New Year, new you – smart investors combine New Year’s resolutions with luxury spa breaks
After the feasting and merriment of the Christmas break, people all over the world are buckling down to their New Year’s resolutions as of 1 January. Sadly, the statistics are not encouraging. While plans to get fit and lose weight regularly top the list of resolutions made, allabouthealth.org.uk found that only 25% of those they surveyed were confident of maintaining their resolve throughout January.
- Only 8% of New Year’s resolutions are achieved (Betterment.com)
- 60% of gym memberships go unused (Time Magazine)
- Wellness tourism set to grow 9.9% annually (SRI International)
The same survey found that seven out of ten respondents in 2012 had joined a gym in an attempt at physical improvement, yet according to Time Magazine an incredible 60% of those gym memberships were likely to go unused. By mid-February, gym attendance would be back to normal levels.
The figures from Betterment.com, which look at New Year’s resolutions in the US, outline the situation even more starkly. While 45% of Americans regularly make New Year’s resolutions, only 8% of them actually achieve their intended goals, with 25% of people not even making it past the first week.
Rather than facing the annual cycle of goals, failure and guilt once again, smart customers are taking a different approach this New Year. Global wellness tourism is on the increase, with growth of 9.9% annually predicted over the next five years, according to the SRI International Report presented at the 2013 Global Wellness Tourism Congress. An increasing number of travellers are ditching the gym membership cliché and instead booking themselves a break to heal their bodies and minds in one go with a delightfully luxurious spa holiday. Those in the know are even taking it one step further, with a New Year investment in their own personal spa retreat.
The award-winning Cinnamon Suites at Bacolet Bay Beach Resort in Grenada are the perfect example. Offered for investment through Property Frontiers, the 5* sea view hotel suites are available at 25% below the independent real estate valuation price, with 10.5% average projected NET yield per annum. For those looking to combine their investment with their New Year’s desire to improve their wellbeing, the suites also offer four weeks’ personal usage (one in high season). Property Frontiers’ Chief Executive Ray Withers comments,
“Bacolet Bay is the perfect combination of financial good sense and personal luxury. Our investors get more than just a property investment – they get to spend four weeks immersed in the luxury of one of the Caribbean’s leading beach resorts, and all from just £248,500.”
Those looking to put their New Year’s good intentions to work a little closer to home would do well to look to Albania during 2014. As one of the most exciting emerging investment markets in Europe, Albania has been attracting considerable attention of late, thanks to developments like the exclusive Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa.
With apartments, villas and hotel room investments all available, the resort offers considerable choice for investors. Property can be reserved for just €500, while the offer of a 2 year 6% pa rental guarantee or – for lifestyle buyers – a free Fiat Punto when they complete on a property purchase has been extremely well received. The resort’s spa is “a unique destination created to inspire, nourish, and guide guests on a journey to find their personal energy.” Combined with the state of the art health club facilities, including fully equipped gym and heated indoor swimming pool, it makes Lalzit Bay the perfect choice for those looking to blend their investment with their wellbeing-related New Year intentions. Hotel room investments at the resort include four weeks’ personal use allowance per year, while villa owners can take advantage of the facilities year-round.
Just across the Adriatic Sea in Italy, fractional ownership company Appassionata has found that those investing in its lifestyle holiday homes have enjoyed taking full advantage of the nearby spa facilities. Owners of Appassionata’s five bedroom, five bathroom Casa Leopardi regularly enjoy soaking in the famous thermal waters of the nearby Sarnano spa, or the hot mineral pools at Acquasanta Terme. Those looking for ultimate pampering also visit the beautician in the nearby hilltop town of Montefiore dell´Aso, who is renowned for her full body massages.
Casa Leopardi’s owners are entitled to five weeks’ exclusive use of the property per year, along with a share in the produce from the estate’s olive groves, truffle orchard, lavender plantation and vineyards, all for just £195,000. This year, the vineyards are set to produce enough wine that each owner will receive 160 bottles, after which they will no doubt need to cleanse their bodies and minds via the local spas!
As the international wellness tourism sector continues to expand, it seems that more and more people are looking to combine their good New Year intentions with smart investment choices, benefiting their bank balances as well as their bodies.
For more information on any of the featured properties, please contact:
Property Frontiers: call +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com
Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa: call +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com
Appassionata: call +39 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com