Mind-body-spirit activities figure prominently in SpaFinder’s “Top 10
Spa Trends to Watch in 2009” report. SpaFinder sees the following industry trends:

Energy Medicine. Spas are increasing services such as reiki, qigong, healing touch and acupuncture, among others.

Casinos and Spas. Spas have successfully entrenched themselves within casinos and now feature high-end as well as introductory facilities that serve inexperienced spa-goers.

Medical and Spa Tourism. Medical travel—the concept of traveling to medical spas in other countries or regions for aesthetic or traditional procedures—is expanding.

Green Spas. A new concept, the “eco-spa” trend, is emerging that more than ever emphasizes sustainability, while still focusing on customer comfort.

Spas on Cruise Ships, Trains and Planes. Spas are reducing stress for modern travelers in locations ranging from airport lounges to wellness cruise ships.

Brain Health and “Mind” Gyms. Spa menus are featuring programs like “Neurobics” and “BrainBodyFitness,” while offering discussions of books such as My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journal (Viking 2008).

Stress. As consumers seek stress relief, more spas are providing effective stress therapies, such as breath work, meditation, exercise, massage and mindfulness-based stress reduction, among others. Adding a spiritual component to these programs is likely to become more common.

Bargain Hunting. With a challenging economy, the spa business has been resilient, but spa consumers are seeking value pricing and special offers.

Gen X and Gen Y Spa Use. Gen X (born 1965–1980) and Gen Y (born 1981–1995) members are tech-savvy and coming to spas in groups. To cater to these generations, spas are likely to reorient design and communication strategies by adding features like online bookings and mobile alerts for last-minute spa deals.

Brands. Branding remains an important market differentiator.

For more information about these trends and the spa industry, go to www.spafinder.com.