2019 US Spa Industry Study 2019 US Spa Industry Study | Page 5

Definitions
For the purpose of the ISPA study, a spa is defined as a place of business that enhances the
overall well-being of a person through a variety of professional spa services that encourage the
renewal of mind, body and spirit. To be qualified as a spa, a business must offer at least two of
the following three services: massage (full body); skin care treatments (i.e. facials); or body
treatments (i.e., hydrotherapy or body wraps/scrubs).
The spa industry categories used in this study are as follows:
• Club spa: Primary purpose is fitness. Offers a variety of spa services on a day-use basis.
• Day spa: Offers spa services to clients on a day-use basis.
• Destination spa: Historically a seven-day stay, encompassing spa services as part of a
program whose primary purpose is guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits.
• Medical spa: Operates under the full-time on-site supervision of a licensed health care
professional. Primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an
environment that integrates spa services.
• Mineral springs spa: Offers on-site source of natural mineral, thermal or sea water used in
professionally administered hydrotherapy services.
• Resort/Hotel spa: A spa located within a resort or hotel.
Throughout the report, data is analyzed by type of spa. Day and resort/hotel spas are generally
listed with the remaining spas combined into the ‘other’ spa category, due to their sample sizes
in the survey undertaken for this study.
Introduction
Industry Size:
Performing Strongly
Spa Services
and Facilities
Spa Industry Profile
Technical Appendix
Page 4