news update
Groupon UK faces fair trading inquiry over adverts
Complaints from consumers about Groupon UK adverts are being referred to the coun- try’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) over “serious concerns” of its ability to adhere to the Advertising Code Te UK Advertising Standards Authority
(ASA) confirmed it will refer complaints that specifically relate to a failure to carry out promotions fairly, such as not clarifying significant terms and conditions. A failure to supply evidence that partic-
ular offers are available and exaggerated claims of the likely savings are also among the complaints referred to the OFT. According to the ASA, it had formally probed and upheld complaints on 11 occa- sions throughout 2011, as well as informally resolving more than other 35 cases.
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www.spabusiness.com/ezine Ellis unveils 2012 Spa Trend Report
Healthy feet treatments, cold and ice therapies and ‘online wellness gaming’ are developments to watch out for in 2012, according to the ninth annual trends forecast by global spa and well- ness resource SpaFinder. Te report also predicts that health coach-
ing at spas will become more popular; and that there will be consolidation between hotels’ spa and gastronomic offerings which will result in an increase in ‘spa, wine and dine’ packages. Te online wellness gaming concept fol-
lows the introduction of Spa Life by Clarins – a Facebook game based on managing a spa where points can be redeemed for Clarins products. The report also references Life Game, by US insurance company Aetna, which is “designed to make it fun, rewarding and social for [Aetna] members to achieve wellbeing goals”. Te Spa Trend Report is developed under
the direction of SpaFinder president Susie Ellis, a founding board member of Te Global Spa Summit. She says: “Aſter four tough years that made experimentation challenging, we’re
Ellis said the spa sector is “once again” innovating
seeing the industry once again innovating. Overall, we see two distinct themes. One is the industry innovating with diverse, new sen- sory experiences and treatments, such as cold and vibration therapies. “Te second is how spas are re-imagining
and extending their connection to customers, moving beyond the sporadic visit.”
€3.65m renovation for French medi-spa Te campaign will include spa grading scheme
Romanian government to support spa tourism
Te Romanian government is backing a scheme which aims to promote the country as a spa destination to inbound visitors. As part of the campaign, 20 resorts will
be graded as historic spa resorts by the Department of Regional Development and Tourism (DRDT). Te first 10 resorts – which include Olanesti, Ocna Sibiului, Govora and Herculane – have been granted the status with a further 10 being announced during 2012. Te accreditation will aim to highlight Romania’s rich spa heritage. Emilian Imbri, tourism advisor for DRDT,
said: “Tese 10 resorts have been labelled as spa resorts for balneotherapy. Te next step is for the Ministry of Health to officially grant the certification.” To obtain accreditation from the govern-
ment, Imbri said that resorts will be required to meet a number of requirements, which include demonstrating a history in offering spa treatments for more than 100 years.
Mélusine Spa, a dermatology centre based on the natural thermal waters in La Roche- Posay, France, is to reopen in the second quarter of 2012 as the Grand Termal Spa, aſter a major €3.65m (us$4.79m, £3.05m) overhaul. The medi-spa facility that
specialises in anti-ageing tech- niques is to receive an expansion from its current size of 800sq m (8,611sq ft) to more than 2,000sq m (21,528sq ſt) and fit- ted with new equipment. Facilities at the new Grand Termal Spa, La
Te thermal water spa specialises in treating skin conditions A spokesperson for the local tourist board said
Roche-Posay will include a 140sq m (1,507sq ſt) thermal pool, a hydro-whirlpool and a 22sq m (237sq ſt) hammam, in addition to a sauna. Product houses include La Roche-Posay, a
skincare line made using the thermal waters, Biodroga, Phyts and SkinCeuticals.
it will represent a “new generation of chic spas” in the countryside, rather than coastal or town- based thalassotherapy resorts. Architectural firm Latitudes is behind the
design of the new-look spa, which will use nat- ural materials such as baked bricks and tiles.
Self-help author jailed over sweat lodge deaths
Self-help author James Arthur Ray has been sent to prison for negligent homicide following the death of three people during a sweat lodge ceremony in, Arizona, US, in October 2009. Yavapai County superior court judge Warren Darrow sentenced Ray to three two-year terms
18 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital
to run concurrently, as well as being told to pay restitution, according to reports. A further 18 people were hospitalised aſter
the incident, with the prosecution reportedly arguing that Ray had increased the heat to dan- gerous levels and ignored pleas for help.
SPA BUSINESS 1 2012 ©Cybertrek 2012
IVANOVA INGA/
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
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