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Spa Management Risk Allocation — What is Market & What is Fair?

September 6, 2018
Spa Operations

Read Gerry Hickel’s thorough examination of the do’s and don’ts of spa management contracts.

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Spa Retail Return Policies: Balancing customer satisfaction with minimizing loss

July 11, 2024
Retail, Spa Operations

Implementing an effective return policy in your spa’s retail sales space can help maintain customer loyalty while protecting your bottom line. Here are some tips and tricks to help you manage returns efficiently.

 

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Spa Revenue Management

October 3, 2023
Retail

Two years ago, Pulse explored revenue management in the spa industry. It was a time when many facilities were emerging from the darkest days of pandemic closures and trying to reimagine income models and new prospects for profitable practices. Now, as many spa leaders plan their operational budgets for 2024 and look for creative opportunities to become more efficient and more in tune with market demand, this is an apt time for a review of revenue management.

The general premise of revenue management is simple: Customers are willing to pay more for services during peak periods and—conversely—they may be tempted to alter their schedules to take advantage of special-value pricing in non-peak hours.

The airline industry is the go-to example of a service built on the revenue management model: Try booking a flight for Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, when you’re competing with business travelers, and you’ll find your ticket price is as much as double the fare for the same trip on a midweek evening. Likewise, a summertime excursion to a family vacation destination will almost always be more expensive than the same flight during the school year. So you, as the traveler, have a choice whether to pay more for convenient scheduling, or to rearrange your timetable to take advantage of bargain pricing.

The hotel industry adopted revenue management practices decades ago, but the spa industry has been slow to follow suit. ISPA member surveys consistently indicate the majority of spas operate on a static price schedule or institute only the most basic variable pricing with adjustments by season or day of week.

The spa industry’s hesitancy to fully embrace the strategies of revenue management may be rooted in several factors, from the perceived— and actual—complexity of developing a revenue management system to concerns that guests will respond unfavorably to any such changes. Those concerns are certainly valid, but they can also be overcome through education and careful planning. In this issue of Pulse are presented several articles meant to demystify the concepts behind revenue management, assess its potential within the spa industry and help spa leaders determine how—or whether—to apply its principles to their businesses.

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Spa Software Savvy: Unleashing the Power of Super-Users

October 3, 2024
Spa Operations

Selecting the right operating software system is a critical part of running a spa. While these systems offer robust business management features, many go underutilized. This month, Carlos Calvo Rodríguez shares insights on becoming a super-user and getting the most out of your system.

 

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Sports Massage

Deep-tissue massage directed specifically at muscles used in athletic activities. This massage can be either preventive or corrective in approach.

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Spray Tan

A beauty treatment in which the body is sprayed with a product containing chemicals that react with the skin to produce an artificial suntan.

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Staying Connected to Today’s Spa-Goer

July 11, 2024
Spa Operations

Understanding spa-goers is paramount for industry professionals seeking to tailor experiences that resonate with their clientele and maximize profits. The 2024 ISPA Consumer Snapshot Report offers a comprehensive glimpse into the behaviors, preferences and priorities of today’s spa-goers, empowering professionals to stay connected to the nature and habits of their audience. While members can access the full, robust study in the ISPA Research Library at experienceispa.com, the following five callouts are a helpful introduction to the study’s extensive findings.

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Steam Room

A ceramic-tiled room with wet heat generated by temperatures of 110-130° Fahrenheit designed to soften the skin, cleanse the pores, calm the nervous system and relieve tension. 

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Still Baths

The act of soaking or cleansing the body, as in water or steam. The water used for cleansing the body. A building equipped for bathing. A resort providing therapeutic baths; a spa.

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Straight Razor Shaving

By using a straight single bladed razor, you are able to enjoy a cleaner and closer shave for a better overall shaving experience.

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