New York – December 14, 2016 – In 2015, hotel spa department revenue grew at a faster pace compared to other sources of hotel revenue. According to the recently released 2016 edition of Trends® in the Hotel Spa Industry, U.S. hotel spa departments were able to increase their revenue by 5.6 percent from 2014 to 2015. This compares favorably to a 3.3 percent rise in rooms revenue for the properties in the survey sample, and a 5.5 percent increase in total hotel revenue. This is the first time since the 2007 edition of the publication that spa revenue growth surpassed rooms revenue growth.
“CBRE Hotels’ Americas Research is projecting modest gains in rooms revenue for the next few years as the U.S. lodging industry operates at the top of the business cycle,” said Mark VanStekelenburg, managing director of the CBRE Hotels practice in New York City. “Therefore, hotel operators will need to look at other operated departments, like the spa, in order to accelerate the growth of total hotel revenue.
“Health and wellness is becoming an increasingly important component of everyday life. Though historically considered as an exclusively high-end hotel amenity, the integration of health and travel is now expected, at almost all hotels,” VanStekelenburg added.
In 2015, spa revenue grew more robustly than total hotel revenue at both urban and resort hotels, as well as hotels with more than $1 million in spa revenue. Spa operations with less than $1million in sales were the only properties where spa revenue growth lagged behind the increase in total hotel revenues.
CBRE Hotels has surveyed the profitability of U.S. hotel spa performance for ten years. The annual review compiles revenue and expense items within spas operated by U.S. hotels. Not included in the survey are hotel spa operations that are leased to an outside party, day spas or destination spa properties.
Strong Profit Growth
While hotel spa revenue is showing relatively strong growth, hotel spa department profits are increasing at an even greater pace. In 2015, hotel spa department managers were able to convert the 5.6 percent increase in revenues into a very strong 17.7 percent boost in department profits. In accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry, department profits are calculated before the deduction of undistributed and fixed operating expenses.
Spa managers were able to achieve such strong gains in profits because they controlled their expenses. From 2014 to 2015, the combination of cost of goods sold, labor costs and other operating expense increased by just 2.1 percent.
“Labor costs comprise approximately three quarters of operating expenses for a hotel spa. Given the surge in hotel labor costs that we have seen in recent years, spa managers should be commended for achieving such strong flow-through within their departments,” VanStekelenburg noted. “In fact, it was a reduction in other operating expenses that offset the 5.8 percent increase in labor costs and allowed hotel spa departments to achieve the strong growth in profits.
“Because of scheduling challenges, spa department managers always have relied heavily on contracted employees. Now, in an effort to control labor expenses, we are starting to see other department managers increase their use of contract and leased employees to stem this rising cost within their departments,” VanStekelenburg observed.
A Bright Future
Recent economic reports have indicated increases in retail sales, auto sales, building materials and health and beauty products. “This is an indication that people are spending on themselves and bodes well for travel. Additional research shows that travelers are mindful of their well-being when choosing their lodging. Hotels have an opportunity to take advantage of this trend not just by promoting their spas, but by offering other health and wellness amenities and services throughout the hotel,” VanStekelenburg concluded.
To purchase a copy of the 2016 edition of Trends® in the Hotel Spa Industry, please visit: https://pip.cbrehotels.com
CBRE Hotels is a specialized advisory group within CBRE providing capital markets, consulting, investment sales, research and valuation services to companies in the hotel sector. CBRE Hotels is comprised of more than 385 dedicated hospitality professionals located in 60 offices across the globe.
