There are certain amenities that set clubs apart from the rest. A sauna in the locker room happens to be one of those amenities. “Having a sauna sends a message to members and guests that the club cares about their well-being and is willing to invest the time, and sustain the cost, to provide them a great amenity,” explained Tedros Teame, the locker room manager for The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa. “The sauna becomes the opportunity to showcase your commitment to enhance the members’ workout health benefit by offering them the extra bonus of a soothing and pampering experience.”
The sauna helps give your locker room area a more luxurious appeal that can be used as relaxation and an opportunity to enhance recovery after a strenuous workout. “Locker rooms should have saunas for their numerous health benefits ranging from body cleansing — the heat generated in the sauna ranges from 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and helps the body to sweat and flush out toxins and excess water — to muscle relief after a strenuous workout, or just for a soothing place to relax and unwind after a long stressful day.”
In order to present the benefits of a sauna, many clubs use them in sales pitches to potential members. “Having a sauna also can be used as a great sales tool during the membership presentation, sending a message to prospects that they are joining a forward-thinking club that cares about their members’ overall well-being,” said Teame.
“Saunas are more popular than ever before,” explained Logan Ross, the business development contact for PLH Products, Inc. “They have been getting a lot of press for the many benefits they have to offer. Athletes many times use them before their workouts or their big games to loosen their joints and muscles. Saunas can be a great revenue source and sometimes a major deciding factor when people decide which club to join. People now days are joining clubs to just use the sauna. These people may not be your average gym-goer, but just someone that wants to go and relax and receive the many benefits the sauna has to offer.”
Although the sauna may seem like a self-explained amenity, members still have corresponding questions. “While visible and easy-to-understand signage helps, nothing substitutes for attentive staff members making regular rounds to check for proper temperatures, clean-up, enforce basic hygiene rules, spot any sign of trouble or address any improper behavior inside the sauna,” explained Teame.
“I often suggest to have towels nearby, along with a hydration station of some sort,” said Ross. “It is vital to make sure your clients have what they need to enjoy a great sauna session.”
“While the bulk of health clubs are using the traditional sauna with the heating element as a way of generating heat, there is a new trend called the infrared radiant heat — a ‘cooler’ method of generating heat, which has the advantage of being absorbed deeper into the body tissue,” said Teame. “Club owners constantly are seeking materials and equipment that combine easy maintenance and affordable prices. At this time, fiberglass seems to be the future material of choice since it is easy to maintain and offers the unobstructed view from the outside of all activities inside the sauna, allowing the staff to monitor guests for any prolonged exposure to heat or any other inappropriate behavior without having to walk through the door.”
Implementing and/or taking extremely great care of a sauna, and sauna activity for your members can lead to an upgrade for your club and its members alike. However, like any amenity, clubs must always pay attention to the safety of members and guests by maintaining the sauna units. “Preventing misuse and tampering of the sauna’s heating elements by installing safety features, i.e. high limit switches that shut down when the heating element reaches a preset limit,” said Teame.
A well-cared-for sauna can be a game changer for any club. Members will enjoy the opportunity to relax and heal, and will also develop a new respect for their club. Although, a sauna can provide minor additional work, it can completely revolutionize your club and take it to the next level. How have you used your saunas to make your club more prevalent to potential members? Spend some time as well to make sure existing members completely understand how, and why, they should use your sauna.
By Tyler Montgomery
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
