define "day-spa"

[Smarty Pants]

Hello, All  :I'm relatively new to this industry and I'm looking for the opinions of board members as to what actually constitutes a "day-spa"?  I ask this question because a couple of therapists in  my area list their business as a "day-spa" but only offer massage and maybe a couple of spa treatments like mini-facials and salt-glows.  Does a business have to have hydrotherapy services or does a spa treatment qualify you to use the day-spa term?  Just curious.  I use the words massage therapy and spa-treatments in my business name, as I don't feel that my massage room is a day-spa.  Thanks for your input.Elvira

 

[www.tarotpack.com]

In certain areas on the web you can find me listed as a "day spa".  Ok, I'm certainly not a day spa but I figure the more places that I'm listed the more my name will get out their.  Some people might think that I shouldn't list under the heading but I don't care.  It's about being seen.  If someone is truly wanting a day spa, they'll ask some questions and realize that I'm not what their looking for.  Others may be looking to see what's out there or available and stumble across me and think my place is perfect for them.  I don't advertise on my business card or mailers, word of mouth or anything else that I'm a day spa....only certain places on the world wide web.  It works for me and I think it's ok to do.

 

[rrrrrrrrr]

The strict definition of day spa does mean you have hydrotherapy (after all "spa" refers to waters), and usually change rooms and relaxation area.  People don't have to turn up at their appointment time they can arrive earlier and use facilities, or stay afterwards and continue to use facilities.Is this what a business that calls itself a "day spa" usually provides?  no, a lot tend to be beauty salons offering some day spa treatments (or massage therapists offering some day spa treatments).  Does the general public usually know the difference? no.   As terab said, if they know they want more than the treatments you offer, they will go somewhere that does.If you say "day spa treatments" it makes it a bit clearer that the treatments are the day spa items available rather than the facilities. Full day spas that have gone to the expense of installing all the facilities probably get annoyed at the misuse of the term.    They probably feel it's used inappropriately, in a similar way to massage therapists getting annoyed at "sensual massage" using the term massage inappropriately.

 

[Shelby. (:]

Thank you, Mimi and Terab for your info.  Melb, you really answered my original question.  I appreciate you all so much.