Pulse Legacy Archive January / February 2011 | Page 42

Spa Experts Identify
Emerging Industry Trends
BY SUSIE ELLIS

Are the spa trends unfolding in the U.S. similar to those in Asia? In
Europe? Are there trends shared worldwide? Thanks to a very global panel of spa
experts’ presentations (and the ensuing lively discussion) at the 2010 ISPA Conference & Expo, some light
has been shed on these questions. While there were so many industry developments discussed, I have
attempted to distill some highlights below from the “Global Spa Industry Trends” panel, comprised of
experts from Hong Kong, London, Bangkok and New York.

ANDREW GIBSON is the Group Director of
Spa for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group,
which now operates, or has under development, 42 hotels in 27 countries (18
hotels in Asia, 12 in The Americas and 12
in Europe, Middle East and North
Africa). While Gibson lives in Hong
Kong, his spa industry career spans many
decades and it has taken him around the
world several times over. He is very
thoughtful, strategic and future-focused,
and one of my favorite people to “talk
trends” with. Gibson’s presentation
emphasized the following trends: New,
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January/February 2011

hybrid spa models; the integration of
hospitals and hospitality; the rise of evidence-based support for spa offerings
(whether in product labeling or treatment
results); the growth of spa brands; the
influence of aging populations; medical
tourism; the spa-beauty intersection
becoming more of a factor; and the
importance of keeping service “king.”
LIZ TERRY is the Managing Director of
London-based Leisure Media which publishes an impressive range of magazines
and online services for professionals

working in the leisure industries while
working in partnership with 20-plus different trade organizations. Most of us
know Terry as the publisher of Spa
Business magazine, a publication many in
the industry can’t live without, and Spa
Opportunities, a bi-monthly newsletter
full of great information about new spas
and other industry tidbits. Terry is my goto resource when I need to find out
what’s emerging across the worldwide
spa landscape, and at the ISPA’s Global
Spa Industry Trends, she shared trends
she see unfolding in Europe. These