Pulse January / February 2016 | Page 30

PAST AND PRESENT A Look Back at Forecasts and Trends T BY MAE MAÑACAPJOHNSON his “Past, Present and Future” issue of Pulse magazine makes it fitting to dig through the archives and look back at some of the game-changing trends and bold forecasts highlighted on its pages. Which ones have come true and which ones have fizzled out? More importantly, which trends are continuing to shape the spa industry at present? The Integration of the Spa and Mainstream Medical Health ISSUE: OCTOBER 2010 “...the industry continues to see the realization of the fusion of spa and mainstream health...” An article entitled “Seeing the Future: The Spa Industry in Mainstream Health Care” breaks down game-changing trends that could affect mainstream health, including the rise of hybrid spas and evidence science. Today, we’re seeing this trend come of life with several hospitals integrating spas into their facilities and medical physicians referring patients to spas for fitness programs and relaxation treatments. Six years since the trend was forecasted, the industry continues to see the realization of the fusion of spa and mainstream health, including the groundbreaking collaboration of Mandarin Oriental and Mayo Clinic. Launching early this month, the program will provide guests access to Mayo Clinic’s medical expertise right within the spa of Mandarin Oriental Bodrum in Turkey. Mayo Clinic’s medical staff will be on-site to conduct a thorough assessment as well as provide program recommendations that are tailored for the guest’s wellness needs. Be on the lookout for a full feature about this game-changing partnership in a future issue of Pulse magazine. The Growing Number of Male Spa-Goers ISSUE: MAY 2011 The article “The New Male Consumer” explored the growing spa demographic. The feature highlighted data from ISPA’s 2010 U.S. Spa Industry Study, which indicated that about 45 percent of spas introduced packages for the male spa-goers. Fast- forward to today, men still remain a highly growing market for the spa industry. In fact, according to the ISPA Foundation Consumer Snapshot Initiative: Volume IV Male Consumer Insights, men now represent almost half (47 percent) of the spa-going population in the U.S. 28 PULSE ■ January/February 2016