SpaFinder Releases 2011 State of Spa Travel Survey Findings

Posted: November 22, 2011

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At the same time, there seems to be some distinct price firming at the higher end of the market. For instance, in both 2009 and 2010, 75% of spa travel booked fell under $299/night, but that dropped to 62% this year. And, while in 2010, only 10% of bookings topped $350/night, this year that jumped to 21%. For 2011, the most commonly booked price-per-night is $250-$299, but 38% of bookings now fall in the $300+ range (up from 29% in 2010).

Baby boomers still rule the spa pool

Baby boomers (aged 46-65) remain the age demographic most likely to book spa travel, accounting for 68% of bookings in 2011. But the younger Gen X demographic is also a critical client base: 31% percent of bookings this year are coming from those aged 36-45.

Spa access remains No. 1 traveler consideration

Agents ranked which offerings/amenities at destinations are most critical to their clients, and spa facilities retained the No. 1 position for the fifth straight year. The 2011 rankings: 1) spa facilities/access; 2) proximity to beach; 3) sightseeing; 4) nature-based activities, like hiking, etc.; 5) shopping; 6) golf facilities; and 7) skiing access.