Incentive - July 2008 - (Page 58)

TRAVEL News A Strong Spa Industry Global spa economy pegged at $250 billion By Alex Palmer new arrivals Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts recently opened two new properties in Europe, both in restored historic buildings: a Renaissance palazzo in Florence, and a 19th-century Ottoman palace in Istanbul. Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is located on the edge of Florence’s historic center and besides its own architectural artistry, offers guests the chance to view restored 15th- to 19th-century frescoes, bas-reliefs and silk wallpapers in their original contexts. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Bosphorus includes Turkish touches and traditional Ottoman artwork, while offering plenty of fully-modern amenities including a heated pool, whirlpool and bar pavilions, as well as three nearby hammams (Turkish baths). • Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Bosphorus Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has opened the nation’s first a l o f t-branded hotel in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Much like Starwood’s W Hotel brand, aloft aims for a high-end urban sensibility with high-tech entertainment offerings like wireless Internet access and flat-panel HDTV. Guests who can tear themselves away from their room’s amenities can socialize in the hotel’s bar, “w xyz,” or visit “re:charge,” aloft’s fitness center. T he spa business is booming, according to the first-ever Global Spa Economy Report. Released at The Global Spa Summit at the end of May in New York, the report estimates the global spa industry to be worth over $250 billion. According to the report, this amount includes $60.3 billion in core spa industry revenues, such as spa facilities, capital investments, education, consulting, media, associations and events, and $194 billion in spa-related hospitality, tourism and real estate. “The spa industry is growing at a breakneck pace, but its diversity and scope have always made it difficult to quantify its size and financial strength, as well as to harness the full power of its collaborative voice,” SpaFinder CEO Pete Ellis, who is chairman of the board for the Global Spa Summit, said in a statement. The report drew on 1,000 responses to a survey from industry sources, interviews with 50 high-level industry executives, and data from more than 210 countries. Breaking down spa revenues by nation, it placed the United States at the top, with $12 billion, followed by Japan, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and China. The size and significance of the spa industry comes as little surprise to incentive planners. “Most of our clients do want to have a spa option included in the program,” says Ellen Saxe, vice president of Los Angeles–based Carlisle Incentives, which plans corporate incentive travel programs. Saxe says that she has seen interest in spas grow as options have expanded in properties’ offerings. She points out that even on an incentive trip, individuals make their own contributions to that $250 billion figure, as they are often willing to spend their own money for a higher-tier treatment. “Individuals will pay more for extra-special treatment,” says Saxe. on the horizon The Radisson St. M a r t i n R e s o r t , Marina & Spa is scheduled to reopen in August 2008 after $80 million in renovations. The resort, which includes 189 rooms and 63 suites, is located on the northwest coast of the French side of St. Martin. The interior will combine a colorful Caribbean aesthetic with classic French West Indies design elements. Outside, guests can enjoy the 93-meter infinity pool with concierge services. • U nik Island Resort & Spa announced that it will be opening its flagship hotel in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, on November 1 of this year. The 84 suites will include flat-screen televisions, CD/DVD players, iPod docking stations and 400count bed linens. Unik Island’s in-room offerings will be matched by its six restaurants and bars, including the poolside Aqua Pool Bar. The Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa 58 | Incentive | July 2008 | incentivemag.com http://incentivemag.com

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Incentive - July 2008 Contents Editor’s Note: Accentuate the Positive In The News Cover Story: Three Profiles in Good Corporate Citizenship Case Study Incentive Interview Senior Secrets To Thine Own Self be True Incentive Primer Motivation@Work Travel News: Where To Go and What To Do Take the Spa Home Not the Only Game in Town Here and Now Writing and Desktop Gifts Watches and Clocks Gift Cards: Health and Wellness Incentives Good Health Is Not Its Own Incentive Advertiser Index Last Word

Incentive - July 2008

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