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Photo by Engin Akyurt on Unsplash
People in countries where lockdown restrictions have eased are visiting spas, wellness travel destinations, gyms and fitness studios at rates far greater than expected.
This is according to a report by the GWI (Global Wellness Institute), which has analysed global data. It states: “New industry surveys and reports show a rush to IRL (in real life) wellness experiences that were more powerful than anyone could have expected. The International Spa Association’s (ISPA’s) recent report on the 2020 US spa industry shows that while hard hit, the numbers are surprisingly less bad than one might expect: a roughly 35% drop in visits and revenue. But spas are reporting that as of July 2021, demand for services has never been higher. And wellness travel destinations are seeing far more travelers choose wellness trips as their first vacation than they could have ever expected.”
GWI’s research cites a new, major ClassPass survey of its 40,000 studio, gym and spa partners across 30 countries which found that in the first half of 2021, users ‘have made a nearly full return to in-person fitness and wellness experiences, with nine out of 10 of the most-booked classes and services now in-person’. Spas have entered the top 10 most-booked experiences for the first time.
Mindbody (which aggregates data from its 58,000-fitness studio and wellness business partners) reported in late June that US booking numbers for in-person classes/ experiences are reaching pre-COVID levels.