Spa industry demands July reopening date to avert crisis

The UK Spa Association has written to prime minister Boris Johnson demanding a reopening date in order to save 30% of spa operations from permanent closure.

The UK’s 900-plus spa and wellness sector, which generates £2.1b to the economy and employs 45,000 people, is now “at crisis point” yet says it will be “in more demand and more essential than ever to support the physical, emotional and mental health of our nation post the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The letter, seen by The Caterer, states: “As each day goes by without a reopening date to work towards, the number of preventable redundancies is rising.”

According to the association, spa businesses have up to 70% of their team in consultation for redundancy.

The Save our Spas campaign and publication of the letter follows consultations carried out by the UK Spa Association with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), covering areas such as Working Safely Guidance for Close Contact Services.

To boost staff and guest confidence further, the association said it had provided their spa members with a UK Spa Community Promise, to be displayed on reopening, so that staff and spa-goers understand and respect the new etiquette of spas.

Image: Shutterstock