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With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Attracting and retaining talented people must be an industry priority / Photo: shutterstock/BGStock72
As we surge out of lockdowns around the world, extreme staff shortages are being experienced across a large number of industry sectors, including spa and wellness.
The US Chamber of Commerce is reporting around 11m open vacancies, for example, while the UK government says job vacancies have broken the 1m mark for the first time since records began.
During lockdowns, many staff who were let go took work in other sectors, found the grass greener and are not returning. This is increasing the competition for talent and seeing the spa and wellness sector at a disadvantage due to low pay.
The ‘quit rate’ is also soaring in some areas of industry, as people realise jobs are plentiful and move on if they’re not happy, giving good employers a clear advantage.
The spa and wellness industry has had a chronic challenge with recruitment for the past decade, with staff shortages commonplace even before the pandemic. This layering on of post-lockdown staffing pressures is simply exacerbating a fundamental weakness in the sector and bringing things to crisis point for some operators.
Lack of staff means turnaways and empty treatment rooms, reducing margins, dissuading investors and disappointing customers who are unable to get treatments.
This systemic problem has been undermining profitability for years. PricewaterhouseCoopers – in its profitability research studies for ISPA – has regularly flagged up the fact that the industry has not been optimising its capacity, due to operators’ failure to hire enough staff, with this putting the brakes on growth.
In 2017, I wrote an editorial for this page highlighting the existence of a range of poor employment practices in parts of the sector – from modern slavery to bad pay – and calling on industry leaders to make a commitment to building the sector’s reputation as an excellent employer.
Unfortunately, little progress has been made and this situation has now escalated to the point where we must recognise this isn’t only a recruitment challenge, it’s an existential and reputational crisis.
Until we can establish the industry as a great place to work – across the board – with fair pay and good working conditions, the behaviour of unethical operators will continue to harm the prospects of the entire sector
Liz Terry, Spa Business editorial director [email protected]
@elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2021 issue 3
Editor's letter: All about the people
With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Spa people: Dr Mark Hyman
Dr Mark Hyman MD believes functional medicine has the power to be life-changing in the health and wellbeing of patients.
New opening: Six Senses Shaharut
Six Senses has opened the doors to its new 60-key retreat in Israel’s southern Negev Desert, complete with a 1,900sq m, two-level spa and wellness sanctuary
New opening: QC NY
A 74,000sq ft Italian day spa has opened on New York’s Governors Island after a US$50m investment and seven years of planning, building and restoration.
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
We talk to the global head of spa at Marriott International about navigating the global lockdown, re-imagining the company's brand portfolio and what it will take to succeed post-COVID-19
Sponsored: Time out
Answering a growing demand
for non-invasive, anti-ageing skin
care, Comfort Zone is relaunching
its Sublime Skin line with a new
filler-like natural formula that
reverses cellular degeneration
Research: Total impact
Latest ISPA report considers the economic fallout of the pandemic and the spa industry's road to recovery
Sponsored: Gharieni Group
CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about his relentless drive
to deliver innovative products to underpin operators’ success
Analysis: Role model
What business models are showing the most potential in the wellness industry? Lyndsay Madden Nadeau shares her insights
Interview: Lorenzo Giannuzzi
The hospitality veteran dreamed of reinventing an historic Italian palazzo as a world-class medical spa. Lisa Starr went to find out more
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin
Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences
Interview: Gloria Caulfield
The executive director of Lake Nona wellness community talks about tapping into the latest tech to create healthy living environments
Software: Revenue management
How software suppliers have been supporting spas to get savvy with yield management since the pandemic began
Promotion: Iyashi Dôme
Iyashi Dôme’s touchless infrared tech is the perfect investment for the post-lockdown world, says Florent Cornelis
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
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Kemitron GmbH
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With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Attracting and retaining talented people must be an industry priority / Photo: shutterstock/BGStock72
As we surge out of lockdowns around the world, extreme staff shortages are being experienced across a large number of industry sectors, including spa and wellness.
The US Chamber of Commerce is reporting around 11m open vacancies, for example, while the UK government says job vacancies have broken the 1m mark for the first time since records began.
During lockdowns, many staff who were let go took work in other sectors, found the grass greener and are not returning. This is increasing the competition for talent and seeing the spa and wellness sector at a disadvantage due to low pay.
The ‘quit rate’ is also soaring in some areas of industry, as people realise jobs are plentiful and move on if they’re not happy, giving good employers a clear advantage.
The spa and wellness industry has had a chronic challenge with recruitment for the past decade, with staff shortages commonplace even before the pandemic. This layering on of post-lockdown staffing pressures is simply exacerbating a fundamental weakness in the sector and bringing things to crisis point for some operators.
Lack of staff means turnaways and empty treatment rooms, reducing margins, dissuading investors and disappointing customers who are unable to get treatments.
This systemic problem has been undermining profitability for years. PricewaterhouseCoopers – in its profitability research studies for ISPA – has regularly flagged up the fact that the industry has not been optimising its capacity, due to operators’ failure to hire enough staff, with this putting the brakes on growth.
In 2017, I wrote an editorial for this page highlighting the existence of a range of poor employment practices in parts of the sector – from modern slavery to bad pay – and calling on industry leaders to make a commitment to building the sector’s reputation as an excellent employer.
Unfortunately, little progress has been made and this situation has now escalated to the point where we must recognise this isn’t only a recruitment challenge, it’s an existential and reputational crisis.
Until we can establish the industry as a great place to work – across the board – with fair pay and good working conditions, the behaviour of unethical operators will continue to harm the prospects of the entire sector
Liz Terry, Spa Business editorial director [email protected]
@elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2021 issue 3
Editor's letter: All about the people
With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Spa people: Dr Mark Hyman
Dr Mark Hyman MD believes functional medicine has the power to be life-changing in the health and wellbeing of patients.
New opening: Six Senses Shaharut
Six Senses has opened the doors to its new 60-key retreat in Israel’s southern Negev Desert, complete with a 1,900sq m, two-level spa and wellness sanctuary
New opening: QC NY
A 74,000sq ft Italian day spa has opened on New York’s Governors Island after a US$50m investment and seven years of planning, building and restoration.
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
We talk to the global head of spa at Marriott International about navigating the global lockdown, re-imagining the company's brand portfolio and what it will take to succeed post-COVID-19
Sponsored: Time out
Answering a growing demand
for non-invasive, anti-ageing skin
care, Comfort Zone is relaunching
its Sublime Skin line with a new
filler-like natural formula that
reverses cellular degeneration
Research: Total impact
Latest ISPA report considers the economic fallout of the pandemic and the spa industry's road to recovery
Sponsored: Gharieni Group
CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about his relentless drive
to deliver innovative products to underpin operators’ success
Analysis: Role model
What business models are showing the most potential in the wellness industry? Lyndsay Madden Nadeau shares her insights
Interview: Lorenzo Giannuzzi
The hospitality veteran dreamed of reinventing an historic Italian palazzo as a world-class medical spa. Lisa Starr went to find out more
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin
Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences
Interview: Gloria Caulfield
The executive director of Lake Nona wellness community talks about tapping into the latest tech to create healthy living environments
Software: Revenue management
How software suppliers have been supporting spas to get savvy with yield management since the pandemic began
Promotion: Iyashi Dôme
Iyashi Dôme’s touchless infrared tech is the perfect investment for the post-lockdown world, says Florent Cornelis
Gran Hotel Taoro in northern Tenerife, Spain, has completed the final phase of its three-year
renovation with the debut of its Sandára Wellness Centre.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the spa business with more than 650 locations across
the US and Canada, has appointed franchise expert Carrie Walsh as CEO as the company plans
to expand.
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Kemitron GmbH Our
portfolio is divided into four product areas; Technology, Fragrances, Disinfectant and Cleaners [more...]
