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New ISPA Research Highlights Pandemic’s Impact on the Spa Industry

Julie Keller Callaghan

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The International Spa Association (ISPA) has released the initial findings of the 2021 ISPA U.S. Spa Industry Study, which reveal the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. spa industry in a number of key areas.

The ISPA Foundation commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct the annual study. The findings of the so-called Big Five spa statistics—total revenue, spa visits, spa locations, revenue per visit, and the number of employees working in the U.S. spa industry—were revealed by PwC representatives during the 2021 ISPA Stronger Together Summit.

“It comes as no surprise that the pandemic has had a tremendous impact on our industry,” says ISPA president Lynne McNees. “Though the figures themselves are stark, we are confident that our resilient industry will continue to emerge stronger than ever.”

Overall U.S. spa revenues fell more than 36 percent, from $19.1 billion at the end of 2019 to $12.1 billion in 2020. A reduction in spa visits, which declined just over 35 percent from 192 million in 2019 to 124 million in 2020, was likely the biggest contributor to lower revenues, as occupancy restrictions and closures limited spas’ opportunities to welcome guests. 

The number of U.S. spa locations also fell from 22,430 to 21,560 in 2020. While spa revenue per visit remained near the previous year’s figure, falling slightly from $99.5 to $97.5, the number of total spa employees in the U.S. spa industry fell more than 20 percent to 304,800 from an all-time high of 383,700 at the end of 2019.

“This year’s study was particularly important because it offers a clear snapshot of the pandemic’s impact on the industry when compared to last year’s ‘Big Five,’” says Colin McIlheney, global research director for PwC. “Despite the decline from the high points at the end of 2019, we’re confident that the spa industry is poised to recover well due to pent-up demand through the remainder of 2021 and into 2022.”

The full study results will be released in July of 2021.

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About The Author
julieKeller_author-1

Julie is the co-founder of Well Defined and a longtime influencer and advocate in the wellness world. Along with her work at Well Defined, she is an executive recruiter and marketing specialist for Hutchinson Consulting. She is also a consultant and content strategist for numerous wellness brands. She is the former editor-in-chief and publisher of American Spa and was named a 2019 Folio Top Woman in Media in the Industry Trailblazers category and a 2018 winner of ISPA’s Innovate Award. She is also a seasoned journalist, specializing in spa, travel, health, fitness, wellness, sustainability, and beauty. She has been published in Departures, ForbesTraveler.com, E! Online, Gayot.com, Insider’s Guide to Spas, Luxury Travel Advisor, Marin Magazine, Ocean Home, Smart Meetings, Spa Asia, and Travel Agent.