More than six out of 10 professional tanning business owners attended an industry conference in the past year, according to a SmartTan.com survey — another sign that the indoor tanning community continues to professionalize.

The SmartTan.com survey — conducted in the last week of February and the first week of March — showed that 62 percent of salon owners attened an industry event this year to educate staff or to help in making a purchasing decision. Another 10 percent didn’t this year, but said they usually do. Only 28 percent did not attend an event. The results are not scientific, but are highly directional.

“More salons are comprehensively training their staffs today, and more salons are using the tools and events available to them to professionalize — this is yet another sign of industry progress,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “Smart Tan will continue to do our part to provide professional facilities with these tools to grow and prosper.”