MEMBER PERSPECTIVES
BY JOSH CORMAN
BACK ON BOARD Spas Tackle Staffing Challenges New and Old
ESSENTIALLY EVERY ASPECT OF SPA OPERATIONS has undergone an enormous amount of change during the COVID-19 pandemic . Though the mission of spa has remained the same , executing that mission — including everything from guest arrivals to performing treatments to doing laundry — has become more layered and complex due to the numerous extra considerations the pandemic has warranted . Managing a spa ’ s staff and schedule has been no different . When spas reopened initially following the temporary closures in early- to mid-2020 , they largely did so under strict occupancy restrictions , which meant that questions surrounding which therapists and service providers to bring back first and ensuring compliance with back-of-house COVID-related policies were often top of mind .
But as restrictions have begun to ease , spas face additional questions about hiring and rehiring , scheduling and supporting their teams as they move once again toward full-scale operations . This month , Pulse spoke to leaders at three spas — The Spa at Sea Island , Cause + Medic Spa and The Spa at Sun Valley Resort — to discuss their tackling of these and other workforce-related issues .
The Spa at Sun Valley continues to operate under a 25 percent occupancy restriction .
26 PULSE ■ MAY 2021