COLIN MCILHENEY & CRYSTAL DUCKER

The State of the US Spa Industry- Evidence from the ISPA Research Survey

Presented by Colin Mcilheney and Crystal Ducker

Monday, November 15, 2010
1--2:30 PM

Discover how spas creatively managed the recession and explore the latest trends shaping the industry.  This session will provide an overview of the ISPA 2010 U.S. Spa Industry Study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and new supplementary data for the day spa and resort/hotel spa sectors will be unveiled for the first time.  Learn how to apply the research to your business operations, how your spa measures up to the industry average and other key information including:

What is the size of the spa industry in the U.S., as measured by revenues, visits, locations, employment and square footage?

What types of treatments and retail products are being offered at spas?

How does your treatment prices compare to the industry average?

How many people are employed within the spa industry and what types of benefits are being offered?

Are there signs the industry is emerging from recession?

What are the key challenges that lie ahead for the industry?

Colin Mcilheney was born in North Belfast, Northern Ireland and educated at the Belfast Royal Academy. He won the Thouron Scholarship to study at the University of Pennsylvania and subsequently was awarded a master's of science in research methods and statistics at Jesus College Oxford.

He completed his first survey research publication in 1978, and over the course of a 30-year career, he has conducted more than 250 global surveys.

McIlheney gave the Royal Statistical Society annual lecture in 1999 on his contribution to exit poll research, and he has conducted pioneering surveys in sensitive issue research topics in Bosnia, South Africa and many parts of Asia, where he led the research team in a 15-country study of duty-free shopping patterns at airports. In the 1990s he conducted the landmark study on the market for pay-per-view television in the UK.

Currently, McIlheney serves as specialist research adviser to ISPA, working closely with the leadership to provide guidance on the interpretation of many research studies produced for the industry and to advise on survey best practices. He is also Global Research Director for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

 Crystal Ducker currently serves at the vice-president of membership and marketing for the International SPA Association and oversees ISPA's research projects, membership initiatives and communication plans.  Since joining the association, Crystal has helped launch the 2008 Global Consumer Study, 2009 U.S. Spa Industry Update, 2010 U.S. Spa Industry Study and Snapshot Surveys. 

Prior to becoming involved with the spa industry, Crystal served as the first female Deputy Secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet  leading public relations, legislative affairs and policy development efforts for a cabinet with more than 4,900 employees and $1 billion in active projects.