I am studying the Spa at Estancia La Jolla Hotel because I believe it embodies the content in the experience economy article. The Spa not only sells products and services but sells the Spa experience as well. The experience affects every individual differently intriguing all five senses on both an emotional and physical level. Adult women and men go to relax at the Spa for many health and wellness reasons as well as celebratory occasions or in preparation for momentous events. Lastly, I chose the Spa because it allows me to reflect on all four types of economic distinctions: commodity, goods, service, and experience.

After reading the Experience Economy article, it is interesting to reflect on the Spa. For example, as the article discusses examples of how Disneyland and Niketown started in the experience economy because they had entertainment to stage from their retail stores. So as a result, the companies started charging a fee of admission for the entertainment these companies provided. They were selling products and services however there focus became what they could do to provide their guests with a memorable experience. The Spa at Estancia does the same thing. The guests are purchasing a treatment, i.e. a massage or facial but is experiencing the tranquility of the spa itself as well as the service. This then creates the staged entertainment, which validates the charge of the service fee in addition to, the actual treatment. The guests are paying for the service but reaping the rewards of the entire environment the Spa provides. This environment that the Spa creates fits in the escapist realm because the experience immerses the guest entirely however the guest has little to no effect on it.