What Motivates YOU to Travel? Take the Survey! Win cool prizes!

This is a cool survey you won't want to miss!

For all those lovers of vacations and travel and well-being experiences, if you take this survey, you will be entered into a drawing. (It takes 15-20 minutes and the survey must be completed in its entirety!) 

Survey participants are eligible to win one of several travel prizes: 

One grand prize winner will receive a three-night oceanfront stay at Southern California’s hidden Pacific Coast gem, the luxurious Terranea Resort; 

One lucky winner will receive a Vespa tour of South Beach with Roam Rides; 

Six additional winners will receive a Kuhi comfort travel pillow – the ultimate in traveling well Five additional winners will receive skincare travel kits from KleanSpa!

To take the survey click here

European Spa Association Congress Wrap-Up

Just returned from a wonderful trip to Antalya which was a mix of business (speaking at the European Spa Association Congress) and pleasure.

First, I am very impressed at the organizational framework of ESPA and its representation from country-wide spa associations. There were 19 countries represented and 100 in attendance. Small but mighty participation. The host country this year was Turkey and the location could not have been more conducive to well-being - set in the all-inclusive luxury resort Ela Quality Resort in Belek, Antalya (located on the Mediterranean sea).

The ESPA agenda was one of the best organized events I have attended giving attention to medical, spa, hotel, tour operators, insurance providers and government entities and also giving equitable platforms to varied geographies within Europe.

Many thanks to Zeki Karaguelle, Board Member and country host for coordinating such a fantastic location/experience and being the gracious, diplomatic and hospitable moderator during the conference.

Many thanks to Joachim Lieber, ESPA Board member responsible for the excursion to Cappadocia/Konya. These are two very important cultural highlights in Turkey's tourism portfolio. There were 12 of us representing 10 countries who had the wonderful opportunity to share meaningful travel experiences like the sunrise balloon over the incredible landscape of fairy chimneys and rock formations of Cappadoccia.

It was an honor and pleasure to contribute and provide a framework of understanding on American & Canadian spas. In a hours time, my presentation covered stats on American spas re: composition, staffing, visits, service mix and revenue; a primer on US healthcare and the American consumer, 7 points on how wellness has been incorporated into spas in the US/Canada and finally a report on US Travelers to Europe.

What I learned is that the US and European spas have much different business models, consumer interests and regulatory/legal frameworks & payor/fee models. What I would like to see is better education to the American population/businesses/insurance providers on the clinical benefits of thermal spa "holidays"/wellness trips.

On Ela Quality - my hats off to management for the execution of a great product performed with top-notch customer service.

Hawaii - Developing Wellness Tourism

With wellness on the rise, some destinations are taking note and taking measures to package to consumer groups. The Hawaii Island Wellness Journey Association, a group of 120 wellness practitioners and businesses met with the Hawaii Visitor's Bureau and Hawaii County officials to propose a wellness tourism marketing intitiative. Next steps include agreement on advertising and marketing strategies and budgets, packaging and promotion and developing guidelines for wellness travel to Hawaii.

Romania launches new tourism campaign, "Explore the Carpathian Garden"

Romania has launched its new tourism campaign at the Shanghai World Expo on Thursday, revealing the slogan “Explore the Carpathian Garden’, as well as a new logo for the campaign.

Romania’s tourism brand was created by THR – THS based on a market study carried on in Romania and in the eight most important markets, which could supply tourists for the country: Germany, UK, Italy, Russia, Austria, US, France and Hungary.

The study revealed Romania;s most competitive six touristic products: cultural circuits, nature, rural areas, city breaks, adventure tourism and wellness tourism.

The new tourism brand was launched at Romania’s pavilion at the World Expo, in the presence of the Romanian tourism minister Elena Udrea, together with Romanian sports legends Nadia Comaneci, Ilie Nastase and Gheorghe Hagi.