Articles starting with “M”

However, if the spa has a full-service beauty salon, the results probably will be pleasing.

It is based on theories of traditional oriental medicine and consists of a wooden hammer and peg with which various points of the body are tapped. It is a very simple and effective technique for preventing and treating diseases and can be used either with yourself or with partners, children, relatives, friends, etc.  Your body’s acupoints are softly tapped with a wooden hammer and peg in percussive stimulation technique.  This technique has a piezoelectric effect that stimulates blood flow and produces a relaxation of the muscle.

A Balinese style massage eases muscle tension before a paste of herbs and rice powder is painted on the body and gently rubbed off to reveal soft, smooth skin.  Next, a yogurt mask is rubbed into the skin before stepping into a warm bath filled with flower petals.

Sometimes done on the face and neck, other times the entire body, lymph massage helps stimulate lymphatic circulation, which boosts the body's ability to eliminate wastes and absorb nutrients. 

When asked how many total treatment offerings are listed on their spa’s menu, the average number for all spas was 42. As to the most noticeable current treatment trends, spa respondents frequently mentioned couples treatments along with increased massages and longer treatment times. In regards to treatments that have lost popularity within the past year, wraps and scrubs were mentioned fairly frequently.

When asked if they use photography and/or videos to help guests visualize what to expect with specific treatments, 40 percent of all spas reported they do not use photography and/or videos for this purpose. Of the spas who do use one or both methods, 36 percent of resort/hotel spas use photography compared to only 23 percent of day spas.

Of those spas that have developed local partnerships that generated new revenue, some of the responses included partnering with other stores and restaurants in the area where their spa is located to do promotions and events, working with local chapters of the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureaus, partnering with nonprofits and making trades with area businesses.

Thirty-four percent of all spas reported holding formal brainstorming sessions on new revenue generating ideas each month. Twenty-nine percent of day spas and 31 percent of resort/hotel spas hold these brainstorming sessions weekly. Over half (53 percent) of all spa respondents provide incentives or rewards to employees to encourage them to help identify new revenue generating ideas. Bonuses, commission, complimentary products or spa services, gift cards, educational trips and a variety of prizes including iPads and laptops topped the list of incentives offered.

Respondents were asked which employee benefits most influence their decision as to where they work, including salary/wages, health insurance, retirement plans, flexible schedules, discounted use of spa facilities and vacation time. The leading answers for spa leaders were vacation time, salary/wages and retirement plans respectively. For spa service providers, the responses shifted to salary/wages and flexible schedules as the two leading responses with an average rating of 4.25 for each on a five-point scale. Salary/wages and flexible schedules were also the two leading responses for resource partner respondents.

The number of day spa respondents taking the step to use energy-efficient light bulbs was noticeably higher than resort/hotel spas, at 83 percent and 72 percent respectively. Sixty-five percent of spas noted it was very important or extremely important to offer natural or organic products for their consumers. Well over half, 65 percent, offer a treatment that is promoted as organic (compared to 57 percent in 2010).

This energy therapy involves gentle hand placements to release emotional blockages and to balance and facilitate energy flow. This session may involve dialogue between client and provider to aid in release of past traumas. Client should be fully clothed during session.

When comparing resort/hotel spas and day spas and their total spa revenue derived from retail sales, the numbers were quite similar, with 37 percent of resort/hotel spas falling within this range compared to 35 percent of day spas.

Over half (59 percent) of all spas reported they will introduce between one and three new retail products in 2015. When comparing the change in retail sales from the first four months of 2015 with the first four months of 2014, all spas reported the highest sales increase in the category of skin-care products.

As to the types of treatments/services that are included in their spa menus, almost all spa respondents (99 percent) offer facials and massages, followed closely by scrubs (94 percent) and wraps (92 percent). Only 9 percent of all spas reported offering medically supervised services.

Regarding which manipulative body therapy/massage treatments are available at their spa, 96 percent of all spas reported offering Swedish and Pregnacy Massages. Other popular treatments offered by all spas include Deep Tissue (94 percent), Hot Stone Massage (90 percent), Reflexology (85 percent) and Sports Massage (82 percent).

Spa respondents noted an increase in retail sales for several product categories over the past year. Apparel (36 percent), bath and body products (50 percent), jewelry (39 percent), makeup (30 percent) and skin care (66 percent) all had the largest segment of respondents report an increase in sales over the past year. Respondents also shared some of the hottest products that are flying off their shelves within their spas (see page 6).