Independent research company Intelligent Spas has released its new Spa Market Overview Reports for each member state of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Middle East region. The reports are available for download arond $50 (€45, £32) per report, but Intelligent Spas managing director Julie Garrow shared some key findings with Spa Opportunities.

• In Dubai, 52 international hotel brands are operating spas in the market

• In Abu Dhabi, local spa brands operate three branches on average• In Five Emirates, 45 per cent of all spas in the collective Emirates of Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain are in resorts

• In Bahrain, 67 per cent of club spas promote a plunge pool or whirlpool for guest use• In Kuwait, hotel spas contain 15 treatment rooms on average

• In Oman, seven new spas have opened since March 2014• In Qatar, 66 per cent of spas are in hotels and resorts

• In Saudi Arabia, branded hotels and resorts contain 56 per cent of the market’s spas.

“I really enjoyed conducting these detailed studies to examine the types of spas currently operating within the GCC area and confirming which spa and hotel brands are represented in each member state,” said Garrow. “I believe the research findings will enable existing and new stakeholders to make smarter decisions relating to their financial initiatives.”

The new Spa Market Overview Report for the Americas also reveals that in Jamaica, branded spas represent 28 per cent of the market, and in Miami, six spas have opened and three spas have changed name since early 2014.

Spa Market Overview Reports contain an update of new spas recently opened by open date; spas now closed or which have stopped offering spa treatments; the number and proportion of branded spas by local, regional or international brand name. They also examine the number and proportion of spas in branded hotels; the number and proportion of spas by spa type; the average indoor spa size by spa type; the average number of treatment rooms by spa type; the average number of stations by spa type; and select support facilities offered by spa type.