It was March, it was cold and the wind was blowing. I was
really longing for some sunrays and nice temperatures combined with a fresh
young coconut, white sandy beaches and a cosy hammock.
In near future I am
going – almost – around the world and I start in Asia. Then I can enjoy young
coconuts every day (yeah!). It is very superficial spoken when you say „Asia“,
because you can’t really compare one country with each other, but I am sure,
they have one thing in common: the long tradition of hospitality.
So naturally I started my ITB experience with a lecture by
Samantha Foster.
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| Source: destination spa management |
Samantha Foster is an expert concerning destination spa
management especially in Asia. First she put out the trends we know like day
spas, medical spas, resort spas. Nothing new really, but than she mentioned the
spa real estate. A huge trend, of course for those who can afford it, and that
really wowed me. Having your own appartement combined with modern architecture
and with all the amenities of a resort spa like cafés or wellness centres – it is like being on
holiday all year round. On the one side I can really feel the positive effects
of such an „oasis“ due to the daily stress level we endure during every day
work. You need a place where you can take your mind off and to refill your
„power cells“. Therefore I would highly recommand such a spa real estate (but
frankly said – you have the same effect if you just go into nature). But on the
other side if you live on such high standards being pampered every day, I think
it is getting harder and harder to enjoy a real holiday than. The ordinary
people percive the term holiday as something special, a break from their
routine. They are working hard all year round to get some quality time they
normally don’t have.
What are the consequenes for the spa industry if such real
estate become „ordinary life“? Very hard to imagine…
What do you think?
Text written by Petra Gangl (Tourismusverband St. Georgen im Attergau, Austria)
