Singapore, 26 October 2009 – Intelligent Spas’ fifth Spa Benchmark Report on the Australian 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 600 spas are operating in Australia and are expected to generate AUD500 million (approximately USD465 million) in revenue during 2009, representing a 17% increase compared to 2008.

Other key findings included:

“Overall, the Australian spa industry continued to grow during the global economic crisis however some key performance indicators per spa declined due to the crowded market. Spa owners and managers are currently challenged with increasing visits per spa and these updated statistics will help them identify how to operate more effectively in this competitive market going into 2010” stated Julie Garrow, Managing Director of 100% independent research company Intelligent Spas.

Karen Goudge, President of the Australasian Spa Association stated "the latest Benchmark Report shows how the spa industry continues to change in reference to additional staff being employed and spa treatment requirements. At the Australasian Spa Association, we are happy to inform our members of updated surveys being released by Intelligent Spas as they offer great insight and benefit to our spa industry."

"…some key performance indicators per spa declined due to the crowded market"

Julie Garrow, Managing Director, Intelligent Spas

Spa Benchmarks Available

The full report is available from Intelligent Spas website at Intelligent Spas and contains almost 1,000 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:

Susanne Nelson, former President of the Australasian Spa Association added “accurate and comprehensive market research to help support and grow an industry is always essential, now more than ever in this uncertain financial climate. The information is required to help existing businesses benchmark how they are tracking, along with providing newcomers and suppliers with essential facts to help them succeed. The continued success of the main players and growth in new entrants will lead to a vibrant and healthy industry where the success of the individual contributes to the success of a healthy industry and a healthier population. To those who participated, congratulations in recognizing how beneficial this type of information is to the industry’s success and to Julie Garrow and Intelligent Spas, congratulations on your continued success at providing these statistics and giving the industry a tool that helps establish a better understanding of its position.”

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

Research Objectives and Sampling

This Spa Benchmark Report aims to provide a reliable update of the spa population, profile, size and value, plus calculate updated and reliable industry benchmarks for key financial and performance indicators.

The research achieved a response of 400 validated spa businesses, representing 66.1% 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 www.IntelligentSpas.com.

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 2002-2009F

3.2 Total Number of Spas by Day Spas and Destination Spas 2007-2009F

3.3 Total Spa Industry Revenue 2007–2009F

3.4 Total Spa Industry Visits 2007–2009F

3.5 Total Spa Industry Employment 2007–2009F

4 Financial and Performance Benchmarks

4.1 Annual Revenue per Spa 2005-2010F

4.2 Daily Revenue per Spa 2005-2010F

4.3 Breakdown of Total Annual Revenue 2007-2008

4.4 Breakdown of Total Annual Expenses 2007-2008

4.5 Annual Treatment Revenue per Spa 2007-2008

4.6 Daily Treatment Revenue per Spa 2007-2008

4.7 Annual Visits per Spa 2005-2010F

4.8 Daily Visits per Spa 2005-2010F

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

4.10 Hotel/Resort Guests Versus Non-Hotel/Resort Guests

4.11 Annual Employees per Spa 2005-2010F

4.12 Annual Employees per Spa 2005-2009F by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

5 Spa Benchmark Ratios

5.1 Revenue per Visit 2005-2010F

5.2 Revenue per Available Treatment Hour 2005-2010F

5.3 Revenue per Available Treatment Minute 2005-2010F

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 Daily Revenue per Available Treatment Room 2005-2010F

5.8 Annual Treatment Revenue per Available Treatment Room 2007-2008

5.9 Daily Treatment Revenue per Available Treatment Room 2007-2008

5.10 Annual Revenue per Square Meter/Foot 2005-2010F

5.11 Daily Revenue per Square Meter/Foot 2005-2010F

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

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

5.14 Annual Revenue per Employee 2005-2010F

5.15 Daily Revenue per Employee 2005-2010F

5.16 Annual Treatment Revenue per Employee 2007-2008

5.17 Daily Treatment Revenue per Employee 2007-2008

5.18 Average Annual Visits per Employee 2005-2010F

6 Spa Business Models

6.1 Spa Ownership, Business and Management Structures by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

6.2 Destination Spa Ownership by Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

6.3 Spa Branding, Original Business Plan and Gender Policy by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

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 by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

7.6 Water-Based Support Facilities by Ownership Versus Access Arranged and Gender-Shared or Separate Female/Male by Day Spas, Hotel Spas and Resort Spas

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

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

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