The spa industry has been slapped, but is gradually rising from the ashes

It's been 15 months since you took the word coronavirus - what has it actually been like for Bath - have times been hard, better?

It certainly hasn't been easy. The role of more than just our spas was gradually changing during the coronacrisis. First, they were shut down completely last spring for security reasons, then they were to become reserve beds for overcrowded hospitals, but their real mission in the fight against covid-19 didn't come until early this year. In terms of revenue, the spa saw a drop of more than 150 million last year alone. But now we look ahead with optimism. This is evidenced by the fact that we are currently hiring several dozen new employees ranging from cooks, servers and waiters to receptionists and maids.

You have known the unknowable as others have, the wise say that hard times lead to lessons learned, surely that will be true for you too...

The crisis has been choking us hard. The spa industry is one of the hardest hit industries. But we believe that spas will rise from the ashes and be even better. Progress is born out of pain, like life. The history of the spa has many twists and turns. Booms have always been followed by busts. It's just that in that long period of prosperity and security, we've lost sight of that. The virus has changed everything, and hopefully this slap in the face will be good for humanity. Western European civilization will stop taking health for granted and start taking better care of it. That's why we think that interest in spas will start to grow again in the near future.

Minimalism is a thing of the past, it's a time of greater loosening, what does that mean for you specifically now and in the near future? How busy is it now and what's the outlook in the spa houses?

The self-pay interest in relaxation, wellness and short stays in spas is really high, ranging from four-star hotels to guesthouses. We anticipate that demand will exceed our capacity this summer. Currently, the capacity of hotels and guesthouses in the summer months is approximately 80% booked and more bookings are coming in every day. One of the reasons for this is that many people will, as last year, prefer domestic holidays to foreign ones. In addition, the previous period has had the effect of making people realise that they now need to take more care of their health. And spas are the ideal place to boost and take care of your health.

Have a crystal ball, yet try to see what this season could and should look like in terms of treatment and therefore accommodation.

We believe that during the summer, occupancy could approach normal pre-pandemic years. We are registering a growing interest not only in medical but also in relaxation and wellness stays. We are also still receiving guests for treatment stays after covid-19, not only through insurance, but now also those who can already pay for their rehabilitation after a coronavirus infection out of their own funds. We can't count too much on foreign clientele this year, but we are confident that it will be fully replaced by domestic guests who come to us for their summer holidays.

And the covid certainly won't stop you from investing, what is being worked on now?

The renovation of the Water Therapy Institute and the River and Sun Baths started at the end of March 2021. The main goal is to save the exceptional architectural work of Dušan Jurkovič, which is proposed as a national cultural monument. The complex will be transformed into a museum of composer Leoš Janáček and Dušan Jurkovič. The first visitors could enter the museum in approximately two years. We believe that this complex will become another tourist attraction of Luhačovice. Furthermore, we have already renovated the baths, massages, sauna and rest rooms in the Jurkovič House. All these places have received a new sound system and above all a new colour scheme, so typical of the style of the architect Dušan Jurkovič. The original hydro-massage baths were replaced with the most modern types and a whirlpool bath for lower limbs was added as a novelty. The outdated sauna pool was replaced by a popular cooling jar and a turbo shower. A new experience bath cabin will be built in the existing golden bath in Jurkovic House in late June and early July. This is a couples service that combines therapeutic treatments with interactive relaxation.

And one more thing, your traditional cultural events - how are things looking in that regard?

We are planning cultural events, albeit on a limited basis. It will depend on current arrangements. The Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra from Zlín has started its popular colonnade concerts on Lázeňské náměstí. On Thursday, 17 June, a concert by the Castle Guard Music and the Police of the Czech Republic will take place. The Janáček and Luhačovice Festival has been postponed until July 2022, but the commemoration of Leoš Janáček will take place at least for one day with the Festival Stops event on Friday, 16 July, which will end with a concert by the Janáček Chamber Orchestra on Lázeňské náměstí. We expect that the Days of Slovak Culture in early September will already take place in full.

Categories: Tourism, What to do in Luhačovice, Spa, Why to Luhačovice, Luhačovice, Spa Luhačovice, Interview