Few industries are growing as fast as the worldwide spa industry which, according to the International SPA Association (ISPA) generates direct revenues of $60 billion every year.
The Global Spa Summit, held this year in Interlaken in Switzerland, says the figure is really $250bn, when the knock-on effects, consultancy, construction, are taken into account.
Brian Hunter, director of the Mary Reid Academy, one of the best-known names in beauty training since the 1950s, is well-placed to see the global picture, in a career that has taken him throughout the world in the catering, hospitality and spa industries.
