Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, has today launched a new categorisation system for the health and wellness sector in Ireland. 72 properties have been categorised under the new system which will help existing and prospective customers to better understand the variety of health and wellness offerings available to them. Ireland is the first country in Europe to launch such a complete categorisation.
Under the new categorisation system, the broad range of health and wellness retreats can be defined under the following categories: Hotel Spas, Destination Spas, Resort Spas and Specialised Retreats. The aim was to develop a representative categorisation system which is meaningful to consumers, reflects the nuance of different supplier offerings and incorporates all elements of the spa ‘experience’. Using the system, spa-goers can now make informed choices on their break away and find the products that best suit their needs.
“I would like to acknowledge the huge investment by our private sector partners in creating a world class health and wellness product”, said Paul Keeley, Director of Business Development and Investment. “Our collective efforts in creating this new categorisation system will enable consumers to make a more informed choice and allow us to better meet customer expectations.”
“The increasing popularity of the health and wellness sector is now viewed as an important part of our tourism product”, Mr Keeley said. “The explosion in the quality and quantity of spa offerings throughout Ireland has fuelled an increase in demand both domestically and internationally.”
The new categorisation system has been developed by Fáilte Ireland, working in consultation with an industry steering group, on foot of extensive research on the health and wellness sector. Each spa has been assigned to one of the categories above based on their facilities and the types of products they offer.
A new brochure and website have been developed to provide consumers with descriptions of the spa categories, information on the type of spa breaks available and the spa ‘experience’ including ‘spa speak’, along with a full listing of the health and wellness properties.
The brochure will be distributed throughout the domestic market as well as the UK, USA, Italy, Germany and France. Consumers can also find out about health and wellness breaks in Ireland by visiting www.discoverireland.ie/wellness.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- Destination Spas - A purpose built spa offering accommodation. Its sole purpose is to offer a comprehensive full service wellness spa experience for overnight or day guests.
- Resort Spas - A resort hotel which offers a wide range of on-site leisure activities, as well as a dedicated full service Spa facility.
- Hotel Spas - A hotel which also offers a dedicated full service Spa facility.
- Specialised Retreats - Specialised Retreats are dedicated to creating a well being experience and include Health Farms, Thalassotherapy Resorts and Seaweed Baths.
A detailed breakdown of each category including its definition and key attributes is available from Fáilte Ireland.
For further information please contact:
Fáilte Ireland
Louise Tolerton - PR Officer
(01) 8847135/086 6086578
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