Spa Accreditation Scheme

Spa Accreditation Scheme

The process

In 2002 the English Tourism Council were approached by the British Spas Federation (now the Spa Business Association) about setting up some kind of grading scheme, but then due to re-organisation of both organisations this process was delayed. In 2004, the process started again with VisitBritain and SpaBA and also the British International Spa Association.  

During the period of discussion detailed consumer research was carried out with focus groups of male and female spa users and also interviews with individual clients in a selection of spas.   One of the key findings was that as spas are seen as a luxury in England then star ratings would be inappropriate as the expectation is that they would all be at 3, 4 or 5 Star anyway.

The designators

Designators have been developed to help consumers understand the different types of spa available.   All spas will be positioned in one of the following descriptive designators.   The spa operator will have the choice providing that the spa meets the description for that designator:

• Day Spa

• Hotel Spa  

• Salon Spa

• Sport and fitness Spa

• Natural Spa

• Destination Spa

• Resort Spa

• Medi-Spa      

Who can participate in the scheme?

Any business can participate in the scheme providing that:

a)     it has a minimum of two treatment rooms

b)     it is staffed by qualified therapists who are covered by practitioner or professional indemnity insurance

c)      it provides a minimum of six treatments, some of which should be body treatments, including massage

In addition it is expected that all treatments offered in an accredited spa are to be given by the qualified therapist or beautician, at all times dealing with the guest in a courteous, caring and professional manner.

An assessor will carry out a mystery shopper visit by booking a treatment or package (as appropriate to each spa) and visiting as a normal client on the appointed day to enable them to see the spa in operation from a purely consumers viewpoint.    The assessor will check that all of the MER are in place and assess all aspects of the spa operation and their visit experience.   This assessment will be done under the following headings

• Information and enquiries

• Booking and arrival

• Quality of departure

• Changing rooms

• Quality and condition of treatment rooms

• The treatment

• Quality and condition of relaxation room

• Quality of wet and heat facilities / experiences

• Quality of ancillary areas

• Range and quality of food and beverage provision

• Hospitality

• Cleanliness        
   

How to join the Spa Accreditation Scheme
Spa Standards (Download the standards here)
Consumer Research
Testimonials
Spa Voucher

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