Changes in the Spa Industry

(Dive Travel Business News - November 1, 2010) -- Spas, they are a changin'.  According to a recent article in the New York Times, demand has waned the over-sized opulent spa service at most large hotels and destination resorts. The troubled economy and low hotel occupancy rates have caused hotel spas to scale back plans, adjust their service offerings and create new promotions to keep their spas viable.

To compensate for the downturn in business, many hotel spas have scaled back in size with new spas being built  in the smaller 5000 - 7500 sq. ft.range, rather than the 35,000 sq. ft. luxury giants of years past.  Hotels have started special promotions to entice local clients to replace the travelers they lost.  Many hotels have started offering spa packages, add-ons and spa credits for hotel guests (giving a voucher for the spa when a room is booked, for example).

A survey from the International Spa Association reports that the majority of its members are offering more 25- and 30-minute spa options than the traditional 60- or 90-minute services. Shorter treatments are apparently essential to the spa's survival. When spas were busy, a 30-minute treatment was not an efficient use of spa time, but in today's market it's a way to garner customers when spas aren't busy.  Some hotels are offering 15-minute facials and express massages: The goal is to keep customers coming in with mini-treatments for under $65.

What does this mean for the dive traveler? Well, those divers traveling with non-divers will have more reasons to get their traveling companions on a trip with affordable spa options: While divers are out on the dive boat, their vacationing companions can check out affordable spa options.  

There is a lot of ground to be gained since the heyday of the pre-recession mega-spas. But those spas who have weathered the recession thus far may be poised for an upswing. Members of the International Spa Association have reported a 58 percent increase in spa visits in the first quarter of 2010, over the same period in 2009.

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