2019 US Spa Industry Study ExecSummary2019 | Page 2

Average spend per visit has also been rising, with the average revenue per visit in 2018 estimated at
$96.5, a 3% increase on 2017 ($93.7).
The number of jobs in the spa industry has continued on an upward path. Total employment is estimated
to have risen to 377,900 as at May 2019, a rise of 5,800 (+1.6%) compared to the same period in 2018
(372,100).
The number of full-time employees is estimated to have risen from 170,900 in 2018 to 172,000 in 2019,
a net increase of 1,100 (+0.6%). The part-time employee count is estimated to have risen at a faster pace
(+2.6%), with new hires adding 4,600 part-time jobs to the spa workforce.
The number of independent contractor positions is estimated to have risen slightly, from 27,300 in May
2018 to 27,400 by May 2019. The estimated stability in the number of independent contractor positions
can be contrasted with the historical trend, from 2007 onwards, of a steadily reducing number of such
workers. As with any survey, there is a degree of uncertainty around the estimates and further data points
will be required to identify whether the 2019 result signals a reversal of the historic trend that will be
sustained into the future.
PROFITABILITY
The industry’s solid growth performance has underpinned improving profitability. In the resort/hotel
sector, six in 10 spas (60%) said their spa profit percentage was 20% or more, up from 47% in 2017.
The profitability performance of spas in other sectors also showed an improvement in 2018, with 75%
reporting a 2018 profit percentage before fixed charges of 10% or more, up from 70% in 2017.
RECENT TRENDS: DEMAND REMAINS POSITIVE
When asked about their more recent experience in the six months prior to the survey (September 2018 to
March 2019), over 70% of spas said spending per visit and revenues had increased compared to the same
period in the previous year.
The trend in spa visits was less pronounced, with 51% reporting an increasing trend. However, only 8%
said that spa visits had reduced with the remaining 41% saying that spa visits were unchanged in the six
month period to March 2019.
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