SPA-DEC combines live metered data (energy and water use) with normalized figures for waste and staff travel, allocating a facility’s total emissions to each visit. Validated in a large wellness resort and a a smaller sports park facility, the calculator is ready to use for operators to adopt directly, making spa and wellness one of the first visitor-economy sectors with an industry-ready, science-based carbon metric.

The research was carried out through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Therme Group and the University of Surrey, co-funded by Innovate UK. UniS’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability led the scientific methodology and analysis; Therme Group contributed sector expertise and access to live operational data from its facilities, alongside co-financing the partnership; and Innovate UK co-funded the KTP as part of its mission to translate research into applicable, real-world innovation.

SPA-DEC builds on a growing portfolio of dynamic, real-time emissions calculators for the visitor economy, following ATP-DEC, the Air Travel Passenger Dynamic Emissions Calculator, published in Communications Earth & Environment. Further calculators covering accommodation, food & beverage, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) are in an advanced stage of development or pending publication, working toward a common, science-based carbon standard across the visitor economy.