Intelligent Spas Releases First Spa Industry Survey Results for The Philippines

Intelligent Spas has conducted the inaugural survey of spa facilities in the Philippines and found the industry has grown 74% since 2003, with 87 spas currently open and operating. The research achieved an excellent response rate of 54% of all spas in the Philippines, enabling very reliable industry benchmarks to be calculated. The report, entitled Spa Industry Profile Philippines 2003-2007, features over 500 quantitative statistics on the Philippines spa market as well as supporting qualitative trends and observations from spa owners and managers. It is a valuable tool for businesses competing in, or supporting the Philippines' spa industry, to more accurately develop and plan spa-related products, services, campaigns and initiatives.

Some key industry totals and averages extracted from the report include:

Intelligent Spas identified 87 spa facilities located in the Philippines.
76% of spas are stand-alone day spas and 20% are spas located in hotels and resorts.
The average indoor area of spa facilities was 609 square metres.
52% of the total spa space was allocated to treatment rooms.
Spas contained 10.9 treatment rooms on average, making them the largest across the Asia Pacific region.
70% of spas provided a relaxation room.
Aromatherapy was practised by 97% of spas.
Baths with water and/or air jets were offered by 54% of respondents.
One hour body wraps were priced from PHP 1418, on average.
Herbal tea was the most common complimentary food or beverage item provided by spas, with 62% offering it to visitors.
35% of spas surveyed noticed there are more spas opening in hotels and resorts.
"The excellent response rate enabled the survey results to be broken down by stand-alone day spas versus spas located in hotels, resorts and retreats (destination spas) for more accurate benchmarking and analysis" explained Julie Garrow, Managing Director of Intelligent Spas (www.IntelligentSpas.com), the only 100% independent research company specialising in the spa industry. Some findings include:

Day spas were larger in terms of indoor space when compared to destination spas.
Day spas contained more treatment rooms than destination spas.
Plunge pools were more commonly found in destination spas.
Day spas were more likely to provide body wraps.
Source: Intelligent Spas, Spa Industry Profile Philippines 2003-2007



About the Research

The research primarily aimed to establish reliable industry benchmarks for key infrastructure and operations indicators, encourage businesses to better understand, service and support the spa industry, provide accurate data for the media to reference and generate greater awareness of the spa industry to promote growth in visitation numbers.

The comprehensive profile of the Philippines spa industry includes over 500 quantitative survey results relating to spa types, locations, business models, capture rates from primary facilities such as hotels and resorts, infrastructure, supporting facilities, therapies, treatments and programs offered, plus current industry trends. A selection of key survey findings are also broken down to identify benchmarks for day spas versus destination spas. Qualitative observations from spa owners and managers are also summarised. Supporting sections provide a detailed description of the research methodology, an overview of the value of industry statistics and useful facts and information about the Philippines.

The new Spa Industry Profile Philippines 2003-2007 report is available for purchase and immediate download from www.IntelligentSpas.com.





How to Use Spa Industry Statistics as a Business Tool

Like any other small, medium or large business, it is imperative that analysis and planning activities be conducted to minimise the risk of failure. One of the first questions to ask yourself is 'how is my business doing?' and this can easily be answered by comparing your spa's performance against industry averages. The overall industry average for your country is a useful guideline, however where the survey response rates are high enough, industry averages may be broken down further to enable more accurate analysis by calculating, for example, industry averages for your particular type of spa and industry averages for your spa's specific location.



Unique and common facilities and service offerings may also be measured and analysed to assist the planning for the business' future. Consider: At what point does a facility or service offering change from a consumer novelty to a consumer expectation? If for example, a high proportion of spas offer a relaxation room, one may assume as spa consumers become more experienced, they may come to expect a relaxing area within a spa and be disappointed if they do not have the opportunity to enjoy that type of facility before and/or after their spa treatment.

Read the full article in the latest issue of Spa Industry Intelligence newsletter - subscribe now at www.IntelligentSpas.com.



About Intelligent Spas

Intelligent Spas is a 100% independent research company specializing in the spa industry. Founded in Singapore in 2001, it has pioneered spa industry research in the Asia Pacific region and continues to publish a range of Spa Business & Operations Manuals, Spa Consumer Surveys and Spa Industry Surveys to assist the development and growth of this important industry.



TABLE OF CONTENTS - Spa Industry Profile Philippines 2003-2007

1 Executive Summary 6
1.1 About the Research 6
1.2 How to Use Spa Industry Statistics as a Business Tool 6
1.3 About The Philippines 6
1.4 Spa Industry Overview 7
1.5 Spa Business Models 7
1.6 Spa Infrastructure 7
1.7 Spa Menus 8
1.8 Spa Industry Trends 8
1.9 Spa Business Names 8
1.10 Day Spa Business Analysis 8
1.11 Destination Spa Business Analysis 9
1.12 About Intelligent Spas 9

2 About the Research 10
2.1 The Value of 100% Independent Research 10
2.2 Background of the Research 10
2.3 Research Objectives 10
2.4 The Definition of "Spa" 11
2.5 Research Methodology 11
2.6 Sample and Sub-Sample Sizes 12
2.7 How to Read the Report 12
2.8 Acknowledgements 13

3 How to Use Spa Industry Statistics as a Business Tool 14
3.1 Why Spa Businesses Need Spa Industry Statistics 14
3.2 Why Suppliers, Financial Institutions, Associations, Tourism Authorities and Other Related Organizations Need Spa Industry Statistics 15

4 About The Philippines 17
4.1 Useful Facts and Information 17

5 Spa Industry Overview 18
5.1 Current Number of Spa Businesses 18
5.2 New Spa Developments Under Construction 18
5.3 Growth of Spa Businesses 2003-2007 18
5.4 Spas by Main Type 19
5.5 Spas by Sub-Type 19

6 Spa Business Models 20
6.1 Ownership Structure 20
6.2 Operational Structure 20
6.3 Chain/Groups Versus Individually Branded Spas 21
6.4 Franchised Versus Non-Franchised Spas 21
6.5 Spa Owned by Primary Facility 21
6.6 Proportion of Spa Visitors Captured where Primary Accommodation Property Owns the Spa 23

7 Spa Infrastructure 24
7.1 Average Size of Spa Facilities 24
7.2 Breakdown of Total Indoor Space 24
7.3 Number of Treatment Rooms 24
7.4 Treatment Rooms by Private, Semi Private or Public 24
7.5 Treatment Rooms by Dry, Wet or Combination 25
7.6 Treatment Rooms by Single or Double Occupancy 25
7.7 Number of Hair and Make Up Stations 25
7.8 Breakdown of Hair and Make Up Stations 25
7.9 Number of Manicure and Pedicure Stations 25
7.10 Breakdown of Manicure and Pedicure Stations 25
7.11 Treatments Conducted in Areas Outside the Spa 26
7.12 Support Facilities by Ownership Versus Access Arranged 27
7.13 Support Facilities by Gender-Shared or Separate Female/Male 28

8 Spa Menus 29
8.1 Spa Therapies Practiced 29
8.2 Spa Water Treatments Practiced 30
8.3 Spa Body Treatments Practiced 30
8.4 Spa Massages Practiced 31
8.5 Spa Beauty Services Practiced 32
8.6 Spa Specialist Services Practiced 32
8.7 Spa Programs, Classes and Consultations Practiced 33
8.8 Starting Prices of Standard Spa Treatments 33
8.9 Complimentary Food and Beverages Provided 34

9 Spa Industry Trends 35
9.1 Key Spa Industry Trends 35
9.2 Observations Relating to Spa Treatments 35
9.3 Observations Relating to Clients 36

10 Spa Business Names 37
10.1 Spas by First Letter in the Business Name 37
10.2 "Spa" in the Business Name 37
10.3 Changes to Business Name 37

11 Day Spa Business Analysis 38
11.1 Day Spas: Average Size of Day Spas 38
11.2 Day Spas: Breakdown of Total Indoor Space 38
11.3 Day Spas: Number and Type of Treatment Rooms 38
11.4 Day Spas: Treatment Rooms by Private, Semi Private or Public 39
11.5 Day Spas: Treatment Rooms by Dry, Wet or Combination 39
11.6 Day Spas: Treatment Rooms by Single or Double Occupancy 39
11.7 Day Spas: Number of Hair and Make Up Stations 39
11.8 Day Spas: Breakdown of Hair and Make Up Stations 39
11.9 Day Spas: Number of Manicure and Pedicure Stations 39
11.10 Day Spas: Breakdown of Manicure and Pedicure Stations 39
11.11 Day Spas: Support Facilities by Ownership Versus Access Arranged 40
11.12 Day Spas: Support Facilities by Gender-Shared or Separate Female/Male 41
11.13 Day Spas: Spa Therapies Practiced 42
11.14 Day Spas: Spa Water Treatments Practiced 42
11.15 Day Spas: Spa Body Treatments Practiced 43
11.16 Day Spas: Spa Massages Practiced 44
11.17 Day Spas: Spa Beauty Services Practiced 44
11.18 Day Spas: Specialist Services Practiced 45
11.19 Day Spas: Spa Programs, Classes and Consultations Practiced 46
11.20 Day Spas: Complimentary Food and Beverages Provided 47

12 Destination Spa Business Analysis 48
12.1 Destination Spas: Average Size of Destination Spas 48
12.2 Destination Spas: Breakdown of Total Indoor Space 48
12.3 Destination Spas: Number and Type of Treatment Rooms 49
12.4 Destination Spas: Treatment Rooms by Private, Semi Private or Public 49
12.5 Destination Spas: Treatment Rooms by Dry, Wet or Combination 49
12.6 Destination Spas: Treatment Rooms by Single or Double Occupancy 49
12.7 Destination Spas: Number of Manicure and Pedicure Stations 49
12.8 Destination Spas: Breakdown of Manicure and Pedicure Stations 49
12.9 Destination Spas: Support Facilities by Ownership Versus Access Arranged 50
12.10 Destination Spas: Support Facilities by Gender-Shared or Separate Female/Male 51
12.11 Destination Spas: Spa Therapies Practiced 52
12.12 Destination Spas: Spa Water Treatments Practiced 52
12.13 Destination Spas: Spa Body Treatments Practiced 53
12.14 Destination Spas: Spa Massages Practiced 53
12.15 Destination Spas: Spa Beauty Services Practiced 54
12.16 Destination Spas: Complimentary Food and Beverages Provided 54