Hot Springs’ Global Renaissance Continues – Experts to Meet in Morocco at Global Spa & Wellness Summit
New York, NY (PRWEB) August 05, 2014 -- The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) announced today that when business leaders from 45 nations meet in Morocco at the 8th annual Summit, a specific hot springs industry forum will take place to discuss, among other things, sustainability and growth opportunities. Additionally, GSWS research partner, SRI International, will for the first time present revenue and market size data for this important spa and wellness sub-segment.
Major investment in recent years has seen the refurbishment of ancient thermal mineral springs, along with the building of new hot springs destinations around the world. “There are hot springs on every continent and in virtually every country around the world, making this sector one of the largest in the spa industry,” says organizer of the Forum and owner of Peninsula Hot Springs in Australia, Charles Davidson.
“The forum looks forward to the release of hot springs specific data from GSWS and SRI,” said Davidson. “This is the kind of research we need to continue to propel investment in our segment forward.”
The first meeting of the Hot Springs Industry Forum took place during the 2013 Global Spa & Wellness Summit in New Delhi, India, and resulted in the formation of the Global Hot Springs Initiative, a task force focused on uniting global leaders and stakeholders in this rapidly growing spa category.
Chaired by Amy McDonald, owner of Under a Tree Spa & Wellness, a consulting company that creates integrative health experiences that focus on optimal health, prevention, and sustainability, the task force meets monthly to discuss issues directly affecting the industry. “Our goal is to help join the industry together to promote the benefits of hot springs through global marketing and research initiatives,” said McDonald.
Driving this demand is consumer desire for local, indigenous, natural, and sustainable experiences, along with hot springs spas’ uniquely affordable stress relieving and social spa-ing benefits. The fact that most hot spring experiences can be had for the price of an affordable day-rate entry has them particularly viable during the recent economic downturn.
The make-up of the 2014 forum panel members who will be speaking in Morocco reflects the global nature of the industry and will include representatives from Australia, New Zealand, USA, France, Peru, Japan, and Morocco. Among the panel of experts is Mohammed Karim Jeannane, Director General of Sothermy and the Royal Golf Club of Fez, one of the largest thermal spa centers in Morocco; Erwan Madec, Director General and CEO of Vichy Spa International in France; J. Alonso Burgos Hartley, owner, Colca Lodge in Peru; Steve Chadwick, the Mayor of Rotorua, a New Zealand city that is renowned for its geothermal and spa heritage; and Tomonori Maruyama of Mitsui Knowledge Industry Co. from Japan.
After the Summit, there will be an organized tour of Moroccan hot springs and hammams. There is a choice of a three-day or five-day tour visiting some of the most culturally significant and famous hot springs in the country, including Moulay Yacoub, Sidi Harazem, Ain Salama, Ain Allah, Abaynou, and Tighmert Oasis. To join the tour, visit http://www.gsws.org and look at pre- and post-summit activities.
To register for the 2014 GSWS, visit: http://www.gsws.org.
About the Summit:
The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) is an international organization representing senior executives and leaders from over 45 countries, joined by a common interest in driving economic development and understanding of the spa and wellness industries. Delegates from diverse sectors, including hospitality, tourism, health and wellness, beauty, finance, medical, real estate, manufacturing, and technology, attend the organization's annual Summit, which is held in a different host country each year. After just seven years, the GSWS is now considered the leading global research and educational resource for the $1.9 trillion spa and wellness industry.
Beth McGoarty, rbi creative, 213.300.0107, [email protected]
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