An Overview of the Growing Spa Industry

The spa industry in the western world is growing rapidly, whether you are looking at day spas or medical spas, or even destination spas, those spa and resort combinations. Facials, massage, waxing, skin exfoliation, removal of unwanted hair, body wraps and related treatments and such previously thought of as exotic therapies like aromatherapy are commonly found in day spas.  Medical spas, operating under the supervision of medical professional, usually physicians, offer all of the other treatments plus some treatments that are more invasive such as deep chemical peels and intense pulsed light therapy.

Spas have been around for centuries. Homer and the ancient Greeks in fact wrote of hot air baths they called laconimca, and the ancient Roman Emperor Agrippa designed and opened a thermae, or large spa in the year 25 BCE. Across the ancient world from Britain to Africa spas existed. In the year 737 CE the first Japanese spa was opened. Saunas became a part of the culture of Finland in 1,000 CE and are much the same today ads they were then. The Ottoman Empire made Turkish baths popular. In Europe the Emperor Charlemagne opened spas in the Middle Ages and the natural thermal waters of Bath, England and Baden-Baden Germany became famous as spa locations.

In the United States spas came of age in the mid 1800’s and were made famous by Edgar Allan Poe and later Franklin D. Roosevelt. Medical spas began in the US in the late 1990’s based on the European model. Today women seeking weight loss, body improvement or just a chance to look good and feel good utilize spas across the country.

The ISPA, or International Spa Association provides statistics on the spa industry with a new study released every other year. They have found that there are about 13,757 spas in the US as of 2006, with is a growth rate of 16%.  About one fourth of these are n the southwest, which includes California, the largest state by population. About a fourth are in the Northeast including New York and New England. About 50% are dispersed throughout the rest of the country. Those who utilize spas are mainly women, and the numbers are growing. The spa industry has been around since civilization began and is becoming more popular than ever and is a wonderful career field for women and men to consider.