Coronavirus has had a "significant impact" on 92% of UK spa businesses
Coronavirus has had a “significant impact” on more than 90% of spas in the UK, according to new data from the UK Spa Association (UKSA), with 54% planning to reopen as soon as lockdown restrictions have been lifted to help their business survive the pandemic.
Results from the What’s Next for Wellness Survey shows the nation-wide consequences Covid-19 has had on the spa sector, as well as the concerns and precautions that are being taken by operators in the upcoming reopening of spas.
Respondents of the survey were combined from a cross-section of the industry, including operators, suppliers, consultants and therapists.
How has coronavirus affected UK spa businesses financially?
It’s no surprise that 92% reported that Covid-19 has had a severe or significant impact on their spa business since lockdown started in March, with 87% having to furlough the majority of their staff.
The report also discovered that just under a third (28%) anticipate the need to make redundancies in the future, while a fifth (20%) stated there was a possibility that their business may not re-open at all following the lifting of restrictions.
How are UK spas gearing up to reopen post-coronavirus lockdown?
Reopening is a hot topic in the sector, especially in regards to the personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitisation requirements that will be needed to operate effectively.
More than half (54%) of respondents stated they would re-open immediately following the lifting of restrictions, but only 13% anticipate opening their spa in full capacity, the report found.
The majority (78.%) will require their therapists to wear face masks regardless of whether the Government advises spa businesses to or not, but more than half (57%) are concerned about the cost and sourcing of this PPE, found the survey. Just under three quarters (72%) also say it's important to them that masks are sustainably manufactured.
However, only 17% of participants strongly felt that they were “adequately prepared to train their team in the use of PPE”. Meanwhile, more than a third (38%) plan to restrict the use of their thermal facilities when the reopen, with 22% also planning to phase the re-opening of their pool areas.
The majority (76%) are also in agreement that spas should remove testers from their retail displays, while 78% believe that retail products should be merchandised in a non-contact way
More about UKSA’s What’s Next for Wellness Survey
UKSA general manager Helena Grzesk said the objective of the survey was to find out “what the short-term impacts this pandemic and the enforced period of lockdown has had on the spa and wellness industry.”
Other reasons included establishing “the effectiveness of existing Government support measures” and “what reopening support will be required from the Government and the UKSA”.
What do you make of the survey results? Comment below.