Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, president of the Republic of Mauritius and a biodiversity scientist, highlighted wellness as a key industry opportunity in her opening speech at the first continent-wide spa conference in Africa in late September.
“Spas and wellness centres have a big future ahead,” she said. “But they should repackage existing offerings and develop new ones to define and market spas as a wellness necessity – especially by drawing on traditional, cultural-based therapies...
“There’s also a strong need to build a body of evidence-based consumer research that connects spa with wellness.”
Gurib-Fakim was talking at the inaugural annual show for the Spa & Wellness Association of Africa (SWAA). The two day event, held at the gorgeous Lux Belle Mare resort in Mauritius, attracted 60 spa operator and supplier delegates from nine countries across Africa. The show is a milestone achievement for SWAA, an organisation set up in 2010 to support the development of the sector on the continent.
Made in Africa Many discussions over the two days focused on promoting home-grown talent. SWAA president Elaine Okeke-Martin, who’s passionate about raising the profile of spas in Africa, said: “African countries have so much to show the world and I think the SWAA is their platform to showcase what each country can offer in terms of wellness and traditional healing.
“Some spa owners in Africa will continue to look to the west and redo what’s been done but some will create a format that actually fits with African lifestyle expectations. I think these ‘made in Africa’ spas will deliver services compatible with people’s beliefs, allowing the authenticity to shine through, entice and inspire the rest of the world.”
In fact, research shows Africa is the fastest growing region for spa and wellness even though it’s most often overlooked. According to the 2014 Global Wellness Economy Monitor, the number of spas in sub-Saharan Africa quadrupled to 1,544 between 2007 and 2013.
Standards and education Delegates heard that addressing therapist and product standards is essential if Africa’s spa industry is to reach its full potential. A training panel discussion outlined a particular challenge in this area. With no certification body for facilities or therapists, it’s difficult for companies to substantiate spending on training, or to be able to recoup their investments.
Another fascinating discussion centred on standards for authentic African spa products which are increasingly popular with tourists. Local brand owners Stephan Helary of Terres d’Afrique, Amanda Khan of RoxSpa and Helen Cassan of Seven Colours were candid about the issues they’ve had in sourcing local ingredients, packaging and quality control.
The second day of the conference included a full-day spa management training course by Wynne Business for 29 students. The course covered best practices in operations management, understanding financial metrics and the latest marketing concepts to help them better position their spas for the international tourist market.
Overall, it was agreed that the whole conference provided delegates with a rare opportunity to be further educated on many aspects of spa operations.
The next SWAA networking event will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on 21-22 January. It’s one of a number of events planned by this growing association which expects to have 50 members signed up by 2016 and 100 by 2017.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Letters:
Concerns raised over massage-on-demand vetting systems
Interview: Michael Tompkins
What’s next for Michael Tompkins as he takes a step back at Hilton Head Health? Rhianon Howells finds out
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Leading skincare brand Dr Burgener Switzerland combines natural ingredients with advanced technology to produce exceptional results – and the company sees customisation as the way forward for each of its spa clients
Trends: Workplace wellness
Neena Dhillon looks at two award-winning employee wellness programmes and asks how spas can get involved in this burgeoning market
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA International has always been a leader in the global spa business but has never been averse to change. The CEO and son of its founder explains how the company he joined 22 years ago is adapting to meet the challenges facing the industry today
Research: Onwards & upwards
ISPA research shows the US spa sector has reached new heights. Colin McIlheney analyses the findings
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
Spa concept: Eforea 2.0
Hilton has refreshed its spa concept to make it more appealing to hoteliers. But what’s changed? Jane Kitchen finds out
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the company is helping spa operators become more efficient with space-saving but stylish spa equipment and accessories
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, president of the Republic of Mauritius and a biodiversity scientist, highlighted wellness as a key industry opportunity in her opening speech at the first continent-wide spa conference in Africa in late September.
“Spas and wellness centres have a big future ahead,” she said. “But they should repackage existing offerings and develop new ones to define and market spas as a wellness necessity – especially by drawing on traditional, cultural-based therapies...
“There’s also a strong need to build a body of evidence-based consumer research that connects spa with wellness.”
Gurib-Fakim was talking at the inaugural annual show for the Spa & Wellness Association of Africa (SWAA). The two day event, held at the gorgeous Lux Belle Mare resort in Mauritius, attracted 60 spa operator and supplier delegates from nine countries across Africa. The show is a milestone achievement for SWAA, an organisation set up in 2010 to support the development of the sector on the continent.
Made in Africa Many discussions over the two days focused on promoting home-grown talent. SWAA president Elaine Okeke-Martin, who’s passionate about raising the profile of spas in Africa, said: “African countries have so much to show the world and I think the SWAA is their platform to showcase what each country can offer in terms of wellness and traditional healing.
“Some spa owners in Africa will continue to look to the west and redo what’s been done but some will create a format that actually fits with African lifestyle expectations. I think these ‘made in Africa’ spas will deliver services compatible with people’s beliefs, allowing the authenticity to shine through, entice and inspire the rest of the world.”
In fact, research shows Africa is the fastest growing region for spa and wellness even though it’s most often overlooked. According to the 2014 Global Wellness Economy Monitor, the number of spas in sub-Saharan Africa quadrupled to 1,544 between 2007 and 2013.
Standards and education Delegates heard that addressing therapist and product standards is essential if Africa’s spa industry is to reach its full potential. A training panel discussion outlined a particular challenge in this area. With no certification body for facilities or therapists, it’s difficult for companies to substantiate spending on training, or to be able to recoup their investments.
Another fascinating discussion centred on standards for authentic African spa products which are increasingly popular with tourists. Local brand owners Stephan Helary of Terres d’Afrique, Amanda Khan of RoxSpa and Helen Cassan of Seven Colours were candid about the issues they’ve had in sourcing local ingredients, packaging and quality control.
The second day of the conference included a full-day spa management training course by Wynne Business for 29 students. The course covered best practices in operations management, understanding financial metrics and the latest marketing concepts to help them better position their spas for the international tourist market.
Overall, it was agreed that the whole conference provided delegates with a rare opportunity to be further educated on many aspects of spa operations.
The next SWAA networking event will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on 21-22 January. It’s one of a number of events planned by this growing association which expects to have 50 members signed up by 2016 and 100 by 2017.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Letters:
Concerns raised over massage-on-demand vetting systems
Interview: Michael Tompkins
What’s next for Michael Tompkins as he takes a step back at Hilton Head Health? Rhianon Howells finds out
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Leading skincare brand Dr Burgener Switzerland combines natural ingredients with advanced technology to produce exceptional results – and the company sees customisation as the way forward for each of its spa clients
Trends: Workplace wellness
Neena Dhillon looks at two award-winning employee wellness programmes and asks how spas can get involved in this burgeoning market
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA International has always been a leader in the global spa business but has never been averse to change. The CEO and son of its founder explains how the company he joined 22 years ago is adapting to meet the challenges facing the industry today
Research: Onwards & upwards
ISPA research shows the US spa sector has reached new heights. Colin McIlheney analyses the findings
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
Spa concept: Eforea 2.0
Hilton has refreshed its spa concept to make it more appealing to hoteliers. But what’s changed? Jane Kitchen finds out
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the company is helping spa operators become more efficient with space-saving but stylish spa equipment and accessories
Capella Hotel Group has appointed Feisal Jaffer as chief development officer as the company
ramps up its global expansion of both its Capella and Patina brands.
People taking GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound
may be losing weight, but they’re also becoming less physically active, according to new
research presented at the ENDO 2026 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Global retreat trade show, Synergy The Retreat Show, has launched a resource called The
Source, which hosts an open-access online Transformation Series programme.
The Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) charity has announced its first five-
day Living with Cancer and Beyond retreat, which will be held at Carden Park Hotel and Spa in
Cheshire, UK, between 1 and 5 September.
Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, has opened in Greece, with a renovated and
rebranded wellness offering called Ansana Wellness and Spa.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection property in Hawaii, US, has opened its
22,000 sq ft indoor-outdoor Spa at Mauna Kea as the final step in the property’s overall
renovation, which has cost more than US$180 million (€166 million, £140 mill
The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced
it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House
Hotel in St Albans, UK.
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
Wellness 2026 research report.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
