A Minute With SpaBeautySchools

Diving back into our spa industry trendspotting …

6. The spa is where I socialize.
Eight percent of U.S. spa-goers say they use their time at the spa to socialize. Since people enjoy going to the spa in groups, many spas offer entertainment and networking services in addition to more traditional spa services. Wouldn’t you love to go to a spa bachelorette party? How about a spa reunion of old friends? I can certainly see the appeal of sharing the spa love with others.

7. My spa experience is unique.
Instead of picking a particular spa package, why not create your own? Modern spa-goers have the opportunity to choose the background music, lighting, room temperature, massage oils, and more to customize their spa experience. After all, if you groove to Enya rather than Kenny G, you’ll do well to make your requests known. In turn, as an aspiring spa professional, diversifying your spa skills can open up better career opportunities.

8. My spa experience is gender-specific.
Men and women have different physical and emotional needs, so shouldn’t our spa treatments be different as well? As a woman, I’m looking primarily for relaxation, rejuvenation, and stress relief, while my husband is more apt to seek out the weight room or a deep tissue massage. Different strokes for different folks — literally. Check back with SpaBeautySchools.com soon for a feature on spa specialties just for the guys (or check out this article on sports physical therapy).

9. I take vacations at the spa.
Sixty-three percent of U.S. spa-goers have visited a spa in their travels. There may be moments when you’re in the mood to sightsee, but there are plenty of periods of life when you just need a spa retreat. I recently spent a weekend vacation at a spa resort in Southern California, and found the experience utterly heavenly — and extremely healthy!

10. The spa is part of my life journey.
The spa allows us to experience new textures, aromas, and sounds, which can help us make connections with other people, places, and traditions. I recognize that other cultures use different products to cleanse, purify, and beautify — and what better way to welcome those new experiences than in the accommodating spa setting?

–Robyn Tellefsen

The International Spa Association (ISPA), recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry, recently identified 10 spa industry trends. Do these research-driven trends reflect your reality? Let’s check out the first five …

1. Spa visits are part of my lifestyle.
In 2005, more than two million spa-goers took part in lifestyle classes, such as healthy cooking, achieving balance and managing stress, and customizing at-home spa experiences. It’s obvious that our society is increasingly conscious of health and wellness issues (and career growth in the wellness industry is a direct result!). We may be a fast-food nation, but even the major burger chains are jumping on the wellness bandwagon by offering such healthy alternatives as salads, yogurts, and wraps.

2. Spa visits are a necessity.
The spa experience isn’t just a luxury or dream vacation package anymore. People are seeing a real need for spa visits to relieve and reduce stress, soothe sore joints and muscles, feel better about themselves, and improve their mental and emotional well-being. Certainly, if you have the means, why not use them to bring your body and soul into alignment by visiting alternative healing professionals?

3. The spa experience yields results.
More than one in 10 spa-goers treat spa visits as part of their overall healthy lifestyle, not just for pampering purposes. The American Massage Therapy Association also found that 30 percent of Americans who receive massage therapy do so for medical reasons, which include injury recovery, pain reduction, headache control, and overall wellness. This certainly isn’t the first time I’ve heard of holistic health practitioners producing results that traditional medicine could not achieve.

4. The spa industry incorporates medical components.
Medical spas are one of the fastest growing segments of the spa industry — from 2003 to 2005, the medical spa industry reported a 69 percent average annual growth. Popular medical treatments include chemical peels, microdermabrasion, body wraps, naturotherapy, and acupuncture. The spa experience has helped millions of people lose weight and feel better about themselves, all without the use of potentially harmful drugs.

5. The spa is my home.
Did you know that spa are now adding residential components, and real estate developers are building spas in gated communities and condominiums? Florida, New York, and Nevada are just a few of the states offering these spa communities. I could certainly live with a 24/7 spa experience. How ’bout you?

–Robyn Tellefsen