ASK tHE ExPErt
CoLIN McILHENEy
By KELLy HEItz
the relationship between ISPA and Pricewaterhouse Coopers
goes back nearly 18 years. that’s 18 years of groundbreaking
spa industry research that has come to define the industry and
create standards by which spas all over the world measure and
plan for success. CoLIN McILHENEy has been there every
step of the way. As global research director for Pwc Research,
mcIlheney has had the opportunity to work with spas and spa
professionals all over the world. His dedication to the spa
industry and passion for our research initiatives is unparalleled.
For this month’s Ask the Expert, we dug a little deeper into
what makes mcIlheney so dedicated to our industry and
his thoughts on the latest record-breaking ISPA U.S. Spa
Industry Study.
Pulse: You’ve been conducting research on behalf of the
spa industry for quite a long time! What do you think is
so significant about this year’s U.S. Spa Industry Study?
McIlheney: What strikes me most about this year is the surge
in the number of visits to spas in the U.S.—there have been 5
million more visits than a year ago—that’s a very encouraging
sign. I would also highlight the emergence of millennials as
THE spa going generation. What they want will
drive the industry in the years to come.
“I love the
P: Why is research like what you
do with ISPA and PwC so
excitement of
important to our industry?
the annual ISPA
M: The importance of the work
Conference. delivering
lies both in its longevity—we
the key results
are now 18 years in—and the
data has come to be seen as a
on the main stage
definitive picture of the key
is still a big buzz
metrics for the industry. It’s great
for me.”
to be associated with something that
is eagerly awaited each year as a key
milestone.
McIlheney at the 2016 ISPA Conference & Expo.
64
PULSE
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October 2017
(cONtINUEd ON PAgE 66)