ISPA Releases U.S. Spa Industry 'Big 5' Statistics

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Aug 23, 2010, 05:30 ET

LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The International SPA Association (ISPA) releases key parts of its 2010 U.S. Spa Industry Study. ISPA has been delivering valuable spa industry research for more than a decade and this year's study was conducted in partnership with one of the world's leading research organizations, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Each year ISPA closely monitors the "Big 5" key statistics including revenue, spa visits, locations, total employees and square footage.

"These numbers illustrate that the great recession has left virtually no industry untouched," said Colin McIlheney, Global Research Director at PwC. "After many years of very rapid growth, all five of the key measurement statistics for the spa industry show a decline after 2008. However, many in the industry who took part in the ISPA survey report that they have been proactive in taking measures to combat the impact of the recession. Respondents are indeed cautiously optimistic about the future while also recognizing there are still challenges to face."


	2008 (Year End)	2009 (Year End)	Percent Change
Revenue	$12.8 billion	$12.3 billion	-4.3%
Spa Visits	160 million	143 million	-10.2%
Locations	21,300	20,600	-3.2%
	2009 (March)	2010 (May)	Percent Change
Total Employees	340,600	332,000	-2.5%
Full-time	158,200	138,100	-12.7%
Part-time	112,300	137,200	22.2%
Contract	70,100	56,800	-19.0%
Square Footage	81 million square feet	76 million square feet	-5.2%

"The spa industry has weathered the storm and we trust spas will continue to rely on ISPA as their anchor," said ISPA President Lynne McNees. "The association is effectively educating consumers that in highly stressful times, like a recession, managing stress is critical to living a healthy spa lifestyle."

Responses indicate that flexibility helped spas stave off some of the recession's impact. Reshaping the workforce was cited as one of the most highly-utilized methods for battling the recession. Other methods for managing the recession include re-engineering spa menus to include shorter and less expensive treatment options, offering incentives and forming partnerships with local businesses.

*The full 2010 U.S. Spa Industry Study will be released later this year.

About PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 163,000 people in 151 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

About International SPA Association

For 20 years, ISPA has been recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the global spa industry by providing invaluable educational and networking opportunities to foster professionalism and growth. More details on ISPA are available on www.experienceispa.com.