However, it is futile to dream by imagining reconnecting with the pre-Covid figures. He is betting on “-10%” this year. While waiting to fill up, establishments have adapted. “The full workforce has been maintained, but we started the season a bit later given the order book, which was shy at first. The thermal agents thus suffered a period of unemployment.
Jean-Charles Pressigout, director of Thermes de Borda, and Maguy Blanc, from Aqui O Thermes: “The time is not yet to rejoice, but we are ready to find our spa guests. »
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Streamline energy bills
Second goal, absorb the shock of energy costs, or even reorganize. Because if the bakers’ situation is made public, the thermal sector will also be hit hard by the explosion in the prices of electricity and gas. “15% of our turnover”, clarifies Jean-Charles Pressigout.
“The full squads were kept, but we started the season a little later”
And if the thermal water, naturally hot, has to be cooled for the treatments, this process that makes it possible to recover calories remains insufficient to heat the premises and the city water used for the purity showers, especially after the application of mud. Result ? Pharaonic invoices. In Borda, the annual budget (of 100,000 euros) has been multiplied by 4.5. While some companies show a multiplier of 5 or 6. What to see red…
The thermal operators asked for – and received – permission from the town hall to connect to geothermal energy. There are a few technical tweaks left before they are 20% exempt. “It must be done within the year”, breathes Jean-Charles Pressigout.
Turpentine bath, mask and post-cancer cure
If nothing revolutionary is announced under the bathrobes in 2023, however, there are some new features on the agenda. Starting with the turpentine bath, launched by the Thermalism Institute. It adapts the principle of the turpentine shower, with the difference that the latter “targets” the areas to be treated, while the hydrobath relies on complete immersion of the body for twenty minutes, using the same active ingredients (thermal water and turpentines) with anti- anti-inflammatory, analgesic and relaxing properties. Another difference: “The turpentine bath is not covered by health insurance for the time being, as long as the clinical study is not completed”, suggests Maguy Blanc, project manager for Health Education at the Aqui O Therme thermal cluster.
Also being tested at Sarrailh and Sourceo thermal baths (with Thermes Adour), the post-breast cancer module, as part of the Pacthe study, post-therapeutic support and rehabilitation for women in complete remission from breast cancer. Backed by an approved regimen, this module is 50% covered by health insurance. The remaining 350 euros is paid for the curists. The content varies from institution to institution. At Sourcéo, specific thermal treatments are combined with nutrition, beauty and well-being workshops (self-massage and self-makeup) and physical activity sessions. Five sessions are already planned in 2023.
Finally, Thermes et Thermes du Regina have equipped themselves with a state-of-the-art technological innovation for the comfort of their patients: the Bliss virtual reality headset, which relies on dream-like visualization (image and sound) to help manage pain and anxiety. “A medical technique that has already been tested in hospitals before anesthesia, in nursing homes to soothe patients affected by Alzheimer’s or by firefighters to calm victims before the arrival of Samu”, suggests Maguy Blanc. So far, the twenty-five minute session (45 euros) is not yet supported. As long as the curist remains real and not virtual like in previous years…
