More Top Spa Trends for 2008

The International SPA Association (ISPA), with a network of 3,000 members in 75 countries, has come up with its list of top spa trends for 2008. What I like about ISPA's Spa Industry Trend Watch is that they actually back it up with hard data!

1) Luxury Brands Opening Luxury Spas. Too much of a good thing is…a good thing! Brands that are known for their chic designs are opening over-the-top spas around the world, including the first Armani-branded spa in Tokyo, Versace Group’s spa at its Australian resort, spas at Bulgari’s hotels in Milan and Bali, and Prada Beauty’s line exclusively at Ritz-Carlton properties.

2) The Next Generation of Spa-goer. The teens are coming! Nearly 4 million of them have been to a spa where they learn how to deal with stress, eat nutritiously and care for their skin. Thirty-four percent of spas offer teen packages, 16% of spas have teen programs, and 17% offer packages for children.

3) Plenty of Cooks in the Kitchen. Nineteen percent of U.S. spas offer cooking experiences, from week-long schools with celebrity chefs to private lessons with tips on taking the healthy cooking experience home.

4) Spa Lifestyles Equal Healthy Lifestyles. Spas are teaching the basics that lead to a healthy lifestyle: eating nutritious food, exercising and relieving stress. Fifty-one percent of U.S. spas offer educational programs and nutritional consultations, 40% offer healthy eating classes, 26% have educational offerings on obesity or weight gain issues and 17 percent offer exercise programs for children and teens.

5) Corporate Wellness. Google was selected as Fortune’s No. 1 company to work for in 2007. Google is also a member of ISPA and offers on-site massages to its employees. According to the American Journal of Health Promotions, for every $1 spent on wellness programs, employers can expect a return of up to $10 through lower medical claims, reduced absenteeism, improved productivity and other factors.

6) High Touch and High Tech. Some people still need to be plugged in to take time out. Some spas are incorporating technology such as Wi-Fi in relaxation rooms. They're also coming up with treatments that combine biofeedback technology, guidance from wellness professionals and light therapy to help those suffering from depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder and insomnia.

7) Customized Relaxation. Spas are creating unique experiences for their guests, with 24% indicating that clients can book blocks of time instead of specific services. This time block allows them to create a treatment that is all their own from the music to the products to the room temperature.

8) Greening Grows. A full 76% of U.S. spas say they're applying environmentally sustainable practices, such as using green building tactics, planting organic gardens, using products made from locally-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and plants, or selling mineral makeup.