Wellness professionals should continue to keep an eye on the spa industry for business opportunities. More spas will offer specialty retreats that feature expert instructors and focus on specific aspects of care, such as wellness, spirituality, boot camp or arthritis, according to Spa Finder Inc.’s annual spa trend watch for 2007. Other important trends will include more spas providing fusion fitness programs and the continuing growth of spa lifestyle communities, currently numbering more than 200.

The U.S. spa industry is experiencing double-digit growth,
according to industry figures from the International Spa Associa-tion. The number of spas in the United States was 13,757 as of August 2006, representing an annual growth rate of 16% since April 2004. Industry revenues rose from $7 billion in 2003 to
$9.7 billion in 2005, with an average annual growth rate of 18%.