New ISPA Global Study Compares Consumer Trends in 15 Countries

The International SPA Assocation (ISPA) recently released its 2008 Global Consumer Study, which compares consumer trends in 15 countries. ISPA, working with Research International, surveyed people in Australia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States, and has compiled information about why people spa. And hands down, in every single country, the No. 1 reason people go to a spa is to relax, and relieve or reduce stress.

'We've known stress-relief was the primary reason why Americans visited spas. Now, we know stress is the No. 1 reason people visit spas worldwide,' says ISPA president Lynne McNees. 'Stress affects more than just our lives at work and at home, it affects our health. So take time to destress, by getting a massage; it could end up saving your health down the road.'

Other key findings from the study include:

Massage is the most popular treatment worldwide.

In North America and Europe, roughly 50% of spa-goers used a gift card.

The top motivators for visiting a spa are recommendations from family, friends or health care practitioners, and price incentives.