Although resort day spas around the country have seen their fair share of changes amidst the pandemic, depending on their location, their services—already reputable for their adherence to sanitation and cleanliness—are seeing an uptick.
“Now more than ever, there is an increased desire for planners to incorporate wellness activities into their spa programs,” said Rizia Parker, spa director for The Ritz-Carlton Spa, South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida.
“That feeling of wellness is a need that everybody has—being able to relax and feel like you’re in a place of normalcy again,” added Sheryl McCormick, director of the spa at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Sending attendees to some kind of event or activity that would incorporate that would be so good for their happiness and mental health.”
McCormick said that even with her spa’s limited availability (partly attributed to slightly reduced hours and social distancing protocols), demand has only grown over the months since the spa reopened in July 2020.
Allan Share, president of the Spa Industry Association (SIA), said that membership at SIA—which supports any professional working in a resort or destination spa, day spa, medical spa and more in the wellness trade—has doubled the last three to four months, indicating that “more people are getting back to and engaged with the spa industry,” he said.
What’s Changed at Resort Spas?
Before a Phoenician guest or meeting attendee books a spa appointment, a member of the spa team will lay out expectations for what a visit might (or might not) entail.
“We tell guests those things so that they’re not surprised by anything that we’re doing or anything that has limited availability or that we’re not using right now, and I think that’s really important to communicate before they decide to book or before they get here,” McCormick said.
A day before their appointment, a guest will receive a call from the spa asking a series of COVID-related questions to make sure the guest is feeling well.
At The Phoenician’s spa, all guests and associates are temperature checked and required to wear face masks. Elevated cleaning protocols are in place throughout the spa, from locker rooms to treatment rooms. McCormick also said that some treatments that require more time and more complicated cleaning, such as hot stone treatments and some facials, are temporarily unavailable.
The situation is similar at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, South Beach, where treatments are available on an appointment-only basis and more time has been allotted in between appointments to allow for enhanced cleaning.
“Spa reservations are limited in capacity, allowing a limited number of guests in the spa at a time,” spa director Parker said.
“We have tried to not change our guest experience, though certain protocols have changed for our service providers,” added Tony Angel, assistant director of The Ritz-Carlton Spa Orlando, Grande Lakes. “Both guests and associates are required to wear a face covering at all times while in public areas and during a spa treatment. We have also limited our menu of spa services.”
[Related Content: How Planners Are Hosting Large Meetings In Small Ways]
Primed for Cleanliness
Share and McCormick both reiterate that spas are inherently clean, healthful spaces—and the new protocols in place as a result of the pandemic can boost a guest’s or meeting attendee’s confidence that they’re in a safe environment.
“A spa in general is a very sanitary, clean environment because of the nature of our business,” McCormick said. “Normally the cleaning process isn’t as out in the open and on display as it is now, and I think our guests like that, that they know that we’re conscientious about it.”
She added that the resort’s spa has hosted groups from 12 to 25 in the last year and that scheduling and accommodating them in the spa, with its 24 treatment rooms, was manageable.
“I’m lucky that my building is so large and that all of the common areas are spread out and open,” she said.
Share added: “The spa industry has been known for cleanliness, and I will tell you that it’s certainly been turned up a lot. Places that were clean are now triple clean. We take this very seriously in the spa channel.”
Read Next: How Large Resorts Are Set Up for Social Distancing Success
