SPA HAPPENINGS
Obesity may now be considered a disease.
On July 15th, the Medicare program abandoned its "obesity is not a disease" policy. Since private insurance companies often follow the federal government's lead on coverage, this could be very helpful to those who struggle with weight issues. It can also be a positive for the spa industry.
Although many spas may not be interested in getting into the quagmire of insurance reimbursement, this move gives credibility to
our industry. There are no better long-term solutions for weight issues than the methods that are employed and taught at spas.
Georgette Klinger salons and spas have been purchased
by Advanced Aesthetics Institute (AAI). AAI, headquartered in Palm Beach, Florida, is a network of total body
aesthetic centers.
It appears that one of our industry's early pioneers and one of the newest medical spa concepts are
coming together. If this works, it will certainly update the Georgette Klinger image.
Stonewater Spas have merged with Premier Salons.
I'm kind of sad to see the Stonewater name and concept be folded into salons. My husband Peter, CEO of SpaFinder, thought the Stonewater concept had a good chance.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide purchased Bliss
from LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton) and is planning to add Bliss Spas to their W hotels.
Seems like a good culture match to me!
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is introducing a new branded spa concept, Chi.
This Asian company plans to open ten spas in the next three years. Large luxury treatments suites are to become the signature.
I love the idea of continued effort to outdo luxury.
The Thermae Bath Spa Project is moving closer to opening.
Looks like late 2004 or early 2005 will be the opening date of the
new facilities at Bath, England. Famous for centuries, five important heritage buildings will be revitalized and a center for well
being will be added with complementary spa treatments. The Roman Baths and Museum are nearby.
Even though this project has had many hurdles and delays, I am hopeful that the entire spa world will catch the excitement
and importance of this event.
RELATED NEWS
An emerging trend: retail spas and mobile spas
Reading through industry magazines and spa-related media mentions and monitoring consumers calls and emails, I see that the following spa categories are becoming standardized:
Resort/hotel spas
Day spas
Destination spas (people are beginning to understand this category, but there's still progress to be made)
Medical spas
I'm also noticing two additional categories that I think might be worth watching:
Retail spas: Used to refer to day spas whose genesis was its product line. The product line is front and center, and the spa experience is a smaller part of the operation. Some examples: Jurlique, Aveda, Repêchage, and Lather.
Mobile spas: Having a massage therapist or personal trainer do a house call is a practice that's decades old, but the mobile spa concept is building on this base with a much greater variety of spa and aesthetic services. Personal training, life coaching, massage, skin care, and mani/pedi services can now all be home delivered. Some are even focused on delivering these services to hotels. And then there is the mobile spa party, where specialists bring in all the necessities and create events in your home or business for small or large groups. Here are a few to check out: SPArty, SPArties, Cortiva.
My thoughts on the implications of these new, extended services? They pose a greater challenge (and opportunity) for traditional spas to deliver a superior spa experience.
CONSUMERS ARE TELLING US . . .
Every month, we hear from the public through SpaFinder customer service and Spafinder.com. Here's what we're hearing lately:
"I am looking for a spa in North America that serves the South Beach Diet."
"Is there a spa that specializes in Atkins?"
"Can you help me find a spa to help me get started with a low-carb diet?"
The low-carbohydrate craze is infiltrating our industry, as I'm sure you have already discovered. Last week, a magazine executive told me that there are four new magazines coming out with the words "low-carb" in their titles. Yikes! Note, however, that Gallup's 2004 Consumption poll suggests, "The surrounding hype of the low-carbohydrate diets such as Atkins and the South Beach Diet may fade sooner than many expect." Why? Because even though the number of Americans who are trying to avoid carbohydrate-rich foods has increased (up from 20% two years ago to 27% this year) the percentage of Americans saying that they feel a low-fat diet is healthier than a low-carb diet has remained steady at about two-thirds. Also, younger adults aren't getting into the craze.
My guess is that, in time, low-carb diets will become yet one more option, alongside low-sugar, low-fat, low-calorie, or low-sodium diets. By the way, SpaFinder has no plans to invest in a low-carb publication!
TERMS TO WATCH
Here are some terms I've come across lately which led me to do some Googling.
Aromatic Kinesiology
Aesthetic Medicine
Babymooners
Hay Baths
Pressotherapy
Till the next Insider...
Susie
