Increasing numbers of younger people are finding themselves experiencing spa and wellness pursuits. The smart generation has it all calculated - the fun, the experience and most important the ROI (Return on Investment) of "destination wellness"-better energy at workplace, enhanced creativity, a youthful cheerful look on faces that the corporate hiring manager can't miss and above all, sickness prevention, which is paramount to keep the job in these competitive harsh economic times.
Baby boomers are no longer the major clientele of Spas and Wellness Centers worldwide. Increasing numbers of Gen X and more recently Gen Y have taken many new players in the 'destination wellness' segment by surprise. The established players are successfully coping with this new challenge by doing what they are best at doing-constant reinvention. The new age Spa Goers use all the applications and gizmos available and research about spa offerings the same way they do for anything else-finding the latest scores in sports to the most updated road maps to the supermarket. The offerings at these destinations are compared based on prices and when prices match the deal maker (or, breaker for that matter) it is .. Authenticity!
It is common knowledge now that there is a paradigm shift in the P's of spa consumerism from good old 'pampering' to finding 'purpose', aiming for health 'prevention', and 'promotion' of healthier lifestyle. But with the sharp rise and emergence of day spas the world over, authenticity is proving to be the key factor. Authenticity in spa terms could be defined as 'the unique aspect of a spa treatment which is determined either by the originality in approach and the skill level of practitioner or, the settings of treatment delivery closest to as recommended by the particular tradition that treatment is drawn from'. The spa consumers would rather delay the consumption of that spa treatment till they return home and could get the same treatment at their neighborhood day spa unless the respective treatment at that destination wellness location is indeed 'authentic' and the whole experience can simply not be replicated elsewhere.
It could be really challenging to find 'the right destination spa' for you and even more so when every other spa promises unique offerings. So, what should be the deciding factor in choosing the right one where you should invest your hard earned money and spend that much awaited vacation after 18 to 24 months of constant hard work? There is no simple answer to this but a place that has existed for at least a decade (trust me, these destination spas almost always are like a fine wine and get better with age), has in-house staff training facilities, the right management and leadership policies in place that ensure retention of key personnel and above all have staff welfare at forefront of their corporate vision are your best bets by far. Day-long work at a busy spa for a therapist while working on client after client could be quite draining and unless a destination spa absolves its therapist team from peripheral stress, your treatment in that room would be nothing more than just another massage or just another facial. It is very important that the spa personnel and more importantly, the therapists at your 'destination wellness' are fully loaded with positivity (generally reviews of such destinations by previous visitors do a fairly good job in helping you assess the presence of positivity among staff in that spa) to make your overall experience memorable and truly restorative.
Ayurvedic therapies, oriental healing methods like Balinese, Japanese Reiki and Holistic offerings, are typically the ones that define a destination spa. These treatments and therapies are in much demand for all the right reasons. An authentic experience of these treatments would leave two very positive lateral effects. These effects are at deeper levels and no shallow than the soul and the mind - better awareness of oneself and your commitment to continue on the path of a healthier lifestyle from there onwards. This becomes possible as the renewed focus is to preserve the valuable state of total harmony and good balance you achieve with the treatments experienced!Remember, a lifetime experience awaits you in those serene treatment rooms when a lovely smiling therapist waits outside to welcome you in and pours her heart into that 'signature' offering-an offering which is truly authentic and unique to a specific wellness destination.
