The Millennium Generation. Future spa-goers are becoming your current spa-goers faster than they can bat their glittery eye-shadowed lid at you. This year, kids, ’tweens and teens have put their little feet down as a viable spa audience, and there’s no denying that the combination of beauty, makeup, girl talk, health, fitness and fun is appealing to the under-18 set. And despite the giddiness of it all, there are some serious dollars to be made today—and for years to come—from this generation. These kids will be the big-spenders in your spa as they grow older, and because they are beginning to understand the importance of skin and beauty maintenance at a young age, this emphasis will continue and become more substantial as they get older, start to receive a steady paycheck and become the moguls some think they already are.

Techno spa. We know, we know … you don’t like sitting in front of a computer. However, more and more spa professionals are embracing the solutions that technology offers, helping you to do your job smarter and more efficiently, which results in more money. Gone are the days of handwriting appointments into a smudged, dog-eared scheduling book. An increasing number of spa owners are realizing the benefits of spa software, and even universal accounting software, to make their businesses run more smoothly. On top of that, the benefits of Web sites alone—not to mention those equipped to sell retail items and gift certificates—are giving spas another vein in which to succeed. Add in the ever-increasing availability of online training courses and e-newsletters, and you and your team are working smarter—and more profitably—than ever before. Say it with me now: "I love computers!"

Living the wellness life. Sure, eating right, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep are important parts of being well, but how does the spa industry factor into this equation? With developments this year in cuisine for the skin, meditation- and balance-centered services, as well as sleep and relaxation treatments, spas have carved quite a niche for themselves when it comes to experiencing total wellness. A larger part of the population now is looking inside itself to create feelings of totality and peace, and alternative spa therapies, such as acupuncture, Reiki and cupping, paired with delicious spa diets and home-based skin care regimens, are helping to develop just that. More calming, centering menu options are making spas the perfect place to complete a sense of wellness, so find your center and get ready to help your clients feel whole.