Fitness and wellness Industry organisations publish reopening guidance

May 4, 2020

A number of leading fitness and wellness industry organisations have been publishing reopening standards and toolkits during COVID-19.

With fitness, wellness and hospitality industries offering advice on how to navigate the reopening protocols, they shift the collective conversations away from fear and anxiety during COVID-19 to a focus on positivity, resilience and optimism.

Associations such as the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), International Spa Association (ISPA), MindBody, European Waterpark Association and Singapore Licensed Hotels are making recommendations to spas and fitness centres on ways to address the new focus on health and safety during and post COVID-19 both for the guest and staff.

IHRSA: 18 Safety Considerations for Your Health Club Reopening Plan
The reopening of fitness centres will include extensive social distancing and enhanced cleaning in the initial phase. International and national guidelines currently recommend people stay at least 1.5 metres away from each other in public. However, IHRSA advise that reopening businesses will need to go further. Clubs will need to outline new cleaning protocols and ensure adequate staffing and supplies to execute these plans.

With any plan, it is essential that the decision to reopen complies with the most up-to-date information from national, regional, state, and local authorities with regards to a reopening timetable and any restrictions that must be put in place upon reopening. Their safety considerations include issues of containment; cleaning and sanitisation; staffing; and operations.

International Spa Association (ISPA): Spa Reopening Toolkit
ISPA have released resources that have been developed by ISPA in partnership with countless spa leaders across the globe. The energy and expertise shared has helped create a Spa Reopening Toolkit. The toolkit will equip spas with the guidance and resources needed to safely reopen their spas when government entities allow them to do so. The items are customisable allowing spas of different types, sizes and locations to create a plan that follows the guidelines set by their respective governing bodies.

MindBody Reboot Kit Spa: How to Reopen Your Salon, Spa, or Wellness Business Post COVID-19
From supporting front desk and practitioners to communicating new cleaning protocols amid COVID-19, the MindBody reboot toolkit also offers essential information on issues including:

Ways to bring clients back in a safe way (e.g., prohibiting walk-ins, adding waitlists, updating hours and service offerings, etc.) to your spa or wellness business
Information on pricing updates (a small Coronavirus, or COVID-19, tax applied to all services is one option)
How to prepare your spa or wellness business's front desk for an influx of customers post Coronavirus stay-at-home orders
Which automated email campaigns you should send to reiterate your modified offerings for example on how you plan to continually sanitise your business
Why you may need to rethink your retail section to keep your clients and staff members safe (e.g., direct shipping or keeping inventory in the back)
How to accommodate local, state, or federal requirements to ensure social distancing protocols among clients and staff when you reopen
When and how to update your website and other online profiles to announce your reopening
How to reengage your staff
How to reevaluate your check-in process to eliminate physical contact between your front desk and clients as they arrive for appointments and pay
What you should stock up on before reopening to keep your clients' health in mind (cleaning supplies, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, face masks)
Why it's a good idea to plan for another potential closure (and reopening) due to the Coronavirus

European Waterpark Association: Two-Stage Plan of the European Waterpark Association e.v. for the Reopening of Waterparks and Spas
With several hundred thousand people directly and indirectly employed, public spas in the countries of the European Union play an important role in public health, exercise and family leisure. The European Waterpark Association’s waterparks and spas welcome and support the activities of the European governments and authorities in combating COVID19 infections and limiting the spread of the Coronavirus in Europe.

Singapore Licensed Hotels: Checklist for SG Clean Program
Singapore Licensed Hotels offer a checklist for their cleaning program to ensure the safety of staff and clients.

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