Spa – Cr. to the Rightful Owner

This chapter presents the discussion of reviewed related writing of authors that the look forers tranquil during the course of the study. Material reviewed came from antithetic books, studies and both(prenominal) otherwise master copy writings from both foreign and local books. judg workforcetual Literature The adult ph eachicwide salubriousness high society patience is worth(predicate) in the region of US $40 one million million million and has grown at a pheno workforceal p break in the past ten historic period (Haden, 2007).The proceeds of health food, gyms and the investment in leisure facilities proves that consumers ar sounding for more than(prenominal) than than laxation during a grow or holiday this is unsurprising given judgment of conviction is so precious to contemporary consumers (Lynch, 2002). Harmsworth (2004 p. 173) claims that the dawdle savoryel commercialise is superstar of the fastest growing leisure sectors, where kind headi ngs and aims unwrap instant reflection in the developments on both the demand and supply sides.The foodstuff is truly fragmented, each segment catering for different client demand, which continuously change in line with friendly and life style changes. consort to Libosada Jr. C. and Bosangit C. (2007) verbalise that health club is a resort with mineral or caloric irrigate engagement for drinking and vating. The term is derived from the c any forth of a town in Belgium and has been applied to alike(p) resort groundwide.The Kentucky-based worldwide resort hotel Association (I health health club), an habitationment which claims to set the standards for the holiday resort industry piddles no evoke of wet supply supply in its definition, lay proscribed that a health watering place serves as an educational and ethnic institution that promotes and integrates man-to-man health, health and fitness as whole around(prenominal) as social well- cosmos, harm ony and sense of equilibrium through and through health, legal community, therapy and rehabilitation of frame, mind and soul (Loerseed, 1998 p. 48).Later, the I watering place cracked an alone-encompassing, holistic definition, claiming that watering holes atomic number 18 entities dedicate to enhancing ein truthwhereall well-being through a change of professional services that instigate the re newfoundal of mind, ashes and timber (Mintel, 2005). It is claimed by Jenner and metalworker (2000) that trounceing health health health clubs is iodin of the earliest assortments of tourism. watering places found their beginnings thousands of geezerhood ago, when ancient civilisations workoutd them for their ameliorate properties and as an measurable variance of their social structure (Vierville, 2003 resort hotela, 2002).The therapeutic utilise of baths was remarkably indestructible such(prenominal) popularity was no distrust partly delinquent to the fact t hat baths were both attr energetic and, by the popish imperial period at least, comparatively freely available (Jackson, 1990). It was aft(prenominal) this metre that earth use up in baths began to peak (Spaa, 2002). Spa tourism has galore(postnominal) varied definitions there is no officially h of age(predicate) upon definition of what a watering place should or should non be what makes it such?Many believe that the record health club is an acronym based on the Latin phrase sanitas per aquas content health through peeing, in fact the Oxford English dictionarys definition of a health club is from the Latin solus per aqua or health by water defined as a place with mineral springs considered to have health-giving properties (Loverseed, 1998). Thornton and Brutscher (2003) main(prenominal)tain that the word and the ideal of watering place actually seamated from the conviction of the roman letters empire when battle weary legionnaires tried to find a locali sesing to recover from their military wounds and ailments.Therefore suggesting that traditionalisticly, water is non besides inexplicably linked to the definition of resort hotels, tho that it is the water which defines it. The European Spas Associations (ESPA) definition of a watering place is in any case dependent upon the water ingredient they define a resort hotel as a mineral spring or a place or resort where such a spring is found? (Jenner and Smith, 2000). Unlike the ESPA, the British Spas alliance (BSF) reviewed its definition with regard to widening its membership, which at that magazine consisted only of the municipal authorities of resort towns.However, the BSF was subsequent replaced by the Spa Business Association (SpaBa) who in turn redefined the watering hole, returning the centrality of the role of water by defining a health club as an instauration providing a minimum of one approved water based discussion using water of k at present composition. The r esort hotel should be staffed by appropriately trained therapists and have minimum standards of furnishings. The water should be intensify with minerals, either inseparablely or with an additive (Mintel, 2005).Others, oddly in the USA, hold a far less(prenominal) rigid view of what constitutes a watering hole. The Kentucky-based International Spa Association (ISPA), an organization which claims to set the standards for the watering hole industry makes no mention of water in its definition, arguing that a spa serves as an educational and cultural institution that promotes and integrates individual health, health and fitness as well as social well-being, harmony and balance through health, pr purgetion, therapy and rehabilitation of body, mind and soul (Loverseed, 1998 p. 8). Later, the ISPA fractureed an all-encompassing, holistic definition, claiming that spas argon devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewa l of mind, body and spirit (Mintel, 2005). It is claimed by Jenner and Smith (2000) that visiting spas is one of the earliest forms of tourism.Spas found their beginnings thousands of days ago, when ancient civilisations use them for their healing properties and as an grave part of their social structure (Vierville, 2003 Spaa, 2002). The therapeutic use of baths was remarkably coherent-lived such popularity was no doubt partly due to the fact that baths were both pleasant and, by the roman imperial period at least, comparatively freely available (Jackson, 1990).It was after this time that public interest in baths began to peak (Spaa, 2002). By the medieval period, the idea that thermic springs could have healthful properties was firmly naturalized. But in the 18th and nineteenth centuries, taking the irrigate? began being a cool pastime for Europe?s upper classes. In fact, the popularity of this habit is what ceremonious places in the UK, such as Bath, Brighton and Harroga te, as first tourism finishings (Jenner and Smith, 2000).Todays spa is an interesting combination of ancient traditions and new facilities in recent years, the repute of pr aim offtion, healthy lifestyles, and relaxation has been embraced by many and the spa is again purpose its place in modern society as a place uniquely ge argond to shout these quests (Register, 2005). In one of the major fictile tradition for current pattern of health and well-ness spa tourism worldwide, the roman Empire left foundation a farseeing list of spas all over Europe, which they built while they were occupying new territories.With the demise of the westward roman Empire in 450 AD, so withal came the demise of the Roman bath tradition in Europe, although Spain, jointure Africa, and the Middle East maintained a postgraduately developed dishwashing culture. This was a takings of the influence of the Byzantine or east Roman Empire and the subsequent Arab conquests and maintained the infl uence of Roman bathing tradition in those countries (The Spa Association, 2005).The city of bath in England provides an causa of the fusion of Roman history with later trends in spa and health demand and supply in Europe (White, 2000). later the springs had been abandoned as a bathing choice in 1978 (although not touring carically or respect of their mineral waters), the Bath spa send was launched by the metropolis Council in 1997 in order to restore bath to the leading spa town of England, with the foreknowation that the project would stimulate the revival of spa culture in the UK.The hew spa facilities in Bath ar just a short distance from the authoritative Roman bath site and they used natural hot spring water drawn from the selfsame(prenominal) springs that have served visitors for at least the last ii thousand years. The new facilities be intentional to offer relaxing and extended therapeutic handlings. Although they forget not act as a cure for near illness the y will act as a cure for the human spirit, as outline in reference to the conservation statement for the adjacent Roman Baths (Clews, 2000).In countries such as Hungary the change from centuries of caloric bathing culture to modern health facilities has been slow than in countries without a history of hot or mineral hot springs. In Budapest the change magnitude use of day spas builds on the ancient way of relieving stress and corporal ailments through hot water treatment, and day spas and wellness facilities atomic number 18 now being established in a society that is fair more conscious of the importance of healthy lifestyle (LaForest, 2004).In Budapest the locals congregate in public thermal baths such as the Szechenvi to relax, swim and crawfish out many of the cures and treatment on offer. They ar as well as cognize for taking the national pastime of compete chess into thermal pools (The age, 2005). And further to the east in Russia the Soviet era thermal baths were an integral part of the national health system. In Europe Austria was one of the first countries to adopt the more recent purpose of wellness and to act upon quickly.The country affectively woos to key tourist target groups by positioning itself to offer wellness treatments that unite the body, spirit, personal desire, culture, and natural re reference points embodied by the spring (Nahrstedt, 2002). Australia has an unmatched infrastructure when it comes to wellness holi age and health-related tourism, and was be number one in the world for choice of life and its healthc be services in the early 2000s (Garalli, 2002).According to Nahrsetedt (2002) Austria boasts an intact natural milieu in conjunction with its wellness spas, an association that is also very popular in the Japanese tourist commercialize. In Japan itself though, with literally thousands of geothermal springs and the Japanese pick for authentic and unadulterated hot spring water, wellness centres ar not yet developed to quite a the same extent, leaving the European style wellness induction as a potential pet for the Japanese while on holiday.In Japan, in tradition hot springs have been developed into days spas known as kuahausu derived from the German word kurhaus, providing removes bathing beas for men and women with thermal mineral pools at different temperatures, a cold pool atomic number 18a with fountains and waterslides, roll alleys, gyms, saunas and steam ways, massage services, restaurants and bars, relaxation rooms, music rooms, and television games (Altman, 2000 07). But the main bathing attractions argon the traditional hot springs called Onsen.Often used by groups of mess who enjoy sharing a bath after leaving the world of corporate work underside? As well as families and couples, a arouse to an Onsen is classed as the ultimate bonding implement because all ar equal once they shed their designer clothes and other status symbols. The captain of Iceland, Reykjav ik, has been designated on official spa city by the European Spa Association (Iceland Express, 2006). This seems well deserved a quite logical, because the Icelanders have many facilities where they fuel take on care of their health, well-being and leisure.Several active Vol crapperoes and high temperature geothermal field provide natural hot springs all over Iceland and any(prenominal) towns have at least one public geothermal fluent pool. The Health and Wellness Spa Industry Having verbalize that, rising customer expectations concerning health and wellness are the foundation in which the modern health and wellness spa industry is building an ever-increasing supply of facilities for the checkup examination checkup and general (wellness) visitor, to the extent that this form of tourism is now worth in excess of 250 one million million million US dollars per year and attract some one hundred fifty gazillion active spa-goers world-wide (ISPA, 2007).Caution is needed here t hough, because for example these get words are said to complicate 19. 1 million Japanese spa-goers. Japanese data (Beppu International tourism Office, 2007) suggest that there are over 150 million Onsen users alone in that country (Chapter 9). This variate would appear to relate to the varying definitions of wellness and spa use that were discussed earlier, where the Japanese tradition is more intimately simply bathing in hot water than about the Ameri fag tradition of beauty spa that underlies the look for undertaken by the International Spa Association.As a result of this, many Japanese users whitethorn not be counted if the data are concentrating on analyzing the spa experience rather than the totality of health and wellness tourism based on the use of hot and mineral springs. The trend toward indulgence in a relaxing environment, which began after World struggle II (Foster & Keller, 2008), has thus turned into a worldwide movement just one that is a solid departure fr om the original concept of health spa that in the first place exceptionalized in rehabilitation of recovering from illness and injury.The new emphasis lies in prevention of disease and maintenance of safe health more that cure, with high expectations regarding health improvement even if there are no particular health problems. on with the body, mind and soul are also catered for in many spas in a holistic woo of creating harmony for those in need.This ofttimes admits new-age treatments as well as the more traditional water-based therapy. The key element in all such facilities is water. Be it asunder of the natural landscape surrounding a facility (ocean, rivers, lake and waterfalls), decoration in the background (pools, fountains) or an active treatment component, water is a very important element in the world of spas and wellness.More and more spas without a natural hot springs are examine the possibility if tapping into mineral geothermal water resources to upraise their business. The trend towards natural looking environments or riding horse is also evident in many spa hotels and resorts where swimming pools and thermal bathing facilities are designed and built to looks are natural as possible, with inclination pools the closely typical and widespread design.The development of these spa and wellness water resources can be divided into two broad cases Hot spring These are usually well known and general apprehended for their curative respect and their therapeutic realises based on both water temperature and mineral content mineral springs These can be cold or fond(p) water from a nature spring, with curative value based on the type and concentration of minerals in the water. Often, the water can be taken internally too and is bottled and distributed (Cooper, P. nd Cooper, M. , 2009). Current International Trends in Spa and Wellness Tourism The trends of indulging in a relaxing environment has turned into a global movement but one with a sign ificant battle from the original concept of health and natural hot and mineral spring spas, which mainly specialized in rehabilitation. The new emphasis lies in the prevention of disease and in the maintenance of fair health instead of cures, with high expectation regarding health improvements even if there are no particular(prenominal) problems.Mind and soul are usually catered for long with the body in many spas using holistic approach of creating harmony for those in need, including new-age treatments as well as the more traditional rehabilitative therapies. The main center of attention at present appears to be a natural healing method incorporating Asiatic treatments accompanied by the esthetic appeal of easterly lifestyles and culture, which are in great demand. Therapies of Asia origin are very much combined with European balneotherapy and hydrotherapy as well as sport and fitness facilities to offer diversity of options in order to attract as many customers and client as possible.Nearly all spas cater for aspects with special signature treatments to ensure that there are no missed opportunities (Cooper, P. and Cooper, M. , 2009). Characteristics of Spa Tourists traditionally it has been women who have chiefly used spas. However, a consumer research conducted by ISPA in 2003 determined that 29% of spa tourists approximately the world are men this regard rose to 30% in 2004. As men cut through to represent a significant harmonize of the spa market, more spas are offering special treatments for them and men-only spas continue to open in cities around the world (Grihault, 2007 Mintel, 2005 Messerli and Oyama, 2004).The Baby Boomer generation (45-60 years old) continues to be the core consumer base for the global spa tourism industry. According to Haden (2007) industry analysts have long known that health conscious Baby Boomers have been the main driving force butt joint the worldwide nail down in the spa industry. However, some argue the appeal of the industry reaches a bigger age-range Swarbrooke (2000 p 78-79) claims that nearly visitors to spa sites are in the social classes A, B and C1 and are between 30 and 65 years of age.Mintel (2005) have a quasi(prenominal) view, claiming it is the 25-64 year old market who dominate the customer base for spas this group tends not to be at the family life stage, and their members are as likely to be male as female. The average age of visitors to spas is currently 49 years (ETC, 2002). Yet Hudson (2003) argues that by 2050, 20 percent of the worlds community will be threescore years or older and by 2150, this figure will maturation to over 30percent. These claims seem prominent however it is clear from all the statistics available that the population is aging and that this trend is set to continue.Latest research by International Database, US Census in 2007 confirms these figures and scans the number of population aged over 55 years is projected to reach 2. 6 billion or appr oximately 27. 7% of the world?s population by 2050. Thus, the number of individuals aged 55 and over is forecast to grow at a rate of about 4% per year over the next 43 years (Haden, 2007). According to a survey carried out by the British merchandise Research Bureau (BMRB), 70. 8% of those aged over 45 years had been on holiday in 2006, compared to 64. 9% of the general UK population.A Mintel study of US travellers in 2005 revealed that those over 55 years are more inclined to take holidays lasting flipper days or longer. Maintaining health in retreat has do a top introductoryity. In a 2006 study of US health and fitness clubs in May 2006, Mintel found that those aged over 55 years were far more likely to enter in some form of strenuous practice session five or more times a week than other segments of the population (Haden, 2007). If such predictions are dealt with wisely, the outlook for the industry appears to be positive it will help to drive tourisms product in general an d health-related travel in particular. taking this into consideration, such a shift will clear have substantial implications for the international health and spa tourism industry. Research Literature Health spas had their origin in Europe and many resorts had name that were associated with spas. The popularity of mineral springs carried over to Northern America and the springs were the location of some of the earlier resort. It is important to differentiate between spa hotels and resort spas. Spas hotels cater only to spa business concern and all lymph glands must participate in the meals, treatment and exercises.On the other hand, resorts spas are amenities that are available to the guest, and charges are made for the versatile physical exercise of spa (Liguori, S. and Gray, W. ). Administration of spa hotels heavily involves people with a medical background, whereas resort spas are besides operating departments of the resorts. Exercises-oriented facilities are swimming pools , tennis court, handball and racquetball courts, proceed trails, hiking and weight and aerobic training. Spa plan include dietary program, massage, herbal wraps, exfoliation, that also therapy, facial and hydrotherapy. down the stairs both scenarios, staffing involves people experienced in the program and administrative personnel. Ways for boosting gross The method presented in the previous section illustrated the overall contribution of resort spas to resort revenue, in order to offer more insight into how spa managers can increase their spa revenue, the author of this study conducted to an interview with a spa director of one of the leading resorts spa in Southwest Florida. The director state that resorts should first focus on guest experience to increase their sales.In that directors case, she mentioned that her resort was able to increase the incremental spending from $658 to $985 per night by forwarding spa and other activities together. The director also stated that pre-arr ival process is a critical component for revenue maximization. She offered a case as an example where she use a system called power booking in which a spa front desk agent was call guest two to three days to prior to the spa reservation date and providing the opportunity for upgrades and additional bookings base on availability (Rutherford, D. and OFallon, M. 2011). According to OFallon M. and Rutherford D. (2011) stated that spas are booming such a significant component of the service bill of fare for resorts and full service hotels that their absence, in particular in amenity- full resort environment, is glaring obvious.Within the leisure industries in 2003, revenues related to spas ranked number four behind golf fees and dues ($19. 7 million0, cruise lines revenues ($14. 7 million), and health club revenues ($14. 1 million). At $11. 2 million, spa revenues outpaced amusement park revenues ($10. 3 million), box dominance receipts ($9. million), and vacation ownership sales ($5. 5 million (Thacker, 2004 Audi and Wright, 2004). In this section, we first examine trends that choke a sea change in North Americans attitude toward spa demand demographics we discuss the type of spas currently popular in the industry, development and running(a) considerations, the components of a spa experience, compensation issues, and trends in the spa industry. Spa demand According to the International SPA Associations research, between 2002 and 2003, 11% of the national population over the age of 16 made one or more spa visits.This statistics shows that in xten Americans visited a spa during that period. Additionally, of these, 41% were visiting spas for the first time, indicating a larger population embracing spa usage. Age demographics show that 145% of clients are between the ages of 16 and 24, and over 50% are in the 24 to 44 age bracket. An emerging national statistics is the number of male visits to spas. 23% of spa visits and 29% of spa goers were men in 2003, tre nding toward special gender oriented treatments and male- only spas being opened worldwide. Spa selection criteria are determined by a number of factors.An established and known environment for instance, as part of an established resort, club or destination spa often influences the decision, and does atmosphere, quality of treatment, and friendliness of staff. Additionally, among spa goers nine out of ten respondents report they would return for a similar experience. Most spa customers believe they receive good value for their spa dollar. On a 10 point scale, services were given an average of 8 for value with massage generating 8. 8 on the value such as Canyon Ranch are opening in the day spa market, adding new competitive pressure on the independents.Non-traditional players are also adding product supply. For example, corporations are creating in house spa environments, hospitals are adding wellness as part of their repertoire, and medi-spas, with a primary focus on cosmetic surger y, are adding spa business as an additional wage center. Health club are also move to capture a piece of the pie by adding spa practices. The rationale in this market is that time-crunched patrons can benefit from the one-stop-shopping approached to fitness and wellness but the health club operator also uses the spa as an lure to join the fitness centre.As the day and destination spa markets become saturated, it will become exacting for survival that each operator differentiate itself from the competition. The extremity for market segmentation to ensure clear communicating with consumers will be a key to supremacy in the maturing spa market. Another component of success will be a branding schema that the consumer can immediately identify with respect to spa performance and the consumers personal comfort travel (Rutherford & OFallon 2011).Health Issues and Spa Demand. Increasingly, spa goers are looking to hit prolonged wellness that integrates and renews body, mind and spir it. To that end, eastern and Western lifestyle issues related to medicine, philosophy, and spiritual are becoming a mainstay of many spa/wellness experiences. To best deliver this, the wellness spa (located at day, destination, or resort environment) supports guest needs by creating an experience, not just a serial publication of treatments. All the guest amenities, treatments, and programs must be seamlessly integrated into a personally tailored guest experience.This experience should be targeted toward couples, parents with children, and teenagers. In the early 1990, spa were considered a natural outgrowth of fitness facilities and focused primarily on treatments related to body wellness. As market sophistication evolved, the body mind connection attracted consumer focus. In the beginning of the twenty- first century, spas and marketers are overtly addressing body, mind, and spirit connections in order to respond to emerging market sensibilities (Rutherford & OFallon 2011).Spas as an Operating Department. Historically, spa trading operations were treated by management similarly to other revenue departments, like catering and restaurants. These departments were simply perceived as an amenity needed to attract guest to the hotel. As long as the department stony-broke even, or didnt lose too some(prenominal) money, their ability to increase occupancy was deemed sufficient defense for their existence. However, in the late 1990s, hotel spa followed the path of other operating departments and were transformed from support to profit centres. This trend is strong and continues today (Rutherford & OFallon 2011).Spa Trends On site industry trends Anti-aging treatments and products are driving oftentimes of spa menu and retail development. This calls for devoting a treatments room to outpatient medical procedures. Programming and spa menu items include sun damage treatments, chemical skin for renewals, and other rejuvenation techniques that build on repeat proce dures. Commensurately, spas are developing retail product lines so that clients can take the spa experience berth and continue the wellness regime. Global Industry trends Trends in day, destinations and amenity spas influence each other.According to Susan Ellis (2004), president of Spa finder, a spa marketing company, after the rise of the medical spa and broadening spa participations by men and teens, spa use is expected to become more popular in the future. Spa Finders trends to watch for are those personal elements that make the spa experience special will find their way into the design of personal living spaces in private homes private, gated living communities will develop around central spa facilities, much like golf and sly-in communities.Managing visitors expectation and experience. Visitors expectation of a wellness centre or spa will differ greatly jibe to which country they come from, their language and their experience of wellness facilities generally. For example, th e British or Americans would have a very different understanding of what they would expect to find in spa (i. e. luxury, pampering, and beauty) from a Central or Eastern European (i. e. healing waters, physical health checks, and medical treatments). Information provision and marketing is therefore exceedingly important in managing visitor expectation.In some cultures, nudity in spa is the norm or even a requirement in some areas (e. g. suanas and steam rooms). This is true of Austria, Germany and some spas in CEE and Scandinavia. However, for some visitors (e. g. American, British, Asians, and Southern Europeans) this can be unexpected and even embarrassing. In some cultures (e. g. Finland and Japan) men are separate from women when using sauna or spa facilities. In other cultures, mixed nudity is accepted. Some nationalities are used to doing activities in groups and are not used to enforced silence (e. . Southern European). This can create a certain amount of tension in countrie s, where spas and wellness centers are seen as quiet, restful, sometimes even spiritual spaces (especially in sauna and steam rooms) wait on may also be needed to demand visitors around spas, as it could be their first visit or rituals and traditions may differ from those in their home country. Language may be a parapet where there is little or no translation, especially in countries where language can seem completely unfamiliar (e. g. Finland, Japan, and China).Visitors sometimes have problems knowing which approach to use if there is more than one, which ticket to bargain for when there are many options, and might not understand the cloakroom system (e. g. in Hungary, where a cloakroom attendant usually has to be approached for a locker and key) or the new technology (e. g. in Austria when the locker system can be run short using a wristband). Knowing just how long to stay in medical, mineral or thermal waters is not clear to the inexperienced. Even if 20min is the recommen ded time, bathers need to know how long to rest or whether they should go to a cool shower after.Just a small information panel outside a bath, sauna or steam room can be abounding to inform visitors, what the recommended length of time should be. (Smith & Puczko 2009). Atmosphere Creating a relaxing, clean, and pleasant environment is a paramount importance for all wellness facilities, but most especially for spas and spa or wellness hotels, which may also need a touch of luxury (spiritual or holistic tourist may accept more basic facilities). The use of design, colour, lightning, and location of furniture, degree of natural light, greenery, views, music or scents can all contribute to creating a harmonious atmosphere.Certainly, most of these qualities are determined during the planning process. The management may face seriousies when the services and/ or the surrounding environment do not support or company each other. These mismatches certainly result in sub-optimal expiation and consequently lower the optimal revenue level 9 (Puczko & Smith 2009). Spa Tourism Spa tourism is arguably the best known form of wellness tourism and is sometimes treated as being synonymous with wellness tourism.ISPA (2007) defines spa as places devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit. ISPA also defines the key elements of the spa experience relax reflect revitalize and rejoice. It is difficult to distinguish between spas and more general forms of wellness (e. g. holistic retreats) however, it also shows clearly the diversity of the spa sector. There are now numerous sub-sectors inside spa tourism and it is no longer enough simply to use the label spa and deport that tourist will know what to expect.Perceptions differ greatly, for example, tourist in Central and Eastern Europe are very similar with the concept of historic medical spas, whereas other visitors (e. g. from the United S tates or United Kingdom) with expect something similar to a beauty salon. Spa are now of a highly complex and several(a) nature. This diverse nature st humanistic discipline with the name and its likely meanings. Bath, bano, bad, therme/ terme, grotto, spa, kupele, furdo all mean a thermal water-based spa, in various languages. The translation of the name from the original language often uses the term spa, but these establishments are not really always spa.Spas may differ astray in terms of what they offer, that is their services or treatment supply, and however, they have one thing in common, which is the aspiration to improve health and well-being. Most spas have some form of water-based treatments however there is a difference between mineral, thermal, and healing waters mineral waters it has at least the set amount of fade away mineral content which is minimum 500mg/1 or 1000mg/1 thermal waters natural waters that are at least 30 C or 32 C at source (this can vary country by country) healing waters the healing affects have to be proven, that is evidence-based.The International Spa Association (ISPA, 2007) has defined the ten domains of SPA or segments of the industry as the waters food, nourishment, diet, and eatable movement, exercise, and fitness touch, massage, and body work mind/body/spirit aesthetics, skin care, natural beauty agents physical space, climatology, global ecology social/cultural arts and values, spa culture management, marketing and operations time, rhythm, and cycles.not every spa contains every domain. The rejuvenation of the spa concept has generated several attempts to categorize spas. Since the modern concept of spas were established in the United States, one of the most comprehensive categorizations comes from the International Spa Associations (ISPA, 2007 and the Spafinder Magazine, 2007) club spa day spa spa hotel holistic spa medical spa bath resort spa sport spa and structured spa.