Nearly seven out of 10 indoor tanning businesses are planning major changes in their salons for the 2009 tanning season, according to a SmartTan.com poll conducted in early November.

According to the poll, 69 percent of tanning businesses are committed to making big changes this year, with only 31 percent saying they are standing pat for the coming season. The results, while not scientific, indicate that most tanning businesses see the need for change heading into the next season.

“This result is consistent with higher business thinking — in a challenging economy, successful businesses find ways to adapt to a changing business model,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “Smart Tan, as the North American tanning industry’s educational institute, considers it our job to help our members retool their core tanning operations. If you’re making changes, you need to make sure your central tanning business is as strong as possible.”