Spa group wants city council to push regulatory ordinances

CEBU, Philippines - In its bid to set up world at par service, the Spa and Wellness Association of Cebu (SWAC) calls on the Cebu City Council to push for some regulatory ordinances among players.

The group wants the City Council to pass an ordinance that will require all spa and wellness operators to be a member of the industry organization so that quality service and practice can be properly monitored, said SWAC president Johny Siao in an interview.

Despite the good potential of the industry to achieve higher growth, Cebu's spa and wellness sector is threatened by the much fiercer competition and the entry of less sensitive players.

Because of this the major industry players led by The Spa of Cebu chain owner Siao is moving their hands forward to save the industry from drowning.

In fact, this year Siao said the industry saw a slowdown, with "too many [new] players."

Taking advantage of the "promising" industry such as the spa and wellness sector is being welcomed, however the industry has to make sure that quality and standard are being uphold.

At present, there are approximately over a hundred Spa players in Metro Cebu alone. Of the 54 members of SWAC, only 18 are spa centers.

Also, SWAC is now working at converging the entire wellness sector to be part of its membership base, in order to benefit the development programs of the organization.

SWAC are encouraging wellness players, suppliers specifically in the seven dimension identified, such as environment wellness, social (family related/relationship consultancy services), mental wellness service providers, spiritual, emotional and physical.

The wellness sector is not only in the Spa sector, but the whole range of wellness service, that will provide a sound well being to customers.

The organization will gather the providers of the seven dimension of the wellness sector that will actively participate in the development of the entire wellness sector in Cebu. (FREEMAN)