SPA: IT’S A LIFESTYLE, NOT A LUXURY

from www.experienceispa.com

4/21/2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Enough is enough! For far too long, we've allowed the message of spa to be about luxury and pampering; caviar facials and champagne baths; an experience only to be had by the rich and famous. All the while consumers have been telling us the No. 1 reason they spa is to relax and relieve/reduce stress. Consumers are looking for wellness, for ways to live a balanced life - and spas are about living your best life!

"Spas are not about luxury - they're about re-charging your battery, taking time to re-new, and learning how to take care of yourself," said ISPA President Lynne McNees. "Spas are about health, reducing stress and aging gracefully. The key is to take the information you learn at the spa, and incorporate it into your daily routine at home."

From the 2008 ISPA Global Consumer Study:

• The No.1 reason people around the world spa is to relax and relieve/reduce stress.
• In 11 of the 15 countries surveyed, overall wellness and health was one of the top three reasons consumers spa.
• In eight of the 15 countries surveyed, healthcare practitioner recommendation was one of the top three motivators for visiting a spa.

More than just tried-and-true treatments like massage and facial, the spa is the place to go to educate yourself on how to live a healthy well-balanced life: teens can learn how to care for their skin, moms can learn to cook healthy meals and guys can find out how to deal with all that pent up stress.

"With so many spas going above and beyond, there's no reason not to spa," said McNees. "Our ISPA member spas are focusing on wellness, by offering information on the healthy benefits of spa, including healthy living articles in monthly newsletters, adding fitness classes, educational workshops, and developing programs focused on regular maintenance, and not pricy pampering."

About the International SPA Association
ISPA is recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry. Founded in 1991, ISPA advances the spa industry by providing invaluable educational and networking opportunities, promoting the value of the spa experience and speaking as the authoritative voice to foster professionalism and growth. More details on ISPA are available on http://www.experienceispa.com/.