Introduction
Hospitality has to do with the art of being human. It is the ability and willingness to provide care and receive care. The hospitality industry got established several decades ago to offer relaxation and care – spiritual, social, emotional and physical to those who needed it. Hospitality focuses on the interrelationship between individuals and strangers.
It highlights the moral, spiritual, social and financial obligations of the host towards the hosted (Cummings, Kwansa & Sussman, 1998, p.4). The industry got credited with health and fitness issues. One of the booming hospitality businesses is the Sanita Par Aqua – The SPA. The SPA industry has become increasingly popular in the western economy. It has a connotation for quality of life, health and wellness.
The current hospital industry landscape
The growing awareness of SPA services has increased its global demand. The hospitality industry has made substantial economic gains from the SPA business in the recent past. The goal of the hospitality industry is to meet the diverse needs of its customers. Consumers have varied tastes and preferences which the drivers of the hospitality industry have to consider in their provision of services.
The business organization reflects the physical environment, demographic and cultural priorities of the consumers. The management of the industry has grown in professionalism. There is extensive attention given to such matters as cleanliness and neatness, staffing and organization (Barrows and Powers, 2008). The current industry is product focused.
Current Global Trends in the hospitality industry
There is a global transformation on how the hospitality business becomes implemented. The whole concept guiding the changes has to do with the growing customer care. There is a general shift from focusing on the products to the consideration of the customer needs and brand intensification.
The old method of developing products around the customer needs and enthusiastic sales and marketing are becoming irrelevant. The industry is moving to a place where the psychological and emotional needs of the consumers count more. This level of priority goes beyond the traditional focus on the physical needs of the consumers (Andrews, 2007).
The marketing strategy is changing rapidly within the hospitality industry. Newer and innovative approaches get adopted to sustain the industry on the cutting edge. This is important for the business because of the new insurgence of gay and lesbian tourism. Old approaches cannot sustain the complexity of marketing needs of gays and lesbians as part of the expanding hospitality industry.
The SPA model got much publicity because it has led to increased profitability of the industry. It has led to quality of care and little effect on the ecology. The business legal consent and reputation are on the highest scale. There is more automation in the provision of information and making of service reservations.
The SPA concept attempts to get hold of the customers beyond their working and schooling time. This enables the service providers to understand and scope the essential needs of each category – men, women, children, gays and lesbians.
The current market trend and focus on environmental issues are critical to the expansion of this industry. Attention given to staff training and improvement on quality of life is inherent in the future growth of the industry.
Conclusion
The hospitality industry has outgrown the traditional models of doing business. The industry now embraces innovative methods of marketing and service provision.
Reference List
Andrews, S., 2007. Introduction to Tourism and Hospitality Industry. India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited.
Barrows, C.W., & Powers, T., 2008. Introduction to the Hospitality Industry. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cummings, P.R., Kwansa, F.A. and Sussman, M.B. (eds) 1998. The Role of the Hospitality Industry in the Lives of Individuals and Families. United States of America: Haworth Press, Inc.