Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

The Work

As a Spa Manager, you will likely oversee all aspects of the spa, including managing staff, overseeing facility maintenance, developing budgets and creating marketing and promotions campaigns. Spa Managers work in hotels or spa resorts. Some spas may have a fitness focus whereas others may be more dedicated to relaxation or beauty treatments.

As the manager, your staff-related duties include supervising, recruiting, training and scheduling staff. You make sure that facilities are properly cleaned and that all equipment is in working order, and you do regular inventories of supplies.

From time to time, you may interact directly with customers, particularly if there is an issue or complaint to address.

You will likely be the person in charge of setting financial goals, reviewing costs and establishing budgets. But as is the case for all management roles, the breadth of your responsibilities depend on the sise of the overall business. For example, larger hotels may have a marketing manager, whereas the spa manager may be responsible for all marketing and promotions in smaller independent spas. You would then be responsible for generating sales and increasing memberships.

Every member of staff who deals with customers’ 'personal data', such as names and addresses, or who process payment card transactions, need to have some knowledge of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). It is the responsibility of the employer to give job-specific information on GDPR in their organisation. You can read more about data protection in the workplace here.  

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Respond to customer inquiries or complaints.
• Schedule guest appointments.
• Maintain client databases.
• Coordinate facility schedules to maximise usage and efficiency.
• Perform accounting duties, such as recording daily cash flow, preparing bank deposits, or generating financial statements.
• Monitor operations to ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, or hygiene standards.
• Plan or direct spa services and programs.
• Develop or implement marketing strategies.
• Sell products, services, or memberships.
• Recruit, interview, or hire employees.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

You will generally need quite a lot of relevant work experience to be considered for a Spa Manager position. An academic qualification can boost your chances of getting the job, Skills & experience can also be built up while working in the Industry. 

A background in Treatments & massage therapy or Health and wellness can be helpful. Working your way up from an entry level job to a management job may take a few years, but can be helped by studying business and hospitality courses.

Courses in Business, Management and Tourism are the most common.

Training & Development

 FET Centre Traineeship: Sports, Leisure, Excercize & Recreation, Beauty Thearapy, and Supervisory Management NFQ level 5-6 Search FET Courses

 FET PLC Courses: Sports, Leisure, Excercize & Recreation, Spa & Beauty Thearapy, Supervisory & Leisure Management NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

 Apprenticeship: Sales & Recruitment NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

 Higher Education CAO Entry: Sports, Leisure, Excercize & Recreation, Supervisory & Leisure Management, Business with Spa management & Customer care NFQ Level 6-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development  

As a Spa Manager, you need to keep yourself up-to-date on staff management and health and safety regulations.

Professional organisations may offer training or promote training & Networking providers:

Irish Hospitality Institute 

Irish hotels Federation 

Sport Ireland

Ireland Active 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €45k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, role, experience, and duties.

Data Source(s):
Excel / Indeed.ie/ Payscale/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels fell in this occupation between 2021 and 2022, with 6,000 fewer people employed compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. The CSO Census data shows that employment numbers were small across the individual roles included in this occupation; although the Census shows that there was some growth over the period 2016 to 2022, this was primarily related to fitness instructors.

A half of all persons employed in this occupation worked part-time, far exceeding the national average of 22%. Employment permits issued for this group related to professional sports players sports coaches/instructors. The rising cost of living is likely to have an impact on the demand for the services provided by many people working in these occupations.

An increased use of digital fitness, particularly during COVID-19, may also have an impact on future demand for these roles, along with a shift in the skills profile required (e.g. digital skills). As such, the outlook for this occupation is uncertain, with any potential employment growth dependent on the levels of consumer discretionary spending.

Leisure & travel service occupations

Leisure & travel service occupations

Although employment levels grew between 2021 and 2022 for this occupation, numbers employed remained below pre-COVID-19 levels. The numbers employed across the various roles in this occupation are too small in the Labour Force Survey for further analysis but the CSO Census data shows that approximately half of those in this occupation worked as air travel assistants or travel agents, with 2022 levels for these roles well below their 2016 levels.

CSO Census 2016 2022 Air travel assistants 3,052 2,567 Travel agents 2,418 2,086 Sports and leisure assistants 2,086 1,684 Leisure and theme park attendants 818 622 Travel agency managers and proprietors 348 367 Rail travel assistants 69 82 Leisure and travel service occupations n.e.c. 1,511 1,192 Approximately a third of persons employed in this occupation work part-time, higher than the national average.

The extent to which employment in these occupations will recover to their prepandemic levels is uncertain as affordability and attractiveness for air travel services in particular remains vulnerable to increased energy costs, and consumer demand and preferences given the green agenda and cost of living pressures.

• Irish Hospitality Institute

  • 12 Priory Office Park, Stillorgan Rd, Co. Dublin
  • (01) 662 4790
  • Click Here

• Irish Hotels Federation

  • 13 Northbrook Road, Dublin 6
  • 01 497 6459
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Confederation of International Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology

  • Gloucester
  • + 44 (0) 1452 623114
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Ireland Active

  • Ireland Active, Irish Sport HQ, National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland
  • 01-6251192
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Sport Ireland

  • Sport Ireland National Sports Campus, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
  • (01) 8608800
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here