a necessity in order to stay healthy.
- Consumers want simplicity in their spa experiences; they are moving "back to the basics" and are returning to more traditional spa products.
- Consumers' limited free time means they have less time available to spend at a spa, and the industry is designing its offerings around this trend.
Investor Trends
- The 2000 study indicated that a trend toward branding was right around the corner, and this trend has arrived in three key ways: dominant spas have been creating branded locations across the United States, suppliers are attempting to enter the branded spa business and spas are pushing branded labels in their retail facilities.
- Spas are now seen as trendy to own by wealthy individuals, just as restaurants were in the '80s and bars/clubs in the '90s.
- Spas continue to be a main component in the development of resorts and shopping malls.
Excerpt from ISPA, The International Spa Association - September 26, 2002
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Teen Rule!
They are 40 million strong in the U.S. and their numbers are growing twice as fast as the general population. Their discretionary income is estimated to be as high as $80 a week and they'll spend more than $300 billion this year, much of it on their appearance. Are you missing out by not targeting the teen market?
Teens are the next generation of spa goers and what better way to secure future business than to start appealing to them now. Think of the loyalty factor when two-or even three-generations of the same family come into the spa. Simply adding teen-friendly treatments to the spa menu will help you take advantage of this growing market.
Excerpt from Gloria Harmon- October 2000 issue Skin Inc Magazine
From Pampers to pampering, kids get the spa treatment
That pitter-patter of little feet belongs to the newest generation of resort spa-goers. The Homestead, a Grande-dame getaway in Hot Springs, Va., has just christened a series of treatments for children, including a pedicure preceded by a soak in chocolate ($35), massage ($48), makeup lesson ($25) and teen facial ($58) designed for acne-prone skin.
Guests as young as 4 and 5 - inspired by buffed-up teen idols, perhaps? - are
"flocking" for manicures and pedicures, says resort spa director Christie Ford. "Kids grow up more quickly now, and they want to take care of themselves." The kiddie pampering is offered in the resort's new 1,000-square foot Spa Suite, with options for side-by-side treatments with Mom, Dad or Grandparents. It's a way for families to bond, Ford says. To those who sniff that at the spa is a bit over the top for the preteen set, she responds: "Kids today have a lot (of pressure) on them. This teaches them to relax at an early age."
Excerpt from Kitty Bean Yancey _ Home & Garden - May 2002
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What Skin Care Trends Will We Be Seeing in 2000?
As our society has come to better embrace alternative medical modalities,
combining the best of traditional medical therapies with these new treatments, skin care will also learn how to incorporate traditional medical treatments with bio-active holistic ingredients. Look for the two treatment modalities to meld together, giving you the best of all forms of science. Products will combine derivatives of prescription vitamin A with algae, herbs, and botanicals for effective and cosmetically elegant treatments.
One of the greatest advances for baby boomer skin will be products targeted to prevent DNA damage at its most basic level. Our greater understanding of many naturally derived "food-based" ingredients will be finding their way into skin care products. As we learn more about how to nurture ourselves with the correct diet and exercise, so will we understand more about how to apply this basic knowledge to skin care.
Transdermal technology has already entered the skin care world, but watch for more sophisticated and consumer friendly uses. As scientists learn more about medical transdermal technology, we can certainly expect it to transcend into skin care products.
To sum up, the race will be on for serious preventative, as well as restorative skin care products that will help the baby boomer look and feel young well into the new millennium.
Excerpt from Elaine Linker - vice president of sales, and marketing director for DDF (Doctor's Dermatologic Formula). (8/23/2000)
Quality Assurance at "Premier" Spas
In May 2000, a group of 12 dedicated spa owners and operators launched Spa Ontario, an association of spas committed to offering Premier spa experiences. Our quality criteria was developed over a year and a half of extensive consultations prior to the launch, and serves as the hallmark for all Spas Ontario Members. We are dedicated to consistently providing you with the best people, products, services and surroundings.
Today we are an association of 31 very diverse spas, all focused on providing
the highest quality, premier spa experiences and offering a range of specialties for the sophisticated spa-goer as well as the first timer.
Excerpt from Kailee Kline, President, Spas Ontario - The Directory of Ontario's Premier Spas 2002
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How to Attract Men to your Spa
According to surveys by Price-Waterhouse and Yeawsavich & Pepperdine, 33% of spa clients were men. Some American Spas are now reporting 45% male attendance and as high as 55% in Europe. If you want to tap into that ever-increasing market, there are a number of things you can do to capture and retain that clientele.
Excerpt from Spa Canada - Vol.6-No.3 - Pg.20
Spa Industry Trend: The Influx Of Men
As the voice of the spa industry since 1991, the International SPA Association (ISPA) continually tracks trends among spas and consumers. By compiling research from its 1,900 members, ISPA is tracking the industry trend of men as spa goers. ISPA spa members report that 28 percent of their clients are men. "It is important for men to feel comfortable in a spa environment," said ISPA Executive Director Lynne McNees, explaining what spas are doing to attract men. Overwhelmingly, the No. 1 treatment for both men and women is the massage. The popular types of massage for men vary from sports Recovery to therapeutic. ISPA members also say pedicures and facials
are requested frequently by male clients. Many ISPA members report they are using products designed specifically for men.
Excerpt from Press Release from Debra Locker, International Spa Association
Guests Keep Shipshape With Carnival Legend’s Sophisticated Spa Facilities
Today's health- conscious vacationers can choose from a number of options to stay in shape and pamper themselves while cruising on the new 88,500-ton Carnival Legend. The 14,500-square-foot Fountain of Youth Spa aboard Carnival Legend will feature the latest exercise equipment and spinning and aerobics classes, along with a number of luxurious "European-style" treatments. "Keeping fit as well as indulging in soothing mind and body treatments has become an important part of today's lifestyle and the spa on Carnival Legend provides these options to our guests in a most sophisticated environment," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president. Dickinson added
that approximately 1.2 million guests - roughly half of Carnival's total passenger base - are expected to use the line's fleet wide spa services this year.
The Carnival Legend spa will also offer a variety of exotic "European-style" treatments, including "aroma stone therapy," which is based on an ancient ritual that combines heated and scented oils with a full body massage using warm basalt stones, creating a relaxing and rejuvenating sensation. These treatments will complement a sophisticated menu of full body and scalp massages, seaweed wraps, mudpacks, and various slimming and toning therapies.
Treatments will be conducted by the Carnival Legend's highly trained staff, who also provide nutrition and training tips, wellness counseling sessions, and fitness evaluations such as height/weight and body fat composition analyses. Also housed within the spa are 10 private treatment/massage rooms, complete locker facilities, sauna and steam rooms, and a full-service beauty salon. The ship will also feature four swimming pools and four whirlpools -- one available in the spa itself and three others on Lido Deck 9 - as well as a padded jogging track encircling Sports Deck 11.
Excerpt from Press Release: Carnival Cruise Lines - August 6, 2002 - Miami
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Spas Ahoy
Cruise lines have jumped on the spa vacation trend with a vengeance. Almost every ship now offers massages, mineral facials and mud baths. But only a few manage to pull off a truly luxurious experience. Norwegian Cruise Lines' SS Norway started this trend when it unveiled its 560-square-metre Roman Spa in 1990: a decade later, that figure has soared to about 50 full-fledged shipboard spas.
Seafaring spas are beginning to rival land-based, resort destination spas in both facilities and treatments -- as we personally discovered during a recent
Baltic/Mediterranean cruise aboard the 758-passenger Seabourn Sun. Expanded and redesigned as part of ultra-luxury line Seabourn's $16-million (all amounts in U.S. dollars) Royal Viking Sun makeover last year, the 450-square-metre, Spa du Soleil exemplifies the increasing sophistication of floating spas.
We found the Seabourn Sun's menu of spa services unusually impressive for a cruise ship, but sought an expert's perspective, too. "It offers more for the serious spa-goer than any other ship I know of," confirmed Bernard Burt, founder of the International Spa Association and co-author of 100 Best Spas of the World (Globe Pequot Press).Though exemplary, it is not alone.
The 1,792-passenger Queen Elizabeth 2's QE2 Spa is known for its emphasis on thalassotherapy. Favoured in Europe, (some nations' health insurance actually cover it when doctor prescribed) thalassotherapy uses seawater to combat stress and manage medical conditions like arthritis and rheumatism.
The 976-square-metre QE2 Spa options include a body-temperate thalassotherapy pool and a Jet Blitz/Hydrajet treatment in which a trained technician turns a high power hose on your body to increase circulation and promote lymphatic drainage.
In response to the growing popularity of spa services among its passenger base, Silversea's two new 388-guest ships, debuting this fall and early next summer, will be 60-per-cent larger than the spas aboard its twin, 296-passenger ships. (Silversea Cruises' newly revamped spa program emphasizes Balinese treatments like a "Javanese Honey Steam Wrap" which incorporates cinnamon, ginger, coffee, sea salt, and honey.)
Excerpt from Wednesday, November 15, 2000 Ellen Klugman & Paul Lance - Special to The Globe and Mail
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The Medical Spa - The Next Generation of the Spa Industry
Until recently, Western Medicine has failed to recognize the healing benefits of the Spa and Fitness Industry. With the arrival of the latest trend, the Medical Spa, the two fields have converged and caused a veritable explosion, making this new trend the wave of the future. As defined by the International SPA Association, a Medical Spa is an institution whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment, which integrates spa services as well as conventional and complimentary therapies and treatments. Dermatologists and Plastic surgeons have been jumping on the bandwagon joining Day Spas and even expanding their practices to offer 'higher level' Spa services and care.
With the industry's increased recognition by Western Medicine and our clientele's increased acceptance of Eastern Medicine, the future of the Medical Spa looks both promising and encouraging. The Medical Spa has only scratched the surface of its potential evolution. Hospitals and Health Insurance companies are taking bold new steps in the areas of 'Alternative' medical care and coverage.
A Spa Site Guest Article by Excerpt from Alexis Ufland, Lexi Design - Spa Definition, Design, Development Media bulletin - April 13, 2000
Trends Towards Healthy Aging
Forecasts predict continued robust growth of the healthy aging market, and it is time for you to take advantage of this trend. By focusing financial efforts and expanding your retail section to promote health and beauty care and anti-aging products, you can add a tidy sum to your revenues. With an attractive profit margin, selecting a line of healthy aging skin and body care products can complement the personality of both your spa and your clientele.
Excerpt from Ronald Klatz -"Skininc.com-Magazine/articles"
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If You Take Your Clients for Granted, Someone Else Will Take Them
Nine times out of ten, the client in your chair was someone else's. If you do not shape up, he or she will inevitably ship out!
Over the years I have built a strong clientele base from O.P.M. (not other peoples money) Other Peoples Mistakes. Fellow colleagues mistakes OK to be more specific, your mistakes.
Now one may think that my approach in this article is abrasive, but it is not
meant to be. It is merely my observations of why I feel professionals have lost some of their clientele. By ingesting this information in a constructive rather than destructive manner, salon professionals will have an inside advantage on knowing why some of their customers have left them; and what not to do in order to keep clients happy and coming back for more.
One of the very first questions I ask a new client is: Why did you leave your last
salon? Believe it or not, this one simple question has kept me in business successfully for over a decade. Not to mention hard work, dedication continuing education and of course, skill.
Customer Service Shortcomings:
- Ignoring Your Client: Neglecting to acknowledge a client when they step into an establishment is a travesty.
- Running Behind: We have all experienced running late at one time or another, but when it becomes habitual there is usually a traceable root to the problem.
- Cleanliness: Whenever I visit an establishment I scan the immediate area for red flags.
- Evaluate yourself: What image are you projecting? Launder your uniform so that it will look crisp and clean.
- Discussing Personal Problems: Faux pas, faux pas, FAUX PAS, DON'T DO IT! Please do not discuss your personal matters with a client.
- Gossip: The best piece of advice I can give on gossiping is to avoid it like the plague.
- Talking On The Phone: Talking on the telephone in a customer's presence is rude.
- Poor Craftsmanship: Poor quality work is inexcusable. Education is one of the keys to success in this industry. "My motto, The More You Learn, The More you Earn!"
Excerpt from Day Spa - August 1998 -Sequita V. Howard
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Feng Shui
One very popular element of spa design is Feng Shui. Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement, spa design, and colour use. While the practice can be very arduous and almost strict with the optimum methods to use when designing a spa, Feng Shui can also add special touches and an overall good feel to your site. Either way, understanding the basic principles of Feng Shui can help in your quest to create the perfect spa environment.
The general concept of Feng Shui is to create an environment where the power of the life force of all animated things are in harmony allowing chi to move through the space freely, and without blockages occurring. Free flowing chi promotes positive mental and physical health. Where chi cannot flow smoothly there will be disharmony and business will suffer.
Excerpt from Melinda Minton - "Opening a Spa"
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