Singapore, Thursday 12th August 2004 – The latest survey of New Zealand spas was released today by Intelligent Spas (www.intelligentspas.com), featuring strong growth in employment as a response to increased demand for spa treatments. The Spa Industry Survey New Zealand 2003 report estimated total employment grew by 13.4% to approximately 760 people between July 2002 and June 2003.

New Zealand Spa Industry Results

Other key results include:

Julie Garrow (julie@intelligentspas.com), Director of Intelligent Spas, stated "the New Zealand spa market is at a critical stage as salons expand their beauty services to offer spa treatments and resorts and hotels slowly add spa facilities to attract guests. With sound growth potential, this industry will be interesting to watch over the coming years.”

"Reliable market research is a very important element in the successful growth of an industry,” states Vanessa Gay, President of the Australasian Spa Association (www.australasianspaassociation.com). “I encourage all New Zealand spas to participate in future Spa Industry Survey Programs conducted by Intelligent Spas to reap the direct benefits from the research, such as increased visits through media exposure and easier business analysis with the free Spa Benchmark Report each respondent receives."

The Spa Industry Survey Program was specifically designed by Intelligent Spas, an independent research company specialising in the spa industry, to capture much needed statistics to assist spas and others interested in the spa industry, benchmark performance and make informed business decisions. The in-depth survey captured valuable information relating to spa types; infrastructure; therapies, treatments and services offered; visitor profiles; current trends and industry predictions.

Intelligent Spas would like to sincerely thank the participants of the Spa Industry Survey Program for their time and effort in completing the survey. Each participant received a free copy of the survey results plus customised tables to assist their business analysis activities.

The Spa Industry Survey New Zealand 2003 report is available for purchase online at www.intelligentspas.com. For further information contact Julie Garrow via email julie@intelligentspas.com, telephone +65 6248 4736 or facsimile +65 6248 4531.

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About Intelligent Spas Pte Ltd

Intelligent Spas Pte Ltd was founded to address the increasing need for quality research relating to the spa industry. This independent research company provides market intelligence to guide spa industry growth, development and performance. Intelligent Spas offers a completely objective view of the spa industry as it does not conduct consulting studies on behalf of individual businesses and does not endorse or distribute any third party, spa-related products. “Our research is self-funded and conducted without bias for the benefit of all members of the spa industry”. (NOTE: Intelligent Spas is NOT a consulting firm).

A range of Spa Industry Reports are published to address management issues and summarise industry statistics. All reports have a specific focus and incorporate unique information that is both practical and intellectual. The reports are available at affordable prices allowing everyone interested in the spa industry to source the critical information.

Spa Industry Intelligence is a free newsletter prepared and distributed regularly by Intelligent Spas. It features interviews with key players, discusses current issues and outlines interesting research statistics relating to the spa industry.

Visit www.intelligentspas.com for a current list of Spa Industry Reports and to subscribe free to the Spa Industry Intelligence newsletter.

Julie Garrow, Founding Director of Intelligent Spas, graduated with a Bachelor of Business specialising in Tourism, Management and Marketing, and has over a decade of experience in hospitality and leisure research. Prior to establishing Intelligent Spas, she represented major organisations such as KPMG (Melbourne), Southern Pacific Hotels (Sydney) and most recently PricewaterhouseCoopers (Singapore).

Julie Garrow now focuses specifically on spa industry research. She developed Intelligent Spas’ Spa Industry Survey Program and authored Spa Policies and Procedures and the Spa Integration reports. Julie is regularly quoted and published in reputable trade magazines and newspapers.

For more information visit www.intelligentspas.com or contact:

Julie Garrow
Director
Intelligent Spas Pte Ltd
#36-01 UOB Plaza 1
80 Raffles Place
Singapore 048624

Email: julie@intelligentspas.com

Web site: www.intelligentspas.com

Telephone: +65 6248 4736
Facsimile: +65 6248 4531

SPA CONSUMER SURVEY REPORTS

Asia 2003

SPA INDUSTRY SURVEY REPORTS

Australia 2003

New Zealand 2002

Indonesia 2002

Malaysia 2002

Hong Kong/China 2002

Thailand 2002

Singapore 2002

SPA MANAGEMENT REPORTS

- Spa Policies and Procedures: Standard Policies and Procedures for Spa and Salon Management, Operations and Treatments

- Spa Integration: Guidelines for Hotels, Resorts, Apartments and Similar Facilities

- Spa Integration for Clubs: Guidelines to Research, Develop and Promote Spa Services in Health, Sports and Recreational Clubs

SPA INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE NEWSLETTER

Subscribe free at www.intelligentspas.com