LEXINGTON, Ky. - The spa industry had larger revenues than amusement/theme parks and box office gross receipts last year, and that is only one of the key findings from the International SPA Association’s 2002 Spa Industry Study. 
As the voice of the spa industry, ISPA commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2000 to conduct the first study on the true size and magnitude of the industry.  “For two years the ISPA 2000 Spa Industry Study has been a benchmark for the industry; now, the 2002 study is the new standard,” said ISPA Executive Director Lynne Walker McNees.  “The 2002 study is an essential tool for all spa professionals.”
The complete results of the ISPA 2002 Spa Industry Study will be released at the 12th Annual ISPA Conference, Oct. 20 - 23 in Anaheim, Calif.  The key findings from the 2002 study are as follows:
Revenues
á2001 revenues for the United States spa industry are $10.7 billion; revenues in 1999 were $5 billion.
áAggregate industry revenues have grown by 114 percent between 1999 and 2001.

Locations
áThe size of the United States spa industry is estimated at 9,632 locations; in the 2000 report, that number was 5,689. 
áDay spas continue to be the largest category by far, accounting for 75 percent of all spa locations with 7,208.  Resort/hotel spas are the second largest group with 1,150 locations. 

Visits
áThere were nearly 156 million spa visits in the United States in 2001.
áDay spas had 68 percent (106.2 million) of these visits.  Resort/hotel and club spas
received the next largest numbers of spa visits.

Employment
áAn estimated 282,000 people are employed by the U.S. spa industry, up from 151,000 in 1999.
áEmployee wages and salaries totaled approximately $4.9 billion in 2001.

Product Trends
áThe Eastern/Asian influence continues to be very strong in the industry, influencing products, services and spa design.
áThere is a strong trend toward medical-type products and services. 
áFood- and plant-based treatments have also gained widespread popularity.

Consumer Trends
áMany people are no longer seeing spas as “pampering,” but as a necessity in order to stay healthy. 
áConsumers want simplicity in their spa experiences; they are moving “back to the basics” and are returning to more traditional spa products. 
áConsumers’ limited free time means they have less time available to spend at a spa, and the industry is designing its offerings around this trend.

Investor Trends
áThe 2000 study indicated that a trend toward branding was right around the corner, and this trend has arrived in three key ways:  dominant spas have been creating branded locations across the United States, suppliers are attempting to enter the branded spa business and spas are pushing branded labels in their retail facilities. 
áSpas are now seen as trendy to own by wealthy individuals, just as restaurants were in the ‘80s and bars/clubs in the ‘90s.
áSpas continue to be a main component in the development of resorts and shopping malls.

There are several items in the ISPA 2002 Spa Industry Study that were not researched in 2000 including statistics on men as spa-goers, the industry after 9/11 and compensation in the spa industry.  Research for the 2002 Study was collected through 760 telephone surveys of spa owners and managers, 10 executive interviews and extensive Internet and directory searches.
Copies of the study will be available for purchase beginning Oct. 20, 2002.  The cost is $250 for ISPA members and $500 for nonmembers.  Studies may be purchased online at www.experienceispa.com, by calling ISPA at 1.888.651.4772 and 1.859.226.4326 or by e-mail at [email protected].
For nearly 12 years, ISPA has been recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry.  ISPA’s membership is comprised of nearly 2,000 health and wellness facilities and providers from 55 countries.  Since 1991, ISPA has been committed to forming and maintaining alliances that will educate, set standards, provide resources, influence policy and build coalitions for the industry. ISPA’s vision is to revitalize humanity, and its mission is to educate the public about the value of the spa experience and engage its participation. 
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