After the relief and jubilation of reopening comes the realisation that there are major battles ahead for our industry and its hugely talented leaders and professionals
By Katie Barnes | Published in Spa Business 2020 issue 3
Banyan Tree is forging ahead with its new wellbeing concept (p28)
The majority of spa and wellness facilities around the world are now open and offering the healing services that touch-starved customers need now, more than ever.
The COVID-19 crisis has driven a huge surge in creativity and best practice, as operators innovate to survive. Some are using advanced yield management to ensure the limited number of treatments they’re able to offer return the same, if not greater, profits (p62), while companies such as Resense and Aromatherapy Associates have had significant successes with online sales (p16).
It’s also inspiring to see the solutions being deployed to stimulate revenue streams, such as outdoor treatments, COVID-19 recovery programmes and immune-boosting packages (p24).
On page 65 we take a look at a new facility model that was emerging before the pandemic, but which has now come into its own. Both Remedy Place and Next Health in California position themselves in the medical wellness arena, have a small footprint, a focus on self-administered treatments and low operating costs. We expect businesses taking this approach to tap a consumer need and also predict a rise in demand for the touchless experiences on which they’re based. We’ve investigated these further on page 70.
For all the positives, however, the pandemic has created stresses that have taken the industry backwards. It’s concerning to see major hotel operators letting go of top-level wellness leaders as they drop the wellbeing baton to refocus on the core business of selling beds.
We believe this is short-sighted and that operators, such as Banyan Tree (p28), who are still priortising wellness will strengthen their position in the market as a result.
The biggest lesson of the pandemic has been the hard realisation that our industry has very little heft when it comes to political lobbying, with major politicians the world over betraying a complete lack of awareness of the personal, economic and social value of the sector.
Trade associations have deployed every weapon in their arsenal to fight our corner and it’s ultimately a testament to their hard work that we are reopen. But it should not have been that hard. There’s a huge job of work to do to build our reputation and win support in the corridors of power through effective lobbying. This work is vital to ensure we never face such challenges and constraints again.
Katie Barnes is editor of Spa Business magazine | @SpaBusinessKB
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 3
Editor's letter: The fight ahead
There’s a huge job of work to do to build our reputation and win support in the corridors of power, says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Patrick Huey
The vice-president of spa and retail at Montage talks about his new role as ISPA chair, Black Lives Matter and how his spas are fighting back against COVID-19
Spa people: Rianna Riego
Wellness consultant Rianna Riego speaks out about racial discrimination in the global spa industry
Spa people: Anna Teal
The CEO of Aromatherapy Associates outlines the online innovations it's using to connect with customers in exciting new ways
Spa programmes: On the menu
How are spas changing their treatments and services now they’re staring to reopen again?
Interview: Lee Woon Hoe
Banyan Tree’s executive director of wellbeing tells Spa Business magazine why now is the right time for the group to launch its new wellness concept
Ask an expert: Spa design 2030
Spa Business magazine asks leading designers and architects to give their predictions about pandemic-proof spa models
Promotion: Trendsetting
Design specialists, The Wellness, worked with in-house engineers for Jumeirah to create a state-of-the-art gym for Talise Fitness at the Jumeirah Al Naseem in Dubai
Research: Manner of speaking
ISPA’s latest study reveals consumer attitudes in the aftermath of COVID-19. Josh Corman picks out the key details
Research: New perspectives
Two surveys in the UK highlight both spa operator and spa-goer insights as facilities across the country begin to welcome guests back
Promotion: The power of touchless
Spa and wellness innovator, Sammy Gharieni, reveals how his on-trend products are perfect for delivering high-value touchless treatments
Country focus: Best of British
We take a look at the standout concepts offered in the world-class spas that have opened in the UK over the last three years
Promotion: Sustain and regenerate
Sustainable skincare brand, Comfort Zone, has radically reinvented its entire Sacred Nature line, driven by the ambition to create some of the world’s first carbon-negative products
Interview: Emma Darby
Despite closing during in lockdown, some Resense spas still hit revenue targets. Its COO tells Spa Business magazine how
Promotion: Redefining the snowroom
Italian snowroom expert, TechnoAlpin, has collaborated with groundbreaking architectural practice, Snøhetta, to create a snowroom like no other
Medi-wellness: On good termes
Italy’s Long Life clinic, which offers anti-ageing science alongside water cures, is gaining greater attention post-lockdown. Sophie Benge pays a visit
Supplier showcase: Premium Fitness
Dormy House has partnered with Matrix Fitness to create two fully-connected fitness suites to take its offering to a new and more sophisticated level @DormyHouse @MatrixFitnessUK
Promotion: Sothys
Sothys’ beauty treatment designer, Séverine Monjanel, and training director, Isabelle Villey, talk to Spa Business about the company’s new authentic ancestral Indonesian treatment
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
After the relief and jubilation of reopening comes the realisation that there are major battles ahead for our industry and its hugely talented leaders and professionals
By Katie Barnes | Published in Spa Business 2020 issue 3
Banyan Tree is forging ahead with its new wellbeing concept (p28)
The majority of spa and wellness facilities around the world are now open and offering the healing services that touch-starved customers need now, more than ever.
The COVID-19 crisis has driven a huge surge in creativity and best practice, as operators innovate to survive. Some are using advanced yield management to ensure the limited number of treatments they’re able to offer return the same, if not greater, profits (p62), while companies such as Resense and Aromatherapy Associates have had significant successes with online sales (p16).
It’s also inspiring to see the solutions being deployed to stimulate revenue streams, such as outdoor treatments, COVID-19 recovery programmes and immune-boosting packages (p24).
On page 65 we take a look at a new facility model that was emerging before the pandemic, but which has now come into its own. Both Remedy Place and Next Health in California position themselves in the medical wellness arena, have a small footprint, a focus on self-administered treatments and low operating costs. We expect businesses taking this approach to tap a consumer need and also predict a rise in demand for the touchless experiences on which they’re based. We’ve investigated these further on page 70.
For all the positives, however, the pandemic has created stresses that have taken the industry backwards. It’s concerning to see major hotel operators letting go of top-level wellness leaders as they drop the wellbeing baton to refocus on the core business of selling beds.
We believe this is short-sighted and that operators, such as Banyan Tree (p28), who are still priortising wellness will strengthen their position in the market as a result.
The biggest lesson of the pandemic has been the hard realisation that our industry has very little heft when it comes to political lobbying, with major politicians the world over betraying a complete lack of awareness of the personal, economic and social value of the sector.
Trade associations have deployed every weapon in their arsenal to fight our corner and it’s ultimately a testament to their hard work that we are reopen. But it should not have been that hard. There’s a huge job of work to do to build our reputation and win support in the corridors of power through effective lobbying. This work is vital to ensure we never face such challenges and constraints again.
Katie Barnes is editor of Spa Business magazine | @SpaBusinessKB
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 3
Editor's letter: The fight ahead
There’s a huge job of work to do to build our reputation and win support in the corridors of power, says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Patrick Huey
The vice-president of spa and retail at Montage talks about his new role as ISPA chair, Black Lives Matter and how his spas are fighting back against COVID-19
Spa people: Rianna Riego
Wellness consultant Rianna Riego speaks out about racial discrimination in the global spa industry
Spa people: Anna Teal
The CEO of Aromatherapy Associates outlines the online innovations it's using to connect with customers in exciting new ways
Spa programmes: On the menu
How are spas changing their treatments and services now they’re staring to reopen again?
Interview: Lee Woon Hoe
Banyan Tree’s executive director of wellbeing tells Spa Business magazine why now is the right time for the group to launch its new wellness concept
Ask an expert: Spa design 2030
Spa Business magazine asks leading designers and architects to give their predictions about pandemic-proof spa models
Promotion: Trendsetting
Design specialists, The Wellness, worked with in-house engineers for Jumeirah to create a state-of-the-art gym for Talise Fitness at the Jumeirah Al Naseem in Dubai
Research: Manner of speaking
ISPA’s latest study reveals consumer attitudes in the aftermath of COVID-19. Josh Corman picks out the key details
Research: New perspectives
Two surveys in the UK highlight both spa operator and spa-goer insights as facilities across the country begin to welcome guests back
Promotion: The power of touchless
Spa and wellness innovator, Sammy Gharieni, reveals how his on-trend products are perfect for delivering high-value touchless treatments
Country focus: Best of British
We take a look at the standout concepts offered in the world-class spas that have opened in the UK over the last three years
Promotion: Sustain and regenerate
Sustainable skincare brand, Comfort Zone, has radically reinvented its entire Sacred Nature line, driven by the ambition to create some of the world’s first carbon-negative products
Interview: Emma Darby
Despite closing during in lockdown, some Resense spas still hit revenue targets. Its COO tells Spa Business magazine how
Promotion: Redefining the snowroom
Italian snowroom expert, TechnoAlpin, has collaborated with groundbreaking architectural practice, Snøhetta, to create a snowroom like no other
Medi-wellness: On good termes
Italy’s Long Life clinic, which offers anti-ageing science alongside water cures, is gaining greater attention post-lockdown. Sophie Benge pays a visit
Supplier showcase: Premium Fitness
Dormy House has partnered with Matrix Fitness to create two fully-connected fitness suites to take its offering to a new and more sophisticated level @DormyHouse @MatrixFitnessUK
Promotion: Sothys
Sothys’ beauty treatment designer, Séverine Monjanel, and training director, Isabelle Villey, talk to Spa Business about the company’s new authentic ancestral Indonesian treatment
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
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