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.

20% of Vertabrates threatened by Extinction

Quick entry on what I read about in this morning's edition of the WSJ - 1/5 of all verterbrates are threatened with extinct according to new research. That means loss of mammals, birds and amphibians. The number would have been higher if it were not for conservation efforts and the creation of animal sanctuaries.

Having attended the Wellness Summit in Singapore - the theme was sustainability. Our health is linked to our habitat. This tells me - we need to pay better attention and be more active. Our lives are linked with other living things. Something worthwhile to think about.

21 Day Meditation Challenge from the Chopra Center

From the Chopra Center
Day 3: What Are Thoughts?
We have between 60,000 and 80,000 thoughts a day. That’s about 1.2 thoughts every second. They’re coming . . . you will not stop them . . . so don’t even try. Sometimes new meditators worry that they have too many thoughts. It is a common misconception that meditation is about completely emptying the mind, but closing your eyes and meditating doesn’t stop thoughts; it simply helps you disconnect from them. Thoughts aren’t distractions in your meditation . . . they’re part of your meditation and part of being human. We don’t try to stop them, we don’t do anything with them . . . instead we let them drift in and out like clouds.

Most of us in health and wellness can relate to this...and the need to disconnect from thoughts. There are many forms of meditation and what I like about the 21 Day Meditation challenge is the various meditation practices that will be explored.
Om.

Access Tourism - Conference in New Zealand

Registration is now open for the first ever conference in New Zealand on Access Tourism. The conference will look at various aspects of Access Tourism, including some of the following: the current situation in NZ and worldwide, website access and information best practice, government strategy, policy, and obligations, best practice in transport , accommodation, and attractions access, training for access in the tourism and hospitality sector, legal aspects, and quality rating for Access Tourism products in New Zealand. It will also include brainstorming sessions on strategies for advancing the development of Access Tourism in New Zealand and developing collaboration as a tool to advance that development. These topics are based on those most popularly picked from a list of possible topics in an online survey. The conference is being run by the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute at Auckland University of Technology, and will be a no frills sustainable event.

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.

World’s biggest global healthcare congress creates opportunities

Press Release

World’s biggest global healthcare congress creates opportunities
For Spa and Wellness industry

3rd Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress creates opportunity
to Bridge Medical and Wellness Sectors, also invites experts to submit white papers.

West Palm Beach, United States - June 24, 2010 - The Medical Tourism Association (MTA) is pleased to announce the creation of a Spa and Wellness Tract at the 3rd Annual World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress, September 22-24th, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
MTA, in response to the growing $2 trillion global wellness industry, has expanded its offering. A dedicated Spa and Wellness Tract will cover innovative topics presented by industry leaders in order to help bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and wellness. Topics include integrative medicine, corporate health, global spa trends, special interest products and investment opportunities. With a focus on education, networking and pre-arranged business meetings and social events, attendance is projected to be 2,000 delegates from 60 counties.

Camille Hoheb, Spa and Wellness Conference Chair explains, “There is an extraordinary opportunity to explore new models with new partnerships between spas, healthcare providers, insurance companies and employers. Consumers now perceive their well-being as a ‘need’ rather than a ‘want’ - and with corporations understanding the importance for a healthy workforce, wellness tourism is on the rise –and has not yet reached its potential.”

Individuals are encouraged to submit proposals that focus on the following categories: 1) Integrative Medicine 2) Spas and Corporate Health/Workplace Wellness 3) Economic Development 4) Market Segmentation /Branding. 5) Insurance Opportunities 6) Special Interest (disabled, geriatric, retirement). The Spa and Wellness Tract call for papers closes July 20th 2010.

About the World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress
Where ~ Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, California
When ~ September 22-24, 2010
What to Expect ~
· Up to 2,000 Delegates representing 60 countries
· More than 10,000 Pre-Arranged Networking Meetings
· Up to 150 Exhibitors and Sponsors
· Cocktail Receptions and Entertainment each Night
www.medicaltourismcongress.com

About the Medical Tourism Association:
The Medical Tourism Association is the first international non-profit association made up of the top international hospitals, healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators, insurance companies, and other affiliated members with the common goal of promoting the highest level of quality of healthcare to patients in a global environment.
www.medicaltourismassociation.com

For further info about speaking, sponsorship, exhibiting and membership:
Please contact: Camille Hoheb - Spa and Wellness Conference Chair, MTA Congress 2010
camille@globalspaandwellness.com
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