Singapore, 14 October 2009 - Intelligent Spas’ second Spa Benchmark Report on the South African spa market presents an extensive collection of financial statistics including breakdowns of key performance indicators by day spas, hotel spas and resort spas. The new research found over 200 spas are operating in South Africa and generated revenue of ZAR380 million (approximately USD47 million) in 2008, representing a 2% decrease compared to 2007.

Other key findings include:

“The South African spa market is performing relatively well despite the global economic conditions and spa owners and managers have a positive outlook. This updated research identifies key differences in the performance of day spas, hotel spas and resort spas which are critical for each type of operator to understand” stated Julie Garrow, Managing Director of 100% independent research company Intelligent Spas.

Dr Nadine de Freitas, Executive Director, South African Spa Association added “the release of the South African Spa Benchmark Report is a fundamental step in the growth and maturity of the South African spa industry, allowing an accurate understanding of the industry statistics, financial indicators, industry weaknesses and strengths, to facilitate efficient spa operations and maximize profit potential and industry opportunities. The South African Spa Association thanks Julie Garrow and Intelligent Spas for their commitment to 100% independent spa research, so allowing all investors and spa operators access to crucial spa intelligence, to indentify key success factors and ensure a successful and competitive spa, in today’s ever-changing market.”

Industry Outlook:

"The South African spa market is performing relatively well despite the global economic conditions"

Julie Garrow, Managing Director, Intelligent Spas

Spa Benchmarks Available

The full report is available from Intelligent Spas website at Intelligent Spas and contains over 800 updated spa industry benchmarks relating to total spa revenue, spa treatment revenue, expenses, visits and employment, with many topics showing historical data available from 2005 to 2008, plus forecast data for 2009 and 2010. The benchmarks are comparable across the entire spa industry due to the consistent global research methodology implemented by Intelligent Spas. Other statistics and benchmark ratios featured in the report include:

The report also presents a collection of supporting business intelligence including:

The research achieved a response of 62 validated spa businesses, representing 30% of the spa population, where 5% is considered reliable in industry research terms, and is available for purchase from Intelligent Spas.

Note: Intelligent Spas does not conduct anonymous surveys. Each respondent must identify themselves, comply with Intelligent Spas’ benchmark definition of “spa” and pass numerous screening criteria to qualify to ensure the research is accurate and reliable for users. Intelligent Spas' 100% independence policy ensures all individual survey data submitted by spas is not used for any other purpose. To join Intelligent Spas’ free Global Spa Benchmark Program, register at Intelligent Spas.

Intelligent Spas is the only 100% independent research company specializing in the spa industry. Founded in Singapore in 2001, it has pioneered spa industry research in the greater Asia Pacific region and continues to publish a range of Spa Operations Manuals and Spa Benchmark Reports to assist the performance and growth of this essential industry.

Intelligent Spas' Global Spa Benchmark Program is currently underway in over 80 countries and aims to produce reliable and comparable statistics to help spas maximize their performance, provide business intelligence to assist other organizations to better understand, service and support the spa industry plus generate greater awareness of the spa industry to increase spa visits.

The detailed table of contents is below:

1 Executive Summary

2 About the Research

2.1 The Value of 100% Independent Research

2.2 Confidentiality Policy

2.3 Benchmarking Definition of “Spa”

2.4 Definitions of Spa Sub-Types

2.5 Research Objectives

2.6 Research Methodology and Sampling

2.7 Challenges

2.8 How to Read the Report

2.9 Acknowledgements

2.10 Educational Resources

3 Total Spa Industry Size and Value

3.1 Total Number of Spas by Main Type 2007-2009F

3.2 Total Spa Industry Revenue 2007?2009F

3.3 Total Spa Industry Visits 2007?2009F

3.4 Total Spa Industry Employment 2007?2009F

4 Financial and Performance Benchmarks

4.1 Annual Revenue per Spa 2005-2010F

4.2 Annual Revenue per Spa 2007-2009F by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

4.3 Daily Revenue per Spa 2005-2010F

4.4 Daily Revenue per Spa 2007-2009F by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

4.5 Breakdown of Total Annual Revenue 2007-2008

4.6 Breakdown of Total Annual Expenses 2007-2008

4.7 Annual Treatment Revenue per Spa 2007-2008

4.8 Daily Treatment Revenue per Spa 2007-2008

4.9 Annual Visits per Spa 2006-2010F

4.10 Annual Visits per Spa 2007-2009F by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

4.11 Daily Visits per Spa 2006-2010F

4.12 Daily Visits per Spa 2007-2009F by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

4.13 Visitor Profiles by Gender, Age and Residence 2007-2008

4.14 Hotel/Resort Guests Versus Non-Hotel/Resort Guests 2008

4.15 Annual Employees per Spa 2005-2010F

4.16 Annual Employees per Spa 2006-2009F by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

5 Spa Benchmark Ratios

5.1 Revenue per Visit 2006-2010F

5.2 Revenue per Available Treatment Hour 2006-2010F

5.3 Revenue per Available Treatment Minute 2006-2010F

5.4 Treatment Revenue per Available Treatment Hour 2007-2008

5.5 Treatment Revenue per Available Treatment Minute 2007-2008

5.6 Annual Revenue per Available Treatment Room 2005-2010F

5.7 Annual Revenue per Available Treatment Room 2007-2009F by Day spas, Hotel spas and Resort spas

5.8 Daily Revenue per Available Treatment Room 2005-2010F

5.9 Annual Treatment Revenue per Available Treatment Room 2007-2008

5.10 Daily Treatment Revenue per Available Treatment Room 2007-2008

5.11 Annual Revenue per Square Meter/Foot 2006-2010F

5.12 Daily Revenue per Square Meter/Foot 2006-2010F

5.13 Annual Treatment Revenue per Square Meter/Foot 2007-2008

5.14 Daily Treatment Revenue per Square Meter/Foot 2007-2008

5.15 Annual Revenue per Employee 2006-2010F

5.16 Daily Revenue per Employee 2006-2010F

5.17 Annual Treatment Revenue per Employee 2007-2008

5.18 Daily Treatment Revenue per Employee 2007-2008

5.19 Average Annual Visits per Employee 2006-2010F

5.20 Repeat Visitation Rate 2008

6 Spa Business Models

6.1 Spa Ownership, Business and Management Structures

6.2 Destination Spa Ownership by Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

6.3 Spa Branding, Original Business Plan and Gender Policy

7 Spa Infrastructure

7.1 Spa Size and Space Breakdown by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

7.2 Spa Treatment Rooms by Number, Type, Use and Occupancy by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

7.3 Stations by Number, Type and Use by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

7.4 Treatments Conducted Outside the Spa

7.5 Standard Support Facilities by Ownership Versus Access Arranged and Gender-Shared or Separate Female/Male

7.6 Water-Based Support Facilities by Ownership Versus Access Arranged and Gender-Shared or Separate Female/Male

8 Spa Menus

8.1 Variety of Hydrotherapy and Other Water-Based Treatments Offered by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

8.2 Hydrotherapy and Body Treatments Practiced by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

8.3 Massages and Beauty Services Practiced by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

8.4 Specialist Services and Programs, Classes and Consultations

8.5 Complimentary Food and Beverages Provided by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

8.6 Starting Prices of Standard Spa Treatments by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

9 Spa Industry Trends

9.1 Pricing

9.2 Treatments

9.3 Other Trends

10 Sampling

11 Appendix

11.1 Register to Participate in the Global Spa Benchmark Program

11.2 Feedback and Suggestions

On behalf of Intelligent Spas Pte Ltd:

Julie Garrow
Managing Director
Intelligent Spas Pte Ltd
www.IntelligentSpas.com

...100% independent, spa industry intelligence

More Spa Studies in the News