As we approach the end of another decade the Spa and in particular, the Hotel Spa industry continues to boom. In the last twenty years the success and popularity of hotel spas has been incredible. Nobody with in the industry could have forecast this in their wildest dreams. Many moons ago a Hotel was, quite simply a Hotel and a Spa was, simply a Spa. It is now apparent that the gap between the two experiences has been bridged, which in some cases now offers guests the ultimate experience in hotel spas.

So when did Hotel Spas become so popular?

This story dates back to the 1980`s when a hotel was specifically a venue that would supply their guests a service of overnight accommodation, breakfast, lunch and evening meal, bar and entertainment varied from hotel to hotel. On the Spa side of things there were twelve boni fidi Health Farms across the United Kingdom. A Health Farm in comparison is a venue that would offer their guests an opportunity to relax, unwind, pamper, de tox, weight loss, fitness advice all this combined with overnight accommodation. In essence a Health Farm was a retreat where you could get away for a few days in glorious settings get pampered and enjoy leisure facilities such as swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms and gym. So there was a distinct difference between a Hotel and a Health Farm.

During the late eighties some of the larger groups of hotel chains such as De Vere, Macdonald, Marriott etc saw a gap in the market. The gap was to bridge the link between a Health Farm experience. They figured if they could provide similar facilities, activities and treatments to their guests then this would open up a whole new market that up until then they were unable to reach. So large multi million pound investments began, hotels started to add leisure facilities to compete with Health Farms, they added beauty salons with anything from 3 - 12 beauty rooms which would allow them to compete for Spa Break business and also Spa Day business, they added gymnasiums together with fully qualified gym instructors so that guests could be introduced to the facilities, be taught how to use them safely.

So from the late 80`s and all through the 90`s more and more hotels developed themselves into hotel spas. Luckily enough for the Health Farms, thanks to magazine editorial and TV coverage the boom in health, fitness and pampering had already began so there was plenty of business for everyone. TV commercials for foods and and total healthier lifestyles all helped to feed the boom as people were being brainwashed in to looking after their health.

Today there are around 300 quality Hotel Spas across the United Kingdom, varying in price of course but all will offer Spa Breaks, Pamperdays, Spa Days and Spa experiences very similar to that of their competitors which are health farms. Hotel Spas continue to go from strength to strength as the boom has not yet reached its plato. If hotel spas can provide latest spa experiences in terms of treatments, healthy dinning options and top quality leisure facilities then they are sure to capture more and more of this ever increasing market.

The Beauty of Hotel Spas.

The beauty of taking a break at hotel spas is that it gives you the best of both worlds. On one hand you will be given the opportunity to relax and unwind in picturesque settings where activities can even include, jogging trails, hot air balloon, horse riding, mountain biking and on the other hand you can use the same facility for weddings, corporate conferences or team building events with a slant on health and fitness. Children under the age of sixteen are also made welcome where as some other resorts such as Health Farms you will find that there is an age restriction of 16.

Hen parties are the latest boom with in the boom! More and more Hen's preferring the pampering feeling to that horrific hangover! With some Group Pampering Spa Days starting from as little as £60 per person this would include two treatments, lunch and use of leisure.

So if its a flexible Spa experience you are after then its gotta be Hotel Spas.