An increasing number of local authority-owned leisure centres are being upgraded with spa facilities, as operators embrace the emerging trend to provide members with wellness.

Leisure operators and suppliers, such as Everyone Active, Malling Leisure Trust, Sentinel Leisure Trust and Pulse Group among others, have identified that council partners are increasingly expressing an interest in spa and wellness facilities.

Everyone Active, which operates eight spas across its 150 leisure centres, is attempting to close the gap between private and public sector facilities by growing its premium spa brand.

Duncan Jefford, Everyone Active regional director, told the latest issue of Health Club Management: "There has been a consumer shift towards holistic wellbeing, and including spas in the facility mix reflects this. We're constantly striving to deliver premium quality at affordable prices, and including a spa offering gives us another unique selling point in the local market."

The Pulse Group also said it had noticed a shift in interest from councils wanting to include spa facilities as part of new build or refurbishment projects.

Warren Ormerod, Pulse Group director of football and fitness, said: "Local authorities are far more commercially savvy than they used to be."

To read the full article click here