Spa Travel Trending Up, Survey Shows

　　Bookings to hotel, resort and destination spas turned a meaningful corner in 2012, as more than two-thirds of travel agents surveyed by SpaFinder Wellness reported positive booking growth.

　　SpaFinder Wellness’ sixth-annual State of Spa Travel report, completed in the fourth quarter of 2012, surveyed more than 160 travel agents worldwide. Other findings included:

　　In 2010 only 10% of bookings topped US$350/night, but last year that jumped to 29%. And the majority of bookings now fall above US$300/night, up significantly from 2009-2011, when only 25% to 40% percent fell in that range.

　　35% of travel agents surveyed said “stay spa” deals were actually more aggressive in 2012 over 2011, with 55% reporting they held firm.

　　The Mexico/Caribbean region was the number one global spa travel destination in 2012, leapfrogging the 2010 and 2011 leader, North America.

　　The baby boomer generation (ages 48-67) remains this travel sector’s core demographic, with 67% of agents reporting baby boomers were the age group most likely to book spa travel in 2012.