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| The Mii amo spa at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona. |
It seems that the name of almost every new resort that opens these days ends with “& Spa.” That’s not surprising, given the healthy state of the wellness industry. “We’re seeing that wellness vacations are definitely on the rise,” says Anne Marie Moebes, executive vice president of Well-Being Travel, a marketing organization that focuses on educating the travel agent community. That assertion is supported by reports from the International Spa Association (ISPA) and Spafinder Wellness 365.
According to ISPA, the number of annual spa visits has risen to more than 164 million, which represents an increase of about 80 percent over the last 15 years. In Spafinder’s most recent State of Spa Travel report, issued last April, 73 percent of the more than 300 North American travel agents surveyed reported growth in hotel bookings, resorts and destination spas.
While the Spafinder report identifies Baby Boomers as the core spa clientele, some agents we spoke with say they are getting a lot of wellness-related travel requests from Millennials.
“Millennial travelers are the biggest group of clients I send to spa destinations,” says Laurel Shea, a vacation specialist at Mann Travels in Hunters-ville, NC. “Within that group are honeymooners, best friends, yogis, eco-trekkers and adventurers. Generation Y’s style is so unique that they require traveling and technology to go hand-in-hand, but need a destination that will give them a chance to unplug and unwind. In other words, they need the best of both worlds.”
She also finds that “a large percentage of my wellness retreat bookings are sustainable travelers. This specific group of people cares about the well-being of not only themselves, but the world around them. They like to know the resorts they are staying in have a conscience about affecting the environment that surrounds them.”
“In the last year, I have received quite a few requests for spa/wellness getaways,” says Danielle Stephens, travel consultant at Harmon Travel in Boise, ID. “It seems to be at the top of a lot of clients’ lists when choosing a resort and specific destination.” She also notes, “I have a lot of clients where the husbands golf and the women retreat to the spa.”
A large percentage of Millennial honeymoon clients inquire about couples massages, she adds. “It has definitely been a priority for about 90 percent of my honeymoon clients in the last year. However, they generally don’t call and ask for a spa/wellness resort; they just want to make sure the resort they select has a nice spa that offers quality couples massages.” Weekend spa getaways to Phoenix and San Diego are popular for girlfriend getaways, she says.
The agents also chimed in on some of their favorite spa getaways.
Stephens recommends Grand Velas Riviera Maya and its spa for honeymoon couples and anniversary clients. She also likes the Anara Spa at Grand Hyatt Kauai, Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios (“The massage tables are in huts overlooking the crystal blue ocean”) and One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives (“I haven’t been there, but I can dream, right?”).
“The luxury Ka’ana Resort in Belize is one of my favorite hidden gems,” says Shea. “It is surrounded by lush greens, ancient ruins and powdery white beaches. [It’s] the perfect balance of extravagant amenities and local heritage. Their spa has every massage imaginable, from Mayan Abdominal to the more traditional Swedish. Exclusive treatments include signature items such as the Sunburn Soother.”
Aside from the spa itself, Ka’ana has many amenities for wellness travelers. Private yoga and meditation sessions can be taken either on property or at the nearby ruins of Xunantunich.
Some other of Shea’s favorites include Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic; The BodyHoliday LeSport in St. Lucia; and the InterContinental Bora Bora.
Sometimes you find a recommendation-worthy spa practically in your own backyard. In December, Monika Leuenberger, owner of Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ, experienced the Mii amo spa at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, just 30 miles south of her agency.
“The selection of body treatments offered is amazing, from a variety of massages to spiritual treatments, and treatments that focus on the healing power of water,” she says. “As a guest of the resort, you have access to the full facility, which includes an indoor pool with a lounge and fireplace, an outdoor pool with a Jacuzzi and sauna and steam baths. You will find padded window seats, where you can relax with a good book and enjoy the views of the red rocks.”
New Spa Experiences
For the spa goers among your clientele who may be looking for a new experience, here are a few new and upcoming options to consider.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, which opened earlier this month, is preparing to unveil The Ritz-Carlton Spa, which will offer a wellness experience that is traditionally Balinese in nature. Surrounded by lush foliage, the spa will consist of 14 treatment rooms incorporating indoor and outdoor spaces.
Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine, the newly restored, historic hotel occupying a 12th-century abbey in Spain’s Duero wine region, has announced that its new spa, Santuario LeDomaine, will open in July 2015. Set in the abbey’s former stables, the spa will offer bespoke vinotherapy concept and a “Spa Sommelier.” Eight new guest rooms, which will have direct spa access, are also part of the stables’ transformation.
Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa has opened on Barbarons Beach along Mahé’s west coast following an extensive $14 million refurbishment. Five room types include options with easy access to the Avani Spa, which offers facials, body treatments, massages and exotic pampering, such as an Ayurvedic therapy or Turkish hammam ritual.