Preview of the 2014 U.S. Spa Industry Study

Did you know the inaugural International SPA Association (ISPA) Industry Study was launched in 1999 with research experts from PricewaterhouseCoopers? The latest installment of the industry study marks the fifteenth anniversary of this highly insightful study and is packed full of positive statistics for the sector as a whole.

Reflecting on the 2013 year, increases were noticeably visible in the areas of revenue, number of spa visits, number of spa locations and revenue received per visit. At year end, the spa industry reported record high revenue at $14.7 billion, a notable 5.1 percent increase over 2012.  The number of spa visits as well as the revenue per visit both increased at a steady 2.5 percent in 2013, with spa visits hitting a record-breaking 164 million. The number of U.S. spa locations also jumped from 19,960 in 2012 to 20,180 in 2013.

The spa industry continues to impact the U.S. job market with an overall 1.8 percent growth in the total number of employees working at a spa. While the number of part-time employees saw an increase of around 8 percent, this shouldn't appear as a huge surprise since the part-time share of the workforce has risen consistently since the launch of the original study in 2000.

Overall, it looks like the spa industry has much to celebrate. With record numbers posted in 2013 and a highly optimistic outlook for the months ahead, it appears the spa industry is now firmly back on a growth trajectory.

With a sneak peek inside this year's edition of the study, ISPA members can look forward to receiving the full copy of the 2014 U.S. Spa Industry Study on September 30, 2014. For those nonmembers who would like to purchase this valuable tool or become ISPA members, please click here.