ABSTRACT
Since the first destination spa, Rancho La Puerta, opened its doors in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico in 1940, destination spas have gained in popularity as their benefits became increasingly recognised, especially in the Western world where the lifestyle was faster-paced and more stressful than that in the East. Globalisation and cultural imperialism has changed the lifestyle of the East to ever more resemble the Western lifestyle. The shift in the global economy from West to East has resulted in increased spending power of the population in the East. This as well resulted in changing lifestyle trends and consumer behaviours, mirroring those of the West, leading to a higher consumption of Western products and services. These factors have led to a growing number of health problems that were not previously apparent in Eastern societies. The need to address these issues combined with the demand for products and services that are unique and offer more than just a foreign brand name have led to the growing development of destination spas in regions such as Asia and the Middle East. In this chapter I will explore this development using as examples two wellness hospitality developments, one in Qatar and the other in the People’s Republic of China.
