Pulse December 2018 | Page 30

MEMBER PERSPECTIVES “Our guests are seeking and expecting more from spa services. They want to leave a massage with a connection; they’re looking for a spiritual or personal experience.” — SAMANTHA COOPER, Spa Director, Canyon Ranch Lenox they are visiting,” and one way to do that is through authentic products that tell a local story. Connection and Community One of the biggest trends observed by the 2018 Innovate Award-winning spas—and one that’s one of the largest macro-trends in the spa industry—is a consumer push for greater connection, both to the people around them and to the spa community. More specifically, many spa-goers are seeking a stronger sense of community with their particular spa and are identifying more and more with the values A desire to connect with others was a common theme experienced by spas in 2018. 28 PULSE ■ December 2018 espoused by it. “Our guests are seeking and expecting more from spa services,” opines Cooper from Canyon Ranch. “They want to leave a massage with a connection; they’re looking for a spiritual or personal experience.” Furthermore, this trend is affecting all aspects of wellness and hospitality, according to Cote: “Shared experiences are a huge trend at our resort, not only in the spa.” Half of their treatment rooms are large enough to accommodate couple’s massages, treatments and facials, which are hugely popular at the Hawaii resort. In response to this increased demand for shared experiences, Four Seasons Resort Lana’i updated their