spa resort
PLANNING AND OPERATING A RESORT BASED SPA:
Introduction:
The purpose of this research is to provide information for owners, operators and developers of resorts who are thinking about adding a spa to their property or project. The definition of a resort, in the context of this research is a place where guests visit for recreation, health and pleasure. The location is very important and resorts can be found in places such as beaches, mountains, lakes, tropical settings or in areas that offer outdoor facilities for recreation and sports, such as golf, skiing, tennis and others.
In the USA the market for a resort has long been the leisure guest but, over the years, most resorts have had to attract the convention and conference market in order to survive. Today, many resorts have a higher percentage of group business compared to that of their leisure market.
Research background:
A health spa at a resort has become an important feature for a growing number of today’s travellers. This trend began to be seen in 1997, when the authors’ firm conducted a spa-goer market study.
1. It surveyed 2,332 guests who were using the spas at the 28 US resorts participating in the study. When asked ‘Would you choose one resort over another because it had a spa?’
2. 81 per cent of these spa users said ‘yes’.
3. Today, it is not uncommon for a resort spa to attract, on average, 15–25 per cent of the in-house resort guests.
4. Resorts that attract primarily a leisure market tend to have higher spa utilisation in some cases it can be greater than 50 per cent of their guests.
Outline and structure of the research dissertation:
This research will outline a step-by-step process which includes studying the market, developing the concept, defining the objectives, developing the budget, planning the facility and beginning operations for a resort based spa.
For those who are thinking about adding a spa to a resort, this research is intended to provide some
Introduction:
The purpose of this research is to provide information for owners, operators and developers of resorts who are thinking about adding a spa to their property or project. The definition of a resort, in the context of this research is a place where guests visit for recreation, health and pleasure. The location is very important and resorts can be found in places such as beaches, mountains, lakes, tropical settings or in areas that offer outdoor facilities for recreation and sports, such as golf, skiing, tennis and others.
In the USA the market for a resort has long been the leisure guest but, over the years, most resorts have had to attract the convention and conference market in order to survive. Today, many resorts have a higher percentage of group business compared to that of their leisure market.
Research background:
A health spa at a resort has become an important feature for a growing number of today’s travellers. This trend began to be seen in 1997, when the authors’ firm conducted a spa-goer market study.
1. It surveyed 2,332 guests who were using the spas at the 28 US resorts participating in the study. When asked ‘Would you choose one resort over another because it had a spa?’
2. 81 per cent of these spa users said ‘yes’.
3. Today, it is not uncommon for a resort spa to attract, on average, 15–25 per cent of the in-house resort guests.
4. Resorts that attract primarily a leisure market tend to have higher spa utilisation in some cases it can be greater than 50 per cent of their guests.
Outline and structure of the research dissertation:
This research will outline a step-by-step process which includes studying the market, developing the concept, defining the objectives, developing the budget, planning the facility and beginning operations for a resort based spa.
For those who are thinking about adding a spa to a resort, this research is intended to provide some
References: 1. Anitra Brown , (2003) [online] , Available: http://spas.about.com/od/resortspas/a/resortspa.htm. Last accessed [06 November 2013]. 2. Patricia A. Monteson and Judith L. Singer, (2002). “ A Resort Based Spa ” , Journal of Leisure Property, Vol. 21, pp.7 – 9