The art of relaxation: Mexico's maturing spa industry booms even when tourism doesn't.In the 1990s, Mexico's spa scene had already started to make waves in the international market. But after 9/11, health tourism was the only resilient tourist sector in the region, and it has been growing ever since. The industry made a profitable shift from reproducing U.S.-style spas in sunny Mexican settings, to selling the concept of Mexico's ancient spa from the temazcal (pre-Hispanic sweat lodge sweat lodge Hut or lodge used for ritual purification. Its use originated with Native Americans—for whom it remains a significant ceremony—but it is now common among other non-Indian groups who recognize its health as well as spiritual benefits. ) to the balneario (bathing facilities making use of natural mineral springs). While the U.S. terrorist attacks' damage to the tourism industry as a whole was only just beginning to lift at the end of 2003, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Tourism Secretariat statistics, the spa industry in Mexico grew a stunning 43% in 2003 over the previous year. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Several key players helped the industry consolidate these trends. Among them were Orlando Hidalgo Hidalgo, state, Mexico Hidalgo (ēthäl`gō), state (1990 pop. 1,888,366), 8,058 sq mi (20,870 sq km), central Mexico. Pachuca de Soto is the capital. of Hosteria Las Quintas spa in Cuernavaca, former participant in MexSpa, Mexico's eight-year-old Spa Association, and Diana Mestre, who designed such fabulous spas that developers invited her to advise on the creation of their new spas. Last year, Mestre lent her experience to Mexico's newest gem, the spa at Gran Velas Velas (pron. IPA: ['vɛlɐʃ]) is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. , Nuevo Vallarta. She still supports operations with periodic assessment visits. This routine follow-up and maintenance of quality is one sign of maturity in the industry. Others are new standards and homogeneity in spas, said Jessica Van Kurczyn, director of the Gran Velas spa. "Two years ago, very few spas had the heated aromatic neck cushions to help relax customers before therapies, whereas now they are almost requisites," she said. "The same goes with the use of small cymbals cymbals (sĭm`bəlz), percussion instruments of ancient Asian origin. They consist of a pair of slightly concave metal plates which produce a vibrant sound of indeterminate pitch. , a gentle way for therapists to let the customer know when the session is over." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Professionalism is now the name of the game, as the players in Mexico's spa industry have a high level of education and expertise. Van Kurczyn, for example, holds a university degree in tourism and a diploma in spa management. The industry as a whole hopes to increase Mexico's competitiveness with a set of professional standards, called Spas-Basic, to ensure international quality in the country's spas, said Maria Ester Hernandez, director of MexSpa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Tourism Secretariat says there are currently 136 spas in Mexico, but according to Mex Spa only 40 comply with Spas-Basic and therefore qualify to be members. DON'T SERVE IT, SLATHER slath·er tr.v. slath·ered, slath·er·ing, slath·ers Informal 1. To use or give great amounts of; lavish: slathered gifts and attention on their only child. 2. a. IT Ever-evolving therapies keep Mexico's spa culture on the cutting edge. Massage therapists train for six months to four years, and then continually update their skills. At the spa at Hotel Quinta Real in Puerto Vallarta, Marcela Vazquez who is known for her ability to put her foot reflexology Reflexology Definition Reflexology is a therapeutic method of relieving pain by stimulating predefined pressure points on the feet and hands. This controlled pressure alleviates the source of the discomfort. clients to sleep, has just learned a new form of reflexology, and will soon begin a course in reiki Reiki Definition Reiki is a form of therapy that uses simple hands-on, no-touch, and visualization techniques, with the goal of improving the flow of life energy in a person. . The list of options at many spas read like a dessert menu. Gran Velas offers a chocolate wrap, which includes exfoliation exfoliation /ex·fo·li·a·tion/ (eks-fo?le-a´shun) 1. a falling off in scales or layers. 2. the removal of scales or flakes from the surface of the skin. 3. with natural chocolate grains, followed by a white chocolate body wrap and a chocolate facemask face·mask n. A protective or disguising cover for the face, often enveloping the entire head: wore a facemask while diving; a skier's facemask; armed robbers who wore facemasks. . Vinotherapy wraps, using grape seeds and skins, are another new trend. Other treatments are truly decadent. Van Kurczyn is preparing a skin treatment with powdered gold, and therapy using hot obsidian obsidian (ŏbsĭd`ēən), a volcanic glass, homogeneous in texture and having a low water content, with a vitreous luster and a conchoidal fracture. stones. Holistic services that claim to treat the body, mind and spirit are also the rage, as are group pampering events. German Scherer, owner of Casa de Los Arboles, near Cuautla, Morelos, said groups represent 30% of his business, and three halls for special events are an important part of the facilities. "Spas are still growing at a lively pace in Mexico because we have such a good cosmopolitan market, people who like to live and eat well. And we haven't even started exploring the market in the provinces," said Scherer, whose spa offers Vavujet, a water therapy said to prevent osteoporosis. "This is a world you get to know little by little, until you become an addict," he said. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Barbara Kastelein is Mexico-City based freelance journalist. |
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