Last night, a friend gave me an invitation for a “relaxing spa retreat” at her house. Now, let me just state up front that I avoid home parties as a rule. You know the kind I’m talking about — the “RSVP-only” get-togethers that promise a fun night out and deliver you home with a significantly lighter wallet and an order form filled with must-have items like tealight candles, spatulas, scrapbook stickers, wall art, sequined purses, and of course, the Tupperware that started it all.

But I’ll admit I’m intrigued by the spa invitation, in that it reminds me of those fun sleepovers from the pre-teen years. I may not be the type to salivate over mixing bowls and candelabra, but I covet relaxation time as much as the next gal. The idea of spending an hour at a friend’s house to receive a “head-to-toe spa experience” certainly appeals to the tired body and soul.

And, it looks like I’m not the only one confessing major spa appeal. According to the latest research from the International Spa Association (ISPA), one in four American adults have been to a spa, and therefore, know what they want from a quality spa experience. Not surprisingly, the number one reason people go to spas is to reduce and/or relieve stress. And lest you think women are the only ones seeking the rejuvenation offered by a spa experience, ISPA research indicates that 31 percent of spa-goers are men.

Obviously, the industry is booming, which means that if you’re in the market for a new line of work, there’s never been a better time to consider a spa career. Check it out: In August 2006, ISPA reports there were 267,400 total employees in the North American spa industry: 124,500 full-time, 101,300 part-time, and 41,600 contract employees. Based on those figures, since April 2004, the spa industry has seen an average annual growth of 11 percent for total employees, 6 percent for full-time employees, 19 percent for part-time employees, and 11 percent for contract employees.

In a world filled with people who, like me, desperately need to decompress, the demand for trained spa professionals is great. If you don’t meet that need, who will host my next spa party?

–Robyn Tellefsen

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 22nd, 2007 at 3:00 pm and is filed under Spa/Wellness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.