SPA Management Business Plan - Case of SoulConcord - Term Paper Example

In the first year, the company may face certain difficulties. However, in the coming years, it is determined to make a huge success.

In contemporary society, the spa is turning out as part of the day to day life. One can notice, the spa is mushrooming at a faster rate even in the suburbs and thus the spa industry is growing at a healthy rate throughout the world. As the concept of the spa is quite new, often people misunderstood it with other non-spa businesses like beauty salons, massage services offered in hotels and clinics. Therefore, the misconcept of people regarding spa can be minimized with help of a clear-cut definition. A spa can be defined as “a business offering spa treatments based on authentic water-based therapies which are practices by qualified personnel in a professional and relaxing environment (Cohen & Bodeker, 2008, p.55).

It is quite hard to find out the origin of the spa industry but as per the experts, the use of mineral springs and thermal mud was part of the first civilization developed on the Earth. With time, the concept of different forms of baths got attached to religious ceremonies, hygiene, and beauty. Among the ancient spa baths, those of the Roman Empire was the most famous ones. These social baths were part of the culture and a means of hygiene. In Roman culture, large hydrotherapy and garrisons were built near hot springs. These places were used by the soldiers to heal their battle wounds. However, the prevailing spa industry has its origin in Europe during the 18th – 19th century when people started using water therapy for rheumatic and respiration disorders. At that time spas were specifically made in mountain towns so that the visitors can enjoy spectacular views along with fresh air and water treatments. The modern spas are also based on hydrotherapy principles that use thermal pools, different types of massage, and mud baths for therapeutic use (Williams, 2006, p.4-5).  

The concept of the therapeutic use of mineral water was well known to the Native Americans.  The spa industry was commercialized in 1790 when Saratoga Hot Spring in Wyoming was opened for commercial use. \