The recession is daunting. It’s omnipresent. And if it’s making you fret, well … just hit the spa!
Seriously.
No need to guilt-trip yourself about it. Many others are indulging, too.
That’s according to a study by Ernst & Young’s Middle Eastern Spa Benchmark Survey Report, which tracks and compiles the performance of Dubai’s five-star hotel spas on a monthly and year-to-date basis.
The report indicates an increase of 7 percent in the number of spa treatments booked between January and March 2009. It appears that going to the spa is one of the ways that consumers in Dubai are choosing to manage their stress. But it is worth noting that for the same period, though bookings increased by 7 percent, revenue increased by only 4 percent, indicating that these consumers are, in fact, price-conscious.
What is unclear in this latest finding is whether these trips to the spa are escapism sprees or whether they are trade-offs for what used to be actual travel getaways.
In any case, during challenging times, it’s wellness all around: Spa treatments are helping consumers alleviate the anxiety caused by the recession—and helping hotels sustain their business.
Photo credit: lyng883
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