spa industry

Before we leave our 2011 SpaFinder Spa Trend Forecast behind, let’s review  the “Hot/Getting Hotter” list.   We always have a lot of fun creating these as they become a short, handy way for people to get a sense of what’s in our trend report.  It also gives us a chance to throw in a few things that maybe […]

Last year was the first time I added a “counter-trend’ section to my annual trend report.  I felt it was important for people to understand that it is ok – even a good idea in some cases – to go against what is trending.  There is still value, however, in a person recognizing that this is […]

This was our 10th spa trend prediction for 2011 and while we are definitely seeing new and creative special events added to spa programs, I think we are also learning that if you get too narrow on a theme or topic, you might have a hard time attracting enough participants.  For example, while gluten free programs seem to be super […]

Our 9th spa trend prediction for 2011 was about adapting to people’s busy schedules via express spa treatments. While we mentioned quick services, no appointments necessary, several services at once, expanded hours, mobile, etc. there  have been some new developments that we didn’t forsee just 12 months ago.  New to the scene are “Drybars” (U.S.) where its all about getting […]

This, the 8th trend we identified in our list of the Top 10 SpaFinder trends for 2011, was all about the lengths people will go to (especially women) for beauty.  Rereading what we wrote a year ago, I was struck by our prediction that the use of the term “stem cell” would become huge.  How right we were.  In fact […]

I was thinking the other day that the spa industry has done one thing exceedingly well – better than many other sectors such as hotels and restaurants for example.  Spas have from the very beginning – partially because of their nature – incorporated indigenous treatments, cuisine, and programming into their offerings. This has served the industry well and is likely […]

Mark your calendar! Wellness Week is March 19-25!

This, our sixth spa trend prediction, was realized with the May launch of www.spaevidence.com at the Global Spa Summit in Bali.  The Science of Spa now has an entire website dedicated to exactly what was needed – a way for people to find the medical evidence that supports (or, in some cases doesn’t support) spa […]

The 5th spa trend we forecast was “Deals Gone Wild” and 2011 was clearly the year of the deal.  You’ll notice in the write up that our prediction was totally lined up with what Barron’s said recently “consumers who are bombarded daily with coupon offers from Groupon and its rivals could be coming down with “deal fatigue.”  So […]

Our  4th SpaFinder Spa Trend prediction for 2011 was one we called The Spa Brandwagon.  I am going to give ourselves an A for that call as it truly played out that way all year.  It used to be that we would see mostly one-of-a-kind spas.  Now we are seeing multiple spas of the same brand.  As our […]

Salt Rooms and Salt Caves was the third trend we predicted for 2011.  I’m giving us a B grade for this one.  We are seeing more salt rooms being added to resort spas (which seems to be the most economically viable way to go) and since our prediction, the number of salt therapy spas in the country has […]

The second trend we forecast for 2011 was called “All Eyes on Asia.”  Boy -were we ever right-on with this one!  If anything, I think we underestimated how large this trend will become. So in my humble (and my sister would add accurate) opinion, this one deserves an A+. :)     Looking through my bi-weekly Spa Opportunities newsletters that highlight spa openings all over […]

It’s that time of year….we are almost ready to unveil our 2012 SpaFinder Spa Trend Forecast!  But before we do that, I like to review each of our last year’s spa trend predictions (2011) and grade us on how well we did on each of the trends.  After all – it has been an entire year now […]

Susie’s suggestions for a reader who is looking for it all at a spa getaway.

I had a big “ah ha!” recently.  It came after reviewing my notes and reflecting on what I heard and learned at the World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress I attended in Chicago a few weeks ago. It was the revelation that because of medical tourism – people traveling across borders eitherinternationally or domestically for […]

“If you don’t see me for the rest of this trip, it’s because I’ll be at the spa.” I echoed that statement to my travel companions more than once during a recent trip to Stein Eriksen Lodge. Effortlessly classic with a vivacious charm, this Norwegian-style resort sits poised 8,200 feet in elevation at Deer Valley […]

The full title of this property is Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa and Cultural Hideaway. Normally I wouldn’t be crazy about having so many words in a name – however, it really does describe the property perfectly.

While it doesn’t define itself as a spa, Green Mountain’s 40 years as a treasured destination for women seeking healthy solutions to weight loss make it an essential pioneer for our list. Their caring program of mindful meditation, nutrition, and fitness has helped thousands of women break the cycle of yo-yo dieting in a healthy, […]

Recently voted among the “Top 10 Spas for Hiking, Weight Loss, and Favorite Spa Treatment” in our 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards, Green Valley calls itself “the original hiking spa.” We love it for that and so much more, including its stress reduction and weight-loss programs, award-winning sports programs, mind-melting treatments, beautiful Red Rocks location and […]

In operation since 1964, Carlsbad California’s La Costa is considered one of the first full-service destination spas in the U.S. and has always been on the forefront of taking American spa beyond the notion of beauty treatments. With the Chopra Center onsite focusing on all aspects of wellness, we know it will continue to offer its clients the best in mind/body/spirit growth and healing.