Spas across the US generated US$18.1bn (€17.2bn, £14.4bn) in revenues in 2021, marking an almost 50 per cent increase when compared to 2020 (US$12.1bn, €11.5bn, £9.7bn).

This is according to data from the 2022 US Spa Industry Study, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on behalf of the International Spa Association (ISPA).

The report, which is published annually, details overall revenue, number of spa visits, number of spas, revenue per visit and total employees for the US spa industry in 2021.

Findings signal encouraging news for market recovery, indicating revenue has nearly returned to 2019, pre-pandemic levels – US$19.1bn (€18.1n, £15.3bn) – an all-time high for the industry.

“We’re thrilled to report strong signs of recovery for our industry,” said ISPA president Lynne McNees. “We’re confident this positive trend will continue and we look forward to seeing how members use this new industry and consumer data to further elevate the industry.”

Visits and revenues up
The 2022 report also found spa visits increased by nearly 40 per cent – shifting from 124 million in 2020 to 173 million in 2021.
Revenue per visit received a boost too, jumping from US$97.50 (€92.65, £77.77) to US$104.50 (€99.30, £83.35), indicating a seven per cent rise.

The total number of employees rose 13.2 per cent from 304,800 in 2020 to 345,000 in 2021. ISPA splits this into full-time (162,800), part-time (167,100) and contracted staff (15,100) – which had declined slightly by 0.7%.

As of January 2022, 21,510 spas were recorded, compared to 21,560 in 2021*, which indicates a 0.2 per cent fall, but includes locations temporarily closed.

“This year’s study indicates a significant bounceback from the depths of the pandemic in 2020,” said Colin Mcilheney, global research leader at PwC. “The overall revenue growth, substantial increase in visits and sharp rise in revenue-per-visit are particularly encouraging as the industry continues its recovery.”

ISPA’s US Spa Industry Study has been published annually since 1999 and the latest edition saw responses from 2,300 spas. The study was unveiled at ISPA’s Conference & Expo in May at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The association is set to release its full findings in July 2022.