Pulse September 2020 | Page 35

MEMBER PERSPECTIVES BY JAMISON STOIKE THE GREAT REOPENING PART 2 EVEN NOW, THE SPA INDUSTRY CONTINUES to navigate the fits and starts of reopening across the United States and around the world. Despite recent flare-ups of COVID-19 in the United States, many spas continue to safely operate while adhering to stringent safety and health protocols. Others have just recently reopened, particularly in areas that were initially hardest-hit by the novel coronavirus. “Member Perspectives” continues to cover the reopening process across the industry. This month features two wildly different experiences of reopening. The Woodhouse Day Spa Northern Kentucky and The Woodhouse Day Spa Lexington both reopened on May 25, operating their traditional day spa locations with a virtually unchanged menu. Across the country, Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace Las Vegas recently reopened with reduced amenities and a targeted menu to operate safely—and profitably—in a high-traffic environment. The Day Spa Experience Like most spas in the United States, both the Lexington and Northern Kentucky Woodhouse locations shut their doors in mid-March. When the spas were allowed to reopen on May 25, Woodhouse was ready. During the spa’s closure, leadership developed a training plan, offered mailorder retail-services stayed connected with clients via social media and used the downtime to spruce up the spas. “Our leadership team was very hands-on during this time,” says Cerise Bonner, who serves as Hospitality & Despite being a 50,000-square-foot spa in the heart of the Las Vegas strip, Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace Las Vegas is "currently operating like a smaller spa. SEPTEMBER 2020 ■ PULSE 31