Spa accreditation scheme to help holidaymakers

People planning a luxurious spa pamper break in England will now be given a helping hand after the launch of a new spa accreditation scheme.



Organised by the national tourism agency VisitBritain, the National Spa Accreditation Scheme marks the first time that a benchmark has been set for the country's spas.

Consumers will be able to feel reassured that accredited spas meet minimum standards for health and safety, cleanliness and service, and that they are committed to improving quality.

Alison Barnham, quality manager at VisitBritain, said: "I am delighted that we are launching the VisitBritain Spa Accreditation Scheme following extensive and productive consultation with both industry and consumers.

"Defining and maintaining standards is crucial to the future development of English 'health and wellness' tourism."

Spas will be grouped according to their type in order to help consumers to compare them, using classifications such as Day Spa, Hotel Spa and Natural Spa. The best-performing spas will also be awarded Gold accolades at the end of the year to set them ahead of competitors.

Britain remains a popular holiday destination with UK residents, who took 111 million trips to or within England in 2005, spending £17.5 billion.

Holidaymakers put off by 'spa etiquette'

Spas are proving to be far from the havens of relaxation and indulgence that many may take them for, with new reports suggesting that some Brits are deterred from using spas due to ignorance over proper spa etiquette.

Research carried out by Saga Holidays has found that a fifth of holidaymakers over 16 are afraid of getting it wrong when visiting spas, leading them to avoid spas altogether.

Common fears shared by many holidaymakers include wearing the wrong clothing, not knowing when to undress and a lack of certainty over tipping protocol.

Meanwhile, almost a quarter of those surveyed admitted to not understanding spa treatments and 20 per cent were less than enthusiastic over the prospect of wearing a dressing gown in public, reluctant to put their real or fake tans on full display.

"This study seems to suggest that while plenty of people are interested in going to visit a spa, many people are avoiding them because they do not understand the etiquette," commented Andrew Goodsell, chief executive Saga Group.

New research from Mintel has revealed that Brits spent somewhere in the region of £135 million on health and wellness holidays in 2006.

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