The inaugural Spa Industry Survey Report for Great Britain and Ireland has found that the sector is booming, with annual sales growth of almost 30 per cent.

In 2003 year on year sales growth was 26 per cent, in 2004 it increased to 28 per cent. The main revenue drivers were found to be both spa and beauty treatments, with day spa packages and retail sales, although key to a facility’s offering, accounting for a relatively low proportion of sales.

The survey of 102 UK and Ireland facilities was conducted via a questionnaire by Topaz Consulting on behalf of the Spa Business Association and tourism marketing body VisitBritain. The performance data collated will be used to identify a series of standard benchmarks for the spa industry.

One of the main findings of the survey was that the boom in the spa industry has lead to the development of facilities which vary greatly in size, type and performance, with spas ranging in size from 3,000sq ft up to more than 100,000sq ft.

The range of facilities and treatments on offer is also varied and evolving, with traditional saunas, steamrooms and spa pools now supplemented by additional experiences such as hot rooms; water, relaxation and dry treatments and spa cusine

Of the spas which responded to the questionnaire, destination spas were found to have the highest number of individual spa visits, but hotels had the widest spread, ranging from less than 2,000 visits a year to more than 50,000. The report claimed this showed there was the potential for hotel spas to increase business.

“Many hotel operators view both leisure and spa facilities as a support service,” it said. “It is possible that they do not have the motivation or expertise to achieve the best possible return on their investment.” Details: www.spabusinessassociation.co.uk