The New York Times Weighs in on Spa Trends

Sunday’s New York Times (December 12) ran a short, somewhat humorous piece, entitled “Spa Trends: Goodbye Pampering, Hello Rehab.” Jennifer Colin poked some fun at Spa Finder’s top spa trends for 2007, in which we predicted a new emphasis on healthy sleep at spas, detox programs, retreats, medical tourism, spa lifestyle communities with kids, bottom-line considerations, social spa-ing, and words such as “green,” “beauty inside out and outside in,” and “spa fusion.” Apparently, it all seemed a bit too strenuous for her.

I will give her credit for her point, however. For people who are not very familiar with the spa world, it might be a bit overwhelming to think that all these things are now available at spas. After all, we know that the number-one reason people go to spas is to relax and de-stress. That list of trends might not sound very relaxing!

So let me correct the perception. Spas are still about relaxing and de-stressing – even pampering and taking baths – but they are also about a whole lot more. The trends we see are making it that much more worthwhile to go to a spa.