Operating a spa during COVID-19

Having endured months of ‘lockdown’ and isolation, spa-loving people will yearn to gratify their appetite for wellness.  However, there will be underlying anxieties of ‘safety first’ before all.

It will take time for customers to feel comfortable and less afraid of the dreaded COVID-19.

This then begs the question “What should Spas’ do to overcome those fears and keep guests coming through their doors?”

As much as clients are reluctant to visit Spas to avoid close contact with service providers, spa employees would also be nervous when delivering services-for the same reason.

So, before taking care of clients, spas need to take care of their staff, thus enabling them to project that genuine smile behind the masks and face shields.

Here are some other key things / procedures to consider, make available, and, to put in-place:-

• All surfaces especially with client contact should be cleaned and disinfected with sprays, wipes and other cleaning products.
• Use only quality soap wash, hand sanitising and hand drying facilities for both clients & staff.
• Offering clients a hand sanitiser when they walk through the door is a good practice.
• Before and during EVERY treatment staff must thoroughly wash their hands and forearms frequently.
• Spa employees when at work to wear gloves with long tight-fitting cuffs, disposable fluid resistant coverings and single use goggles for eye protection.
• Prior to EVERY Spa treatment, sheets, towels, linen, robes, sandals including product containers are to be replaced with those that have been cleaned in high heat and regularly disinfected – as recommended.
• Increased frequency of deep cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, treatment / waiting rooms and all facilities of the spa.
• Use approved general purpose detergents and chlorine based disinfectant products or solutions, and clinical waste bags.
• Toss out all those magazines and reading material.

Other precautionary measures involve:-

• Daily testing of all staff (temperature readings) when they come to work.
• Temperature checking of clients when they come for treatment.
• Schedule treatments by prior appointment, and slot them in staggered - to reduce crowding in the waiting area/s and giving time for total clean-up, etc.

In our Spa world, PPE and sanitation enhancements are now the new normal that the guest will have to go through when visiting our spas and that could include the faint whiff of disinfectants, despite the familiar aroma of eucalyptus oil.

Hospitality Sri Lanka

The above article is from our video series “19-Hospitality Related Questions on Covid-19", which can be viewed on our Youtube channel here

Why not take a moment to share your experience with us, or if you have a question you'd like answered, get in touch through reachus@hospitalitysrilanka.com

We hope to hear from you, and in the meantime, check out our social media feeds on Facebook and Instagram.

Shafeek Wahab - Editor, Hospitality Sri Lanka

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