WORLD TRAVEL MARKET NEWS
The spa industry is now bigger than the cruise sector – but can you sell it? WTM off ers some pointers
Holistic help is at hand
The spa break market is becoming
increasingly lucrative
as stressed holidaymakers seek
comfort in holistic havens
around the world – but how can
agents boost revenue potential?
This year’s World Travel
Market is hosting events that
will look at this market that is
currently bigger than cruise –
it is estimated the global spa
economy last year was worth
$255 billion.
Speakers include
GMTTEC
director
More on World
Travel Market at
www.wtmlondon.com
Gill Morris – a specialist in
business training and management
in the health and spa industry,
Healing Hotels of the
World group managing partner
Dr Elisabeth Ixmeier, and
Quality Spa general manager
Vita Ute Rührig.
Morris, who
will be speaking
on behalf of
the British
International Spa Association
about the use of staff training
and education to enhance service,
said: “I’ll be trying to help
hotel managers who don’t have
much knowledge of the spa industry
to understand how it
works and those who do have
experience of the industry to
improve the customer journey.
“Many hotel managers
have risen to their positions
but don’t know how spas
work, about the staff there
or the treatments.
How can they
manage
what
they don’t understand?”
“For agents, a hen party
booking a hotel might want
spa facilities. Knowing about
the treatments offered could
be a point of differentiation
between you and a rival agent.”
Dr Ixmeier will be talking
about the latest trends in holistic
healing holidays and chairing
a panel of experts on what
the public now demands.
She said: “High-spending
customers want a more sensitive
approach on holiday – it’s
not enough that they are treated
well, it’s also important that
the staff in the hotel are treated
well. People are looking for a
totally holistic approach – not
just getting a wonderful massage
then going back to a
stressful job – it’s about looking
at your whole well-being
to see how you can improve
yourself. The panel and
myself will be explaining this
approach.”
THE
SESSIONS
What: Holistic health and
the global spa economy
When: Tuesday November
11, 12.30pm-1pm
Where: North Gallery
Room 6/7
Speaker: Elisabeth Ixmeir
What: Staff training
and education in the spa
industry
When: Tuesday November
11, 2.30pm-3pm
Where: North Gallery Room 8
Speaker: Gill Morris
What: Emerging trends in
the spa industry
When: Thursday November
13, 11am-12pm
Where: North Gallery Room 7
Speaker: Vita Ute Rührig
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