Each year the Spa Business team comes together to discuss everything we’ve seen and heard in our travels for our annual Spa Foresight predictions (see www.spaforesight.com). Many trends we’ve spotted over the past 15 years are coming to the fore – from brain optimisation and cellular health to social wellness clubs and immersive environments. As we gathered in January, self-service spas topped our list as a potential disruptor for 2025 and beyond.
While the wellness industry is embracing social wellness and connection-based experiences, ‘auto spas’ are a countertrend we’re anticipating. Such facilities will see consumers checking themselves in via a kiosk and turnstile and trying out any number of self-administered touchless therapies – from vibrating chairs and biohacking pods to floatation tanks and contrast bathing circuits. Not forgetting, of course, the missing piece of the jigsaw: AI-powered massage. ‘Robot therapists’ are now available in spas after years of development and we take a deep dive into the different kinds of equipment coming to market on p94.
