Hot stone massage. Chocolate body scrub. Seaweed thalassotherapy wrap. All sound lusciously decadent and expensive.

Even the $10.9 billion spa industry admits prices are inching up, with some massages reaching $250 at the chicest of resorts. But you don’t have to pay full price. Just like the airlines and hotels, spas operate using yield management, meaning that when things are slow and the economy nosedives, prices drop. You can benefit if you learn when and what to book. Here are tips.

Weather your savings. If your destination has a particularly hot summer (Arizona) or cold winter (Maine), off-season specials may be only a thermometer away. Even five-star resorts have an off-season and a busy season. In the off-season, hotels use room discounts to attract guests, then toss in spa discounts to sweeten the deal.

Timing counts. Every spa has off-peak hours of operation: when it first opens, around noon and late in the day. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be slow days. Check if services cost less at some days or times.

Ask and ye shall receive. If you’re a walk-in client, ask about daily specials. Say you’ll come early or are willing to use the newest employee. Many spas offer discounted services to fill unbooked time. Occasionally, day spas slash prices for any first-visit treatment, such as a manicure or facial, in the hope you’ll become a repeat customer.

Or, e-mail spas ahead of time and ask about discounts for business travelers. Julie Gallaher of ThingsYouShould Do.com suggests, “Write something like, ‘I’m going to be in your town next month, but I’m on a budget, so I’m looking for something affordable.’ ”

Also, check for special-occasion discounts. For example, Glen Ivy Hot Springs (www.glenivy.com) in southern California offers free spa admission on guests’ birthdays.

Less is more. Services that require extensive training (Thai massage, Shiatsu, cranio-facial, etc.) cost more. So will a spa’s signature treatments because of the more expensive products used. Among the most overpriced spa services, manicures and pedicures as much as triple what a typical nail salon charges.

Bundle up. Bundling several treatments on one day can reduce the cost 10 percent to 20 percent over à la carte services. If you don’t want a particular service in the package, some spas will substitute.

Cast your net wide. Look off-property or outside resort areas where the facilities are often equal in quality but far less in cost. Within a mile of Honolulu’s Waikiki is Aloha Lomilomi (www.aloha lomilomi.com), which specializes in the Hawaiian lomilomi massage with extra discounts for those older than 65. Ask your hotel concierge if any neighborhood spa offers discounts to hotel guests, advises Mary Hall, author of the Recessionista Blog.

Frequency pays. If you’re in a location for a couple of weeks or visit frequently, you may be able to buy a series of treatments – say, six for the price of five – to be used within a specified time. Some spas offer a frequent-user card. The Spa at Inverness (www.invernessspa.com) in Denver offers a Relaxation Rewards card. After 11 visits that rack up $95 or more each in services, you receive a free treatment of choice.

Show your loyalty. Most spas offer loyalty programs for local or repeat customers. The Relache spa at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine (817-778-1800; www.gaylord hotels.com/gaylord-texan) offers the Preferred Customer program. Participants get 20 percent off all services on Mondays through Thursdays. To make the PC list, share your e-mail address so the spa can send you information.

Maximize a mini. Consider express treatments such as a mini-facial or 30-minute massage. A shorter facial and half-hour spent in the relaxation area may just give you the boost you need. Plus, with most full-service spas, visitors who book a treatment are free to use the entire facility – saunas, steam rooms, swimming pool, relaxation lounge – for the day.

Surf the Internet.  For other spa savings options, search with city name and “spa discount.”

Go back to school. Cosmetology or massage-therapy schools charge a fraction of their spa counterparts. Most offer a student salon or clinic where treatments are performed under the supervision of instructors. Search for schools of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (www.careersinbeauty.org) or the American Massage Therapy Association (www.amtamassage.org).

In Dallas, the Salon Professional Academy (214-222-2436) offers facials for $22. Manicures start at $11.

Shop Costco. Another great deal dug up by Consumer Reports’ Shop Smart magazine: Discount warehouse Costco sells two $50  gift certificates for $79.99 (a 20 percent savings). Use the certificates for treatments (even discounted ones) at any spa in the  network.  Make sure you have a local spa that accepts them ands use them right away.

Join the club. Consider a national or regional massage chain. The chains are prone to staffing turnover, and it may take a few visits to find the ideal masseuse, but savings can be significant. For example, Massage Envy has more than 500 storefront clinics nationwide and employs only certified therapists. Members get one massage for $49 to $59 per month (depending on location) with any extras $39 to $49 each.

Hiatus Spa and Retreat in Dallas (214-352-4111; www.hiatusspa.com) offers a similar membership program. Customers pay $59 a month for a 12-month platinum membership or $69 for a six-month gold membership, which gets them one core service such as massage, facial or wrap each month plus unlimited core services priced at the monthly fee. Memberships may be shared by four people in the same household.

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Mother’s Day is just around the corner and many of you may be considering what to get your Mother. A Spa Gift Card or Spa Gift Certificate is a great gift. It helps to minimize stress for your mother and it helps her to feel good about herself. Mom can choose from facials that reverse the hands of time, to body treatments that will tighten and tone those cellulite thighs.

Before you purchase that Spa Gift Card or order that on-line spa gift certificate with the ease of last minute printing from your computer, there are a few things that you should know before you make that purchase.

Recently, Spavelous.com has received emails from many individuals who received the gift of a spa gift certificate or spa gift cards. One person lamented ” Serenity Day Spa in Northville, MI is apparently closed. My husband purchased a gift certificate for me (from the spa itself) which I still have not used! What can I do? I am so upset I didn’t take the time for myself to go and now do not know what to do” another wrote “My daughter received a gift certificate at Spa Vure in Rhode Island for her bridal shower. She found out that the spas are closed.” These are just two of the many letters that Spavelous.com has received.

An article on Washingtonpost.com states that, according to Carl A. Boger Jr., associate dean of academic programs at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston in Texas, 5–7% of spas nationwide won’t make it through the coming year. All of this means that you need to do your homework prior to purchasing a spa gift card or printing a spa gift certificate. This does not just apply to spa gift cards, it is ANY gift card.

Given the economy, it’s more important than ever for consumers to understand who’re they buying from and doing business with
– Peggy Twohig
Associate director, financial practice, FTC

This year Spavelous has covered many Spa Closings. Some of the owners have made announcements of their closing so you could get in and redeem your gift certificates prior to them locking the doors. Some spas have made arrangements with other spas in the area to redeem them, and then there were some unscrupulous spa owners that locked their doors and cleaned the place out in the middle of the night. Spavelous puts a plea out to all spa owners to do the ethical thing. If you are experiencing a challenging time, STOP selling gift cards and online gift certificates, contact your clients to encourage they use the cards they have, and if you need to close the doors, make arrangements with a local spa to redeem your gift cards.

Planning to buy gift cards? Limit your risk

Here are a few more tips to limit your risk when buying a spa gift card:

• Follow the news: Even if you’re convinced your favorite retailer or spa is solid, pay attention to its business anyway. You don’t have to analyze its quarterly earnings statement, but you may want to follow news about layoffs, store closings and cash-flow problems.
• Pay with a credit card: You’ll have a better chance of recouping your money if the worst happens.
• Consider bank-sponsored gift cards: Sales of cards issued by a bank or credit card company such as Visa and MasterCard are on the rise because they can be used nearly anywhere and for anything, even gas and groceries.
• Consider the Spavelous Gift Card, it is a Visa Debit card and can be used at any spa or salon that accepts Visa nationwide and worldwide, it is the most accepted spa gift card of all spa gift cards.
• Consider purchaseing from a spa that uses PayPal printable gift certificates.  Paypal holds the funds for a year before they release them to the business.

 

If purchased a card and discover the spa may be closing:

• Take it back: Although most don’t have card return policies, it’s worth a shot. Do the same if you used a third-party retailer, such as Costco, a supermarket or drugstore. Your chances are better if you kept your receipt and return it quickly.
• File a claim with your credit card issuer: If you purchased a card with credit, your card company may refund the value. MasterCard says customers can receive charge-backs. Visa, on the other hand, recommends customers first try resolving problems with the retailer, then, if unsuccessful, contact their bank. American Express spokeswoman Mona Hamouly says bankruptcy disputes are handled on a case-by-case basis. “We do take the responsibility of resolving the situation with the merchant rather than leaving the cardholder hanging and filling out paperwork.” AmEx offered help to customers with Sharper Image cards, even when the submission was beyond the 60-day limit for challenging card charges. Coincidentally, Sharper Image cards were part of AmEx’s membership reward programs. Neither AmEx, Visa nor MasterCard have current plans to change policies on offering retailer gift cards in reward programs.
• Swap for another card: Those who bought gift cards at Internet sites that let you buy, sell and swap them may be covered by bankruptcy insurance policies and not even realize it. LeverageCard.com says it will transfer unredeemable balances to gift cards from stable retailers. A $50 Circuit Card recently could be swapped for equal-amount cards from five retailers, including Home Depot and Bloomingdale’s. GiftCardRescue.com reimburses for any unused card value. Claims should be submitted within 30 to 60 days of retailer bankruptcy and, of course, they’re only good for cards bought on the sites.

If you’re receiving the gift card:

• Use it immediately: Historically, only a third of giftees use cards within 30 days of receiving them. “In this economy, however, use it as soon as you get it, even if the store hasn’t filed,” says Twohig, who admits she has two unused gift cards still sitting at home.
• Call the retailer: If the company has filed for bankruptcy, call the nearest spa and ask if it is accepting the competitors cards. If you’re too far a drive from a spa, or if it’s an online retailer, call the company and ask if cards are redeemable on its Web site.
• Sell it online: Putting it on eBay is an option if your card is for a spa with no spas near you. Because gift card fraud is not uncommon on auction sites, be upfront about the card’s value, expiration date and other restrictions. Also be aware you’ll lose some money in commission fees.
• Check with competitors: A retailer’s rivals may offer to redeem at least some of the value. When Sharper Image reneged, Brookstone offered a 25 percent discount on any item purchased by an Sharper Image cardholder. When Bennigan’s fell, Texas Roadhouse let cardholders exchange for a free certificate good for any item on the menu.
• If all else fails, go to court: If you have a high value card or just feel like fighting for justice, you can file as an unsecured creditor. You should file a “proof of claim” document with the specific bankruptcy court the retailer filed in. (That information should be listed on the company’s Web site, or you can call and ask for it.) Include a photocopy of the card and any information about its value. File before the mandated deadline. Keep an eye on the legal process. If it files for “liquidation” through Chapter 7, there probably won’t be assets to pay off most, if any, gift cards. Some bankruptcy courts consider gift cards to be “consumer deposits” that are entitled to unsecured creditor priority over some other claims, but not all courts follow suit.
• Protest to the government. “It’s a good idea to contact your state attorney general because that may start some new consumer protection,” says Kwame Kuadey, CEO of GiftCardRescue and author of GiftCardBlogger. “It can especially work with small, local retailers.” He cites a recent success story in Missouri, where more than 300 consumers with worthless gift cards from a bankrupt St. Louis spa filed complaints with the attorney general’s office, which got spa owners to pay $103,000 to redeem the cards. As retailers keep faltering nationwide, more attorney general offices are banding together against bad redemption policies. When Tweeters, an East Coast electronics retailer, filed Chapter 11 on Nov. 5, 2008, it proposed to honor gift cards only through Nov. 15. State officials in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland filed an objection to the short time frame, forcing Tweeter to honor cards until its stores are closed.

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Recession blues are so not pretty, and increasingly, consumers have been cutting back on life’s little luxuries. That definitely includes spa visits and appointments for facials, massages, and manicures.

Well, here’s a treat for frugal fashionistas and budgeting beauties who want to stack paper and still look fabulous.

From April 13 to 19. Over 750 spas nationwide will be offering up to three spa services, normally $100 or more, for a discounted price of $50. And you need to book an appointment ASAP if you want to get in on this sweet deal! Trust me – speaking from personal experience, these spots get filled up fast.

All kinds of establishments will be offering the discounted deals — day spas, med spas, and fancy-pants resorts. This year’s list of participating venues ranges from West Palm Beach and Boca, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, to Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and downtown. Here are the local offerings, so all you need to do is pick up the phone and dial!

Beach beauties, check out:
Luca Spa (110 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305-534-7546)
Laser Cosmetica (400 Arthur Godfrey Rd., 888-341-9674)

 

 

The Standard (40 Island Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-1717)

 

Uhma Spa (726 6th St., Miam Beach; 305-695-0996)

 

 

 

Downtown:

The Spa at the Sports Club/LA (in the Four Seasons Tower, 1441 Brickell Ave.)

 

 mySpa at the InterContinental (100 Chopin Plaza, 305-372-4444)

 

 

BodySense Holistic Spa and Wellness Center (2292 Coral Way, 305-854-3100)

 

Skin Therapie Spa (31 Almeria Ave., Coral Gables; 305-448-0555)

Up north in Aventura, there’s the Sleek MedSpa (19501 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura; 877-629-SLEEK)

If you’re new to the practice of pampering yourself, visit the website for tips on what to expect, how much to tip, and whether or not you should strip buck naked before entering the steam room or not.

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With the economy slumping and fuel prices soaring, facials and massages may not be a top priority for consumers on a budget.

“You can still go and have a spa experience without spending a ton of money,” says Veronica Cole of the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, Calif. “Many spas, like ours, offer use of our facilities with one treatment, so you can come spend hours relaxing.”

In other words, if you can’t afford a weekend or overnight stay, consider booking one massage or scrub at a destination spa, which usually entitles you to use the pool, steam room and other facilities for the day.

The Ojai Valley Inn, located not far from Los Angeles, is a destination spa known for its blooming lavender gardens and an approach that draws on Native American traditions. Cole said carving out an hour or two and hanging out at the spa can be relaxing enough to make you feel like you’re on a mini-vacation.

Jaime Huffman of the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, N.C., said more 50-minute massages have been made available recently instead of more expensive 80-minute massages.

 

The Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine, offers a $99 spa sampler on Sundays.

Booking midweek is usually cheaper than weekend trips, and spa owners suggest asking about specials like a mother-daughter discount or a family discount. Most spas have them but don’t necessarily talk them up.

Cole also suggested asking the therapist or aesthetician for tips on how to continue the regimen at home.

“It’s not that we don’t want you to come and stay with us for days – we do,” she said. “But if it’s a choice between thinking it’s too expensive and skipping it altogether, we’d rather you just come for something small.”

Spas are still growing despite the economy: 138 million people visited spas around the country in 2007, according to the most recent industry figures from the International Spa Association. And spa revenue in 2007 was $10 billion, the organization said, up from just over $9 billion the year before. Data for 2008 shows that spas continue to grow, the association said.

Spa operators also suggest considering a spa vacation as an alternative to going to Europe or taking some other big trip. There’s rarely a need to drive once you’re at a destination spa, so you won’t be spending money on gas. And an all-inclusive booking means that lodging, food, pools, the locker room and other amenities and facilities like hot tubs and steam rooms are included in the cost.

“You can really retreat to a spa, and there are no unaccounted costs because you pay upfront,” said Lola Roeh, general manager of the Osthoff Resort, which is home to the Aspira Spa in Elkhart Lake, Wis. “You can chose to add on costs, like additional treatments, but that’s up to you.”

Destination spas can be pricey – $500 for a weekend or more – but it’s possible to cut other costs if you decide to vacation at one. The Lodge at Woodloch, located about two hours outside of New York in Hawley, Pa., is far enough away from the city that visitors can feel like they’re on a real vacation, but close enough to take a bus or train from Manhattan and save on gas. And you don’t have to stay a week or five days – many spas offer two-night stays that can still be relaxing.

Many other spas are located outside of major metropolitan areas, like Kohler’s newest day spa in Burr Ridge, Ill., outside Chicago. The company, known for its faucets, paired a showroom with the spa so clients can sit in whirlpools or fancy tubs and do shopping for remodeling, too.

Along with tips for spa-goers on a budget, other themes emerged at the Aug. 21 spa meeting. Here are five trends shaping today’s spa experience.

 

BUSY BEES: Many spas are catering to the stresses on busy workers. The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Va., is offering a Wi-Fi massage geared toward the muscles you use when you’re at the computer. Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, N.Y. offers meditation to help calm nerves.

 

THE FIRST TIME:

Ginn Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla., offers a clothed massage – for people who are afraid of going in the buff to a treatment. A survey of spa-goers last year found 70 percent who hadn’t tried a massage were uncomfortable with being naked or partially naked. This massage eases people into the treatment – and hopefully allows them to feel more comfortable to go full Monty later on.

COUPLES TOO:

Ginny Lopis of The Lodge at Woodloch says she’s seeing more and more couples booking spa getaways. At least half the guests these days are male, she says. “It’s really not just for ladies anymore,” she said. “We get husbands and boyfriends here who really enjoy it.” Other spas say they are seeing more couples, also.

GO GREEN:

Spas are getting greener, from homeopathic treatments at the JW Marriott Spa Collection to an eco-friendly spa at Mohonk Mountain House that uses organic products made from locally grown ingredients. The Kohler spas are big on water conservation, and use eco-friendly shower heads and toilets.

DISTINGUISH FROM THE MASSES:

With more than 18,000 spas around the country, establishments are distinguishing themselves by offering unique treatments and products. The Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts spas offer a lava shell neck treatment, which uses shells, applied in the same way that heated stones are sometimes used in massage.

 

The Lake Austin Spa Resort located outside Austin, Texas, offers yoga and spa treatments for those with asthma and allergies.

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Mother’s Day is one of the largest spa gift giving days of the year.

Click to See All 2009 Mother’s Day Spa Specials, and the very Best Mother’s Day Resort Spa Deals.

This year let Spavelous assist you in spreading the “word of mouth” about your spa.  With todays economy and 5 -7 % of spas expected to close this year, Spavelous wants to support the US Economy with our Mother’s Day Spa Stimulus Package.

From now until Mother’s Day, Spavelous will promote your spa for FREE!  We want your employees to keep their jobs, be busy and maintain tourism in the United States all while assisting your local clients to visit you more often.

To take advantage of this offer you must be a spa located in the USA, just send us an email with your spas information:

• Spa Name
• Spa Address
• Spa Telephone Number
• Spa Website
• Your Name
• Your Position
• Mother’s Day Special
• In subject line place the words “Mother’s Day Free”

Spavelous will Activate your Spa Listing with:

• A link to your website
• A link to your Spa Gift Certificates Sales Page
• A link to your spa reviews
• Post your Spa Deals on the Spavelous Website
• Include you in the Spavelous Special Mother’s Day Spa Special Edition

This listing will be active until Mother’s Day!

Take advantage of Spavelous 2.5 million spa specific hits per month and boost your Mother’s Day Sales.

Send all emails to vbernat@spavelous.com

Learn More about Spavelous Marketing Programs

This offer is good for new listing only. Current listings will continue to enjoy a low renewal fee for continuous marketing plans.

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Stress is Less with Massage

 

National consumer research released today said 81% of American adults feel as stressed (45%) or more stressed (36%) now than they did a year ago and are using a variety of strategies to cope. The research was conducted by Harstad Strategic Research and sponsored by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP).1

Despite the sour economy, the overall use of massage therapy remains consistent: 14% of adult Americans had a professional massage in 2008 compared to 12% in 2004 and 16% in 2006. Those who did not receive a massage in 2008 were more likely to cite their pocketbooks as the reason than in previous surveys.

Among those who had a professional massage in 2008, 58% said they did so for “relaxation, restoration or stress relief,” and 85% of 2008 massage users were satisfied with the experience, predicting they would seek massage again in 2009.

“When many people are curtailing spending on vacations and other big-ticket items, massage is an ideal and lower-cost option for reducing stress,” said ABMP president and nationally certified massage therapist Les Sweeney. “Massage therapy has been shown to reduce stress hormones, relieve anxiety and depression, strengthen the immune system and improve attentiveness, so it’s an excellent strategy for challenging times.”

The nation’s leading mental health association, Mental Health America, recommends massage therapy as a way to diffuse stress. Some employers are turning to workplace massage to help employees cope with uncertain times and increased workloads.

“As employers are looking for ways to manage workplace productivity and stress, perhaps using fewer employees to do more work, some are bringing chair massage into the mix,” Sweeney said. “At about $1 a minute, it’s an inexpensive way to maintain loyalty, and manage anxiety and lost work time.”

Another Harstad Research finding was that visits to all types of health professionals, including medical doctors, declined slightly in 2008 as compared to 2006.

“This is not surprising in a year of belt-tightening throughout the economy,” Sweeney said. “It may be a matter of postponing rather than forgoing care. Consumers should keep in mind massage could be useful in helping stave off routine doctor visits, co-pays and missed work time because of the immunity-boosting power of massage.”

The proportion of adults who made at least one visit to a massage therapist (14%) again exceeded the proportions visiting a chiropractor (12%) or a physical therapist (9%). Forty-two percent of American adults have received at least one massage in their lifetime.

Reference

1 The January 2009 Health Care Survey was conducted by Harstad Strategic Research, Inc., the national public opinion research firm in Boulder, Colo. The survey results are based upon 602 random telephone interviews among adults age 21 or older nationwide. Interviews were conducted from Jan. 6 to 11, 2009. A random sample of 602 has a worst-case 95 percent confidence interval of plus or minus 4.0 percent about any one reported percentage.

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In late November, a couple of months after the global financial crisis leaped to the top of news reports, spa lovers browsing  were showing new interest in a concept fit for jittery times. Along with the usual search terms, like “day spas” and “massage,” a newly prominent word was typed into the site’s search engine three times more often than it had been in the summer. That word was “stress.”

Interest hasn’t waned since.   Not only is “stress” still showing up often in the site’s searches, but weekly traffic to “stress management”  has doubled since the summer months.

When the economy was good, taking a spa vacation was largely about pampering yourself. It didn’t matter that the afterglow of that $165 carrot-and-sesame body buff lasted only until your next shower. Now, with the sinking economy on most people’s minds, a trip to the spa has become something else — an investment of sorts, in well-being.

The shift in mood is not lost on spa owners, who have long been savvy marketers, convincing people of the purifying qualities of sweat lodges and persuading them that a nightingale cleansing mask, made from sanitized bird droppings, was truly worth $109.

 

Miraval, the spa resort company based in Tucson, Ariz., is offering a new De-Stress Me package designed for “these trying times,” according to Tracey Anne Latkovic, the vice president of sales and marketing.

 

 

The Eldorado Hotel and Spa in Santa Fe, N.M., is running a Stress Bailout promotion to attract travelers looking “to escape the non-stop coverage of the economy,” according to a press release.

 

 

And under the usual New Agey marketing jargon that flashes across the sleek home page of Canyon Ranch, the destination spa company that was luring guests for body poundings and weight-loss regimens before the modern spa proliferation was a gleam in marketers’ eyes, there is a new message straight from its founders, Enid and Mel Zuckerman. “Has there ever been a time when you could have used an escape to Canyon Ranch more?” it reads, under the caption “The Vacation You Need” and a proverb about health, hope and happiness.

“No?” the pitch continues. “Then book your healthy, revitalizing getaway today and let us help you re-establish your balance. In times like these, nothing — nothing at all — is more important than taking care of yourself and on focusing on what really matters: Health, hope, love and a tranquil mind.”

During past economic downturns, Zuckerman said in an interview, business had been “very strong, because people need to get away to deal with stress, deal with fear, go to behaviorists, do life management, protect their health.” So far, Canyon Ranch’s revenues are “holding up very nicely” this time, too, he said, despite a dip in occupancy of about 10 percent in Tucson and Lenox in 2008. And the company opened a new luxury spa in Miami in December, just when the recession was proving itself entrenched.

Of course, a little financial incentive also helps. To battle the uncertain economy’s dampening effect on leisure spending, spas are marrying their new emphasis on stress relief with a flood of discounts and deals.

Rancho La Puerta, just over the California border in Tecate, Mexico, explains its decision to keep prices at 2008 levels — starting at $2,795 a person for seven nights, double occupancy — this way on its Web site: “We feel that in these tumultuous times a destination spa vacation is more important than ever.” It has also run Bring a Friend promotions that allow a guests to double up and share $1,500 to $2,200 in savings.

Miraval’s Authentic Remedy package, which starts at $399 a person a night — more than 40 percent off regular rates — includes extras like organic wine tastings and cooking classes. Mii amo, at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Ariz., is holding rates at 2008 levels and offering other discounts.

Not to be outdone, the Golden Door in Escondido has rolled back weekly rates to 2007 levels of $7,750 a person through May 24, down from $8,275 originally planned for this year, and is offering $500 savings if you bring a friend.

Even Canyon Ranch, which has never lowered its published rates — “I could never compromise our standards or cut our programs because we no longer could be who we are,” Zuckerman said — is tinkering with pricing.

Canyon Ranch in Tucson is offering credits of up to $350 for stays of at least four nights (which start at $3,770 a person, based on double occupancy) to out-of-towners, to help offset airfares. Its sister property in Lenox, Mass., has a fifth-night-free deal through April — in effect a discount of as much as $1,000 depending on accommodations and time of week — and is also offering 15 percent in savings when two guests who have never stayed at a Canyon Ranch resort share accommodations.

Last year, at the second-annual Global Spa Summit in New York, Ian Schrager, the trendsetting hotelier who is designing a new spa brand for Marriott, suggested another way spas could improve business — add spaces where spagoers can hang out. “These are places where people can meet and socialize before or after spa treatments,” he said in a keynote address. “People feel good when they come out of the spa and spas can take advantage of that.”

Spa owners have no more insight than anyone else into how long tough economic times will last. “I have no idea whether we got another year or two or three years ahead of us,” Zuckerman said. But recently, Canyon Ranch bookings have been picking up ever so slightly, he said, which he takes as “the message that people still want and need what we have to offer.”

For the nail-biting stress victim who still has enough money left to relax at a spa at all, this may not be entirely the worst of times.

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Day spa offers $10 haircuts for a cause

Haircuts for first-time customers at Tranquility Day Spa and Salon will cost a mere $10 in March.

Usually haircuts at the spas at 15125 Washington St., Suite 304 in Haymarket and at 10360 Portsmouth Road in Manassas average $60.
Hair coloring for first-time customers will be $50.

All of the proceeds will go to Securing Emergency Resources through Volunteer Efforts, a local charity that serves the homeless.

Gloria Harding, co-owner of the spas, said the economy drove her to offer the deals.

“In light of the economic situation that we’re in here, I wanted to find a way that I could give back to the community and also help our business grow at the same time,” Harding said.

Harding chose to help SERVE because of what SERVE does.

“We have a personal relationship with SERVE. They have a wonderful program there and they help feed and clothe people who are here locally,” Harding said. “We’re a local business and we want to help people who are are in our neighborhood.”

The offer also gives people who can’t afford services the chance to visit the spas that have been recognized by Washingtonian and Northern Virginia magazines as two of the top spas in the area.

“There are a lot of people in the community who would love to come and have services at Tranquility, but maybe they can’t afford it,” Harding said. “People love to spend money on things that make them look and feel better and at the same time help a good cause. It’s a great combo.”

Harding has never tried anything like the $10 haircut offer before, so she doesn’t know how busy the spas will get.

“I’m stepping out on faith,” she said.

Harding also encouraged other companies in the area to remember local charities.

“I cannot say enough about how important that is. Some times I think local business owners get distracted with wanting to help lots of different organizations when really we’ve got to take care of our people right here at home first,” Harding said.

Walk-ins and appointments will be accepted.

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Blue Salon & Spa

Only a jitney ride away, Blue Salon and Spa is really a diamond in the shopping center rough. The spa is located next to Ann Taylor, just a walk across the parking lot from the movie theatre. This newly opened salon offers high-end goods and services from Aveda, a company known for it’s botanically-based, environmentally- friendly makeup, skincare and hair care products.
Blue Salon was opened in September 2008—a tough time for any fledgling business. However, they have enjoyed a flourishing first few months; owner Lisa McKnight attributes their success to the fact that they are one of the only high-end salons in the area.
Although the spa strives for a luxurious experience, haircuts are very reasonably priced for such a salon. For $30, an associate designer will give you a wash, cut, dry, and even a scalp massage, all using Aveda’s beautifully-scented products. For $40 and up, McKnight, a master designer will put her 22 years of hair-cutting, dying, and styling experience to use perfecting your coif.
Massages and facials are also very popular at the salon. Blue features a “Corrective Elemental Nature” facial for stressed skin, which includes exfoliation, face and neck massage, and addresses your individual skin concerns, whether you have dry, sensitive, or oily skin.
Blue also offers a “botanical skin-resurfacing anti-aging facial,” a “skin- renewing treatment” that improves skin slowly over the course of several treatments, a “plant peel,” to exfoliate skin, and a “rosemary mint awakening body wrap.”
Not one to skimp on the perks, Blue also includes a free footbath with each facial, as well as the scalp massage with each hair service. Additionally, be sure to ask for the Aveda tea. It’s rather pricey to buy—about $14 for a box of 20 tea bags— but it’s complementary at the spa and delightfully relaxing.
The salon’s hours are also quite generous; many salons aren’t open on Sundays or Mondays, and often close rather early. Blue Salon, however, is open 10-9 from Tuesday to Saturday, 12- 5 Sundays and 2- 9 on Mondays.

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