Articles by Spafinder

Just finished our New York media event and a well-attended webinar announcing the new Top 10 SpaFinder Wellness Trends Forecast for 2013.

We love healthy eating, and we know you do, too. Here are the most popular food stories of 2012!

Peter Rummell, former head of Disney Imagineering, suggested that we, as an industry, get rid of the word “spa.” He said “it conjures up affluent, white, women and is hurting our reputation.” The author thinks this is a terrible idea.

Here is the future. Medical = drugs/surgery = expensive. Wellness = prevention = less expensive. While a visit to spa and wellness destinations may not magically turn someone from unhealthy to healthy, they can help people change directions.

One sign that this emphasis on senses is a trend (not that I think this is a good sign) is how often spas and brands are using the term “sense” in their name.

Perfect for gifts or a gift to yourself, here are our favorite products from 2012!

The holidays are a time for giving and we here at SpaFinder® Wellness wanted to do our part to give to a cause we believe in: melanoma research.

Spas have traditionally been all about hot: saunas, steam rooms, Jacuzzis, hot rock massages, etc. “Hot” is the spa world’s age-old weapon to help people relax, sweat, detoxify and draw blood to the surface. But now spas are bravely stepping out into the cold. We’ll see more icy therapies and cold design experiences in 2012, […]

The human foot is a delicate, complex structure of 33 joints and 26 bones, wrapped in a web of 126 muscles, ligaments and nerves. The most utilized part of our bodies, the average person spends four hours (pounding out 8,000 to 10,000 steps) on their feet every day. We exert a force equivalent to several […]

For many years, most people probably thought that one hotel or day spa sure seems a whole lot like any other: the same beige, Zen look, the same menu of treatments and homogenized experiences. But now spas are really piling on the “wow” factors, serving up both big and small wows (and true surprises) in […]

Spas have traditionally been retreats for grownups to relax and revitalize…far away from children. But there is a rapidly growing traveler demand to be able to bring teens, tweens and even tots along for the spa ride. Now that spas are broadly associated with wellness (rather than fussy “grown-up” pampering), far more families, and many […]

With the launch of the new website SpaEvidence.com this year — the world’s first portal to the aggregated medical studies that exists for 21 common spa/ wellness approaches — that trend was literally embodied. Launched by the Global Spa Summit in mid-2011 (an advocacy group for the worldwide spa/ wellness industries), and shaped by doctors […]

So many hotels and resorts now boast award-winning celebrity chefs and award-winning spas, and the trend is about “tasting” and appreciating both. One example: The Hotel Metropole of Monte Carlo’s (Monaco) restaurant Joël Robuchon (featuring a chef with more Michelin stars than any other in the world) can be combined with the hotel’s incredible ESPA […]

Gaming is not just about zapping virtual enemies or for Farmville residents anymore. With everything-themed games now, millions of people worldwide have played dozens of spa-focused games, including Sallie Spa, Sara’s Super Spa or Spa Mania. And French beauty powerhouse Clarins just took the spa-themed game to a new level with its “Spa Life” on […]

The headlines in the spa industry these last few years have been all about wellness. But now beauty and grooming is seriously booming…being driven by a new trend we call “glambition.” The intensity, frequency (and often sheer whimsicality) with which people are getting “glammed up,” groomed, bedizened and beautified is exploding worldwide. And, given economic […]

First, the serious. While “coaching” seems to be a term that can get wantonly slapped onto any professional or personal goal, the concept is especially applicable and packed with potential for the spa sector. Integrative medicine leader Dr. Ken Pelletier recently noted that the spa industry is actually in a better position (than the medical […]

Spas have traditionally spoken to our sense of touch (via massage, etc.), and to a lesser degree, our sense of smell (aromatherapy). Now, more spas will impact our eyes, ears and bodies with an explosion of “good vibrations.” We already know how deeply these forces impact us: how sounds of nature can help relax us; […]

INSIDE THE 2012 REPORT As we look into our crystal ball for 2012, two distinct, overarching themes emerge. One is an industry innovating diverse, new sensory experiences and treatments. The second is how spas are re-imagining and extending their connection to customers, moving beyond the sporadic visit, to new programs and concepts aimed at forging […]

Surprise, Shock, Confusion, Anger, Sadness, Relief, Perspective, Pride, Advocacy This sums up the range of my emotions and thoughts from the moment I read the first report that spas in the Maldives were being forced to close because of Islamic extremists’ accusations that they are fronts for prostitution – to today when I see that […]