The benefit of the last traditional city spas not only in times of pandemic crisis.
As a result of the establishment of a state of emergency and related government measures, the procedures provided in AL were gradually closed. On March 13, 2020, the operation of the entire pool complex and the salt cave was closed, from March 16, all procedures were closed to the public, with the exception of the provision of medical rehabilitation care, and until March 19, the previously contracted medical rehabilitation care for the Třinecké železárny took place. (Due to the situation, the tour ended 2 days earlier and the next 2 tours were canceled and moved to August.) From March 21 to 24, the Alžbětina spa building was completely closed, on the following working days, i.e. from March 25, it was limited operation from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., when rehabilitation procedures were provided to a very limited extent and the neurological outpatient clinic (tenant) operated. The number of employees was reduced to the lowest possible level to ensure basic operation. The operation of rehabilitation was maintained throughout, but due to reduced interest, it operated at approximately one-third, which gradually increased, and capacities were already filled during May. From May 11, so-called commercial procedures (mainly massages) opened, but demand was very low. For wages for March 2020, the amount of 189,324 crowns was requested from the Labor Office as part of the grant of the targeted ANTIVIRUS program (mode A) and the payment was made on April 23. For wages for April 2020, CZK 564,409 is requested in the same program, but no reimbursement has yet been made. Overall, there was a big drop in sales for self-paying clients - by an estimate of 95% (closure of borders with Russia, state of emergency, client concerns, ban on providing commercial procedures until 11/05/2020) and also for the performance of health insurance companies (about 30%).
Now what?
At the moment, we have gradually opened our entire operation, we are participating in the city's strategy to save tourism and the spa industry, we are preparing events, attractive offers for potential domestic customers and we are doing everything to emphasize the need for preventive spa care, not just wellness, because unfortunately we do not have this trend usual. So far, the Czech client has been our visitor only after he suffered an illness, an accident with civilization disease and limitations in his life. To the maximum extent possible, we give back to such clients the opportunity to live a full life. But prevention is our greatest strength. Civilization diseases, injuries from overwork, stress and lack of relaxation may not occur. We represent the 650-year-old tradition and uniqueness of our city all over the world. Ing. Václav Benedikt, chairman of the board MUDr. Stanislava Maulenová, director
Answers to the most frequently asked questions
Are Elizabeth Spas closed for the entire duration of the crisis?
No. The company Alžbětiny Lázně, a.s., of course, respected all government regulations in connection with the closure of most operations (swimming pool, hall, sale of procedures and services), but we took advantage of the opportunity to provide outpatient medical rehabilitation care and so we did so. We were thus the only rehabilitation facility in the region that was fully functioning. The truth is that to a limited extent, because especially elderly patients were afraid of infection and often interrupted or canceled their rehabilitation. We also operated specialized outpatient clinics - neurological and gynecological.
Have you fired your employees? And how much?
No. We have not laid off any employees. We have a very close team capable of above-limit performance. We appreciate their work and without them there would be nothing to talk about. Our operation, on the other hand, has the capacity to expand its activities up to the vision of the city's central spas as a showcase of Karlovy Vary's spa industry, which has already been shaken several times. We have a right to be proud of, and it is only our task and goal to preserve and further develop over 600-year-old traditions. You can't do anything without people who feel the same way.
So did you keep employees on 60% wages at home?
No. We are responsible for our employees. We know how fatal a situation can arise for a person who is 2-3 months with 60% wages. This can put him in a completely dangerous situation. He may not be able to secure basic needs, such as housing, food, and family support. That's why from the beginning we checked what the possibilities were within the support and compensation provided by the government and we tried to use these programs. In the end, we were concerned with the only, but essential, payment of 80% wages to employees to whom we paid 100% wages in operations that had to be closed by government order, or 60% wages where it is not possible to ensure full occupancy of the procedures, i.e. full workload due to the crisis status.
Are you at risk of permanent closure or sale?
Under the patronage of the city of Karlovy Vary, we rejected the threat of selling the Alžbětiny lázně already at the beginning of the discussions about the future of our operation. We consider it strategically necessary for the City to have the opportunity to determine the future of its spa industry and the application of its exceptional healing natural resource – thermo-mineral water – directly. The city cannot limit itself to the sale of spring water to business entities. This is a question of public property, traditions and the future, perhaps enough was sold in Vary in the past. And sell the last spa? A reasonable person cannot say that.
And do you have any idea what to do next?
Write that down. In accordance with the diction of the City management, with the help and patronage of the main shareholder, the City Council and the City Council, we bring plans and proposals for the possible future of Alžbětiných Lázní, as. We submitted a request to the city council for the possibility of preparing a summary of the future full operation of the spa. For this, we have obtained cooperation from experts in the fields of spas, tourism, architecture of public buildings, natural healing sources and the like. This plan is to determine what, for how long and for how much money should be in Alžbětiny Lázně, so that it has the highest reach and effect in the city, the region, and in the tourism industry. We liken that future to Friedrichs Bad in Baden Baden. We have also prepared programs for the gradual revitalization of the building. From the perimeter cladding with the replacement of all windows, complete reconstruction of the roof cladding and roof and more. Now the first self-repairs are about to be carried out from the funds that the city management has allocated for this purpose. This way it will really work. Where there's a will, there's a way.
Are the hotels in the city not enough for a "spa"?
No. Even though most hotels were forced to create their own balneo/wellness facilities after 1989 and after the collapse of the State Spa, they can never replace the comprehensive care of a spa building on the scale of Elizabeth's Spa. You can't be surprised at the hoteliers. First of all, it is a great business, secondly, the spa was disappearing and who could guarantee the offer of quality spa care in the future? We define the path of joint development of the public sector together with the business sector on the basis of mutual need. We don't want to be a hotel competitor, so we got rid of the thoughts from the past that Alžbětina lázně should have its own accommodation.
Source: Karlovy Vary city hall papers
