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Spas that offer medical testing services to guests are at the top of their game, but there are many reasons people come to get tested and then for follow-up treatment at a spa – and some of them may not be quite as obvious as we imagine
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 2
Some have health checks done in spas to keep ownership of results / shutterstock/Alexander Raths
To test, or not to test? That is the question. As more spas begin to tackle the opportunities presented by the move to wellness and wellbeing, one of the main decisions to be made is whether to offer medical testing.
In this issue, we examine the pros and cons of offering testing services in our Ask an Expert feature on page 52.
Test results – in the right hands – enable the prescription of more effective, customised treatments, superior outcomes for the guest and increased revenue for the spa.
However, there are pitfalls when it comes to offering medical testing and the process is not without risk for both operator and guest, especially if the spa doesn’t have full-time medical staff on-site, so the balance must be weighed.
Spas that introduce testing will find an uptake from guests who want to enhance their visit and leave in better shape, but there’s a bigger picture when it comes to motivation. Why do some choose to have tests done in a spa rather than in a medical facility? My strong inkling is that the decision may be related to insurance premiums.
Get tests done within the mainstream medical universe and your results will be kept on your medical records and, as a result, will be accessible by health insurers.
However, have your medical testing done in a private spa and the results are kept off the grid, meaning any adverse findings will not impact your ability to buy health or life insurances, or the premiums you pay for it.
In my stays at spas that offer medical testing, I’ve been intrigued to find large numbers of wealthy people who visit regularly for health tests. While the insurance aspect of the transaction is never articulated, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that’s one of the reasons this is happening.
So if your clientele extends to the wealthy, and you’re not yet offering testing, you may find there’s an appetite for these services, should you decide to introduce them.
Of course not everyone’s hiding their test results from the insurers; many guests rely on their spa break to give them a life-saving reboot. Testing can be a vital part of the process, because it leads to accurate treatment which gets results more quickly, enabling them to optimise their visit.
Whatever the motivation, if customers need it and you’re able to provide it, then testing can add a valuable and valued service which will elevate your business to another level, enabling you to offer a more rounded wellness service.
Liz Terry, editorial director @elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Wellness communities: Europe
Part 2 of our series explores some of
the most exciting European wellness
communities in development
Promotional feature: Babor
CEO Michael Schummert explains how the
company’s expertise in results-driven treatments makes its precision
‘Made in Germany’ products more relevant than ever before
Spas that offer medical testing services to guests are at the top of their game, but there are many reasons people come to get tested and then for follow-up treatment at a spa – and some of them may not be quite as obvious as we imagine
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 2
Some have health checks done in spas to keep ownership of results / shutterstock/Alexander Raths
To test, or not to test? That is the question. As more spas begin to tackle the opportunities presented by the move to wellness and wellbeing, one of the main decisions to be made is whether to offer medical testing.
In this issue, we examine the pros and cons of offering testing services in our Ask an Expert feature on page 52.
Test results – in the right hands – enable the prescription of more effective, customised treatments, superior outcomes for the guest and increased revenue for the spa.
However, there are pitfalls when it comes to offering medical testing and the process is not without risk for both operator and guest, especially if the spa doesn’t have full-time medical staff on-site, so the balance must be weighed.
Spas that introduce testing will find an uptake from guests who want to enhance their visit and leave in better shape, but there’s a bigger picture when it comes to motivation. Why do some choose to have tests done in a spa rather than in a medical facility? My strong inkling is that the decision may be related to insurance premiums.
Get tests done within the mainstream medical universe and your results will be kept on your medical records and, as a result, will be accessible by health insurers.
However, have your medical testing done in a private spa and the results are kept off the grid, meaning any adverse findings will not impact your ability to buy health or life insurances, or the premiums you pay for it.
In my stays at spas that offer medical testing, I’ve been intrigued to find large numbers of wealthy people who visit regularly for health tests. While the insurance aspect of the transaction is never articulated, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that’s one of the reasons this is happening.
So if your clientele extends to the wealthy, and you’re not yet offering testing, you may find there’s an appetite for these services, should you decide to introduce them.
Of course not everyone’s hiding their test results from the insurers; many guests rely on their spa break to give them a life-saving reboot. Testing can be a vital part of the process, because it leads to accurate treatment which gets results more quickly, enabling them to optimise their visit.
Whatever the motivation, if customers need it and you’re able to provide it, then testing can add a valuable and valued service which will elevate your business to another level, enabling you to offer a more rounded wellness service.
Liz Terry, editorial director @elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Wellness communities: Europe
Part 2 of our series explores some of
the most exciting European wellness
communities in development
Promotional feature: Babor
CEO Michael Schummert explains how the
company’s expertise in results-driven treatments makes its precision
‘Made in Germany’ products more relevant than ever before
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
