Ramadan provides business opportunities

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Health clubs benefit during Ramadan but spas can suffer.

Health club operators in the region have revealed that business during the month of Ramadan has a tendency to increase, despite the fact it is notoriously a quieter time of year for other industries.

The Aviation Club, Dubai, health and fitness manager Simon Brown said: "New membership sales and personal training have started to increase during Ramadan. This is because the holy month is about much more than just not eating and drinking. It's a great time for everybody to re-evaluate their lives and do away with bad habits, just like in January when membership sales are at their best".

The owner of Kai Fitness Centre in Saudi Arabia, Dr Badr AlShibani, said he had witnessed a similar trend at his health club.

"During the month of Ramadan people are more spiritually aware. To help them on their daily exercises we tailor our programmes by giving them low intensity exercise programmes and a special diet menu. We provide group exercise such as pilates and yoga to give them a mind, body and soul connection," he explained.

In order to encourage people not to abandon their workout routine during Ramadan, which AlShibani said would mean members lose muscle and have reduced energy, Kai Fitness Centre opens later - from  3pm to 3am.

"In my experience people really lose weight during the month of Ramadan, so business opportunities lay in providing them with a programme that will help them lose more weight and at the same time keep their fitness level," he said.

Brown added that one challenge to be aware of in this regard was related to health and safety, as fasting members doing physical activity would have an increased risk of low blood sugar and passing out.

AlShibani said that last year revenue during the Ramadan period increased when compared to performance in the months of May, August and October.

"It's surprising to see that people spend more time on their workout than usual. Last year, our revenue was 10% higher during the month of Ramadan than in the previous year," he added.

A similar increase in business was not reported in the spa sector however.

Dubai-based Flora Grand Hotel health club manager Siva Kumar said that low occupancy in the spa was a "great challenge" that impacted spa revenue.

Director of spa at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza in Egypt, Doris Sinnathurai, said that the main challenge was accommodating more appointments later in the day.

"Due to the period of fast we have our guests coming in later in the day after they break their fast. As a result we have changes in the schedule so that we have sufficient therapists available towards the latter half of the day," she said.

The spa has also introduced two new treatments, including the Nutty Scrub and Yoghurt Wrap, to address the demands placed on the body by fasting.

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