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Growth of the spa industry has been phenomenal. In 2001 nearly
156 million spa visits occurred at over 9,000 spa locations
throughout the United States. Most of these were to day spas for
facials, massages and total body skin care.
As a result of the public's growing interest in self-care,
the U.S. spa industry has witnessed dramatic growth in recent
years. The number of spa visits increased by 71% between 1999
and 2001. A Price Waterhouse Cooper’s study shows in 1999 the
fledgling U.S. spa industry generated $5 billion in revenue. In
2001 they reported revenues of $10.7 billion.
Despite a faltering economy, the growth trend continued from
2000 to 2002, with industry revenues up an impressive 114%. To
meet this burgeoning demand, the number of spa locations is
doubling every four years. This emerging industry has greater
revenues than that of amusement parks, box-office gross receipts
and ski resorts.
Medical Spa Services
The definition of a medical spa is broad and often
misunderstood. According to the National Coalition of Esthetic
and Related Associations (NCERA), a Medical Spa is a facility
that operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a
licensed healthcare professional, with a staff operating within
their scope of practice while offering conventional,
complementary and alternative treatments in a spa-like setting.
With approximately 400 medical spas operating in the United
States, the industry is still in its infancy. The New Jersey
based International Medical Spa Association is providing the
fledgling industry the much-needed educational platform to
introduce this exciting field to the international community.
Eric Light, president of the International Medical Spa
Association, believes Medical Spas are beginning to be seen as
the ‘cash cow’ of the hospitality industry. He says this new
industry is profitable with returns on investment common within
the first 12-14 months. The year 2003 saw a 147% increase in
medical day spa openings—the highest growth rate of any spa
type. See www.medicalspaassociation.org.
Mr. Light goes on to say there are a number of startups
expanding to multiple locations but no big players that have
emerged on the international markets yet. This window of
opportunity, he implies, will not remain open for very long. The
first company that seizes this window of opportunity will create
brand identity as an internationally recognized medical spa
franchise. As healthcare costs skyrocket and both sides see the
economic advantages of the fusion model, dozens of major
companies, private and public will scramble to play catch up.
The International Medical Spa Association’s statistics on the
medical spa are revealing:
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- Only 10 to 15% of the demand for Wellness Resort and Spa
services is currently being met.
- Men account for 25% of Wellness Resort and Spa
procedures and the trend will continue to grow.
- Wellness Resort and Spas have grown 133% in the last
five years—highest growth of any spa type.
- Dr. Robert Keller of the Pebble Beach California Skin
Institute cites three factors to explain the phenomenal
growth of the Wellness Resort and Spa industry.
- The alternative medicine movement led by pioneer
physicians likes Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra.
- The physical structure of spas being already in
place
- The baby boomers who now make up 51% of the total
U.S. population
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| Among the better-known Medispas are
the Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa in Aventura, Florida,
Cooper Wellness Program in Texas, and Canyon Ranch in Tucson,
Arizona. Disease screening and prevention work done at these
medical spas is many times better than services offered at
traditional hospitals and clinics. Healthcare screening and spa
services are delivered over several days at these locations. The
average daily cost is approximately $1,000, which includes room,
board and medical services. These centers are collectively
categorized as 1st generation medical spas.
As Next
Generation Medical Spas, Ailanto will be distinguished from
other medical spas by the following offerings in which we will:
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- Apply science and philosophy to prevent and treat
disease and disability
- Combine healthcare services from western and
complementary practitioners
- Offer high-tech Western medicine as practiced in
conventional hospitals and clinics
- Offer innovative diagnostic and medical treatments not
available at other medical centers
- Offer Eastern and Asian medicine as practiced in Asia,
South America, and Africa
- Provide integral health care services in 3-day, 7-day
and 14-day programs
- Offer innovative healthcare in the relaxed environs of
beachfront health resorts
- Offer real solutions to heal the body, optimize the mind
and lift the spirit
- Offer 24-7 on-line/telephone physician support for
Ailanto Club members
- Give individualized care offered by health spa
professionals
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Wellness Resort and Spa
Of the 33 hectares that we have acquired, 7 hectares are to be
developed for the usage of the Medical Spa as Guest and staff
residences, training facilities, surgical centers, spa,
gymnasium, reception. This land will be developed for the
exclusive use of Ailanto. We expect to lease the facilities to a
Spa operator or contract with the third party for the management
of such. The housing development will use this Spa as amenity of
home ownership and exclusivity; it is expected that some of the
homes will be used as guest quarters.
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Residences at Ailanto
