22-22 Jun 2024
Worldwide,
|
22-24 Jun 2024
Las Vegas Convention Center,
Las Vegas,
United States
|
22-24 Jun 2024
Las Vegas Convention Center,
Las Vegas,
United States
|
23-25 Jun 2024
The Old Thorns Hotel & Resort,
Liphook,
United Kingdom
|
08-10 Jul 2024
The Global Ambassador ,
Phoenix,
United States
|
17-17 Jul 2024
Pennyhill Park ,
Bagshot,
United Kingdom
|
28-29 Jul 2024
Southern Sun Rosebank,
Johannesburg,
South Africa
|
03-05 Sep 2024
IMPACT Exhibition Center,
Bangkok,
Thailand
|
|
|
|
Revealed: the key policies needed to reopen UK gyms and health clubs |
|
By Tom Walker 04 May 2020 |
ukactive has explained the steps needed to get gyms open Credit: Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff
|
VAT rebates and an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are among the list of policies the government needs to adopt, in order for the UK's physical activity sector to open in a safe and economically sustainable way.
The policies – drawn up by ukactive following consultations with its members – cover five major areas in which help will be needed: the workforce, rent, children's activity providers, local authority leisure providers and support to rebuild.
ukactive said the proposed policies look to solve issues identified as "crucial" by its members during the consultations.
"For example, workforce is a critical area where support is needed once facilities reopen, because operators are initially likely to experience limited capacity and footfall – and therefore revenue – meaning they will be unable to return to full staffing capacity immediately," ukactive said.
"We are also calling on the government to follow the example of Germany in protecting businesses from prohibitive VAT and staff costs. While the government has already introduced a business rates holiday for all operators until the end of March 2021, businesses continue to face significant operational costs despite revenues falling to zero."
The policies that ukactive is proposing the government to adopt across the five areas are:
Workforce
• Extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until October, and for as long as necessary, to ensure businesses have continued support as social distancing measures progress
• Ensure a regular review of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and at least 45 days’ notice before the scheme closes, to allow businesses to make staffing decisions with confidence, and protect jobs
• Establish a partial furlough or salary support scheme for the physical activity sector while social distancing rules apply, providing up to 50% cover for salaries, up to a maximum of £1,250 per month
Support to rebuild
• A VAT Output Tax rebate in the retail and leisure sectors, resulting in an effective Output Tax rate of 10 per cent
• A holiday from Employer National Insurance and PAYE within the leisure sector, from the date of closure until December 2020
Local authority leisure providers
• Provide additional funding for local authorities, ring-fenced to support public leisure facilities and trusts
• Ensure local authorities have the means to provide flexibility and support in their contractual relationships with public leisure operators and trusts, as set out in the Cabinet Office PPN 02/20, March 2020
• Noting that PPN 02/20 is silent on the situation where fees and rent are payable by leisure operators to local authorities, ensure local authorities have the means to also apply flexibility and support for leisure operators operating under such arrangements
Rent
• Extend the Memorandum of Forfeiture until October 2020 (the end of the third financial quarter)
Children and Young People
• Provide clarity on the future of the PE and Sport Premium ahead of June 2020, and guarantee ring-fenced funding for PE, school sport and physical activity in primary schools for the academic year 2020-21
• Provide a framework and tailored support for suitable schools to open as places for engagement and activity this summer, to ensure adequate support for the most vulnerable children and families, prioritising the safety of children, staff and families
Commenting on the policies, Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “While we are working tirelessly to ensure the physical activity sector is ready to open when called upon by the Government, we cannot ignore the looming threat posed to thousands of organisations and hundreds of thousands of jobs once restrictions do begin to ease.
“In order for the physical activity sector to reopen successfully so that it can support our communities in their hour of need, it is crucial the Government delivers the conditions required to help fitness and leisure providers to get back on their feet. “We are calling for a raft of essential measures that will enable both public and private organisations to reopen their doors with confidence when the time comes.”
|
|
News |
1 to 12 of 8735 news stories |
|
|
14 Jun 2024
Hotels incorporating wellness amenities experienced a significant boost in Total Revenue per Available Room (TRevPAR) in 2023, according to the latest Wellness Real Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm ... More
|
|
|
|
13 Jun 2024
The 2024 G7 Summit is now underway at a destination spa resort in Puglia, Italy, with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US convening to address some of the world’s ... More
|
|
|
|
13 Jun 2024
Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier has unveiled plans to introduce an innovative medi-wellness concept to the group's Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas brand, with ambitions to expand the concept to additional resorts in the future. ... More
|
|
|
|
10 Jun 2024
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 13th anniversary on Saturday, 8 June and was reportedly celebrated by a record-breaking 1 billion people worldwide, making it the most successful year yet. Founded in 2012 by Belgin ... More
|
|
|
|
07 Jun 2024
Wellness industry figure Deepak Chopra is co-developing a new wellness community and resort focused on wellbeing and longevity in Utah’s Heber Valley, centred around natural geothermal springs. Named Ameyalli – an Aztec term meaning "a ... More
|
|
|
|
06 Jun 2024
European health spa operator Ensana has announced the strategic appointment of Dr László Puczkó as senior health spa advisor. Established in 2019, Ensana manages 28 hotels across the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and ... More
|
|
|
|
05 Jun 2024
The Great Spa Towns of Europe (GSTE) has announced the successful approval of its funding application under the European Town Twinning Programme. This funding will support a year-long project named INTERSPACE, aimed at fostering intercultural ... More
|
|
|
|
04 Jun 2024
According to new research from Ernst & Young, the gap between female and male engagement in sport and physical activity is narrowing, with Gen Z adult female engagement figures on the rise. The EY Sports ... More
|
|
|
|
04 Jun 2024
North Wales’ four-star The Quay Hotel & Spa in the Deganwy Marina in Conwy has invested £1 million (€1.2 million, US$1.3 million) refreshing its 580sq m destination spa with new wellness facilities. Inspired by its ... More
|
|
|
|
03 Jun 2024
Marriott is set to bolster its exclusive Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio with a brand new property in South America in Costa do Sol, Rio de Janeiro. The eco-luxury resort will open as part of the ambitious ... More
|
|
|
|
30 May 2024
Developer Rockwell Island Development Group (RIDGE) has appointed five-star, global hospitality brand Banyan Tree to manage its new luxury island retreat in Bimini in the Bahamas. Immersed in nature and surrounded by pristine beaches, Banyan ... More
|
|
|
|
29 May 2024
Reservations are now open for Mandarin Oriental’s second London hotel, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, set to open on 3 June. The luxury establishment will feature 50 guestrooms, 77 private residences and a luxury underground spa retreat. ... More
|
|
|
|
|
Booker by Mindbody |
Booker by Mindbody is the industry’s leading cloud-based spa and salon management platform. Its
[more] |
|
|
|
|