Spa trends, innovations and concepts, investments in biohacking and science all underpinned topics at the Spa & Wellness International Congress in Azerbaijan. Lisa Starr shares her takeaways
By Lisa Starr | Published in Spa Business 2020 issue 1
Spa & Wellness International Congress in Azerbaijan / Ana Flasker/SHUTTERSTOCK
In December, 260 spa professionals from 15 countries gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the sixth annual Spa & Wellness International Congress, oriented to businesses in the Russian-speaking regions of the world. Organiser Elena Bogacheva, president of Russia’s Spa & Wellness International Council (SWIC), and CEO of consulting firm Spa Priori, put together an insightful four-day event.
Opening day, panels covered wide-ranging topics such as current spa concepts, wellness marketing and KPIs. Dr Tamaz Mchedlidze, creator of the Bioli Medical Wellness Resort in Georgia, shared the vision behind the resort’s successful mix of stress management, exercise, and functional nutrition. Later on, the resort received SWIC’s 2019 Perfect Spa Award (see opposite), along with Gazelli Art House, a gorgeous multi-faceted business in downtown Baku which hosted delegates for an evening.
On subsequent days, the congress was divided into sections such as Hotel & Resort Spa Segment Trends and Day Spa Best Practices, enabling deeper dives into content specific to these markets. There were numerous insightful presentations on subjects such as investments in biohacking, wellness architecture, and budgeting & cash flow management.
Meanwhile, in evening discussions, many delegates voiced their concerns about black market spas, especially in Moscow. These non-licensed facilities offer cheaper services and are tempting staff from legitimate spas with unrealistic compensation schemes. In other news, however, it was noted that younger clients are drawn to more sustainable businesses and practices.
In a Scientific Conference on the fourth day, professors and doctors gave expert presentations on Age in the 21st Century; Innovative Laboratory Diagnostics; and hormones, beauty and ageing.
The congress concluded with a gala dinner, with copious amounts of food, wine and a fun atmosphere emceed by Russian talk show host Alexander Gerasimov. The delegation now look forward to meeting again in Minsk, Belarus, on 15-18 September 2020.
2019 Perfect Spa Award winners:
Day Spa:
Riviera Day Spa (Minsk, Belarus)
Medical Spa:
Gazelli House Wellness Center (Baku, Azerbaijan)
Wellness Resort:
Bioli Medical Wellness Resort (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Hotel Spa:
Carelica
Eco Spa at Hilton
(St Petersburg, Russia)
Resort Spa:
Riviera Sunrise Resort Spa Hotel (Alushta, Russia)
Spa Hotel: ReLife Wellness Center in Green Flow Hotel (Sochi, Russia)
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 1
Editor's letter: Time to shine
As spas reach peak revenues, now’s the time for our industry to act as a catalyst in working out how we measure the impact of an experience and the ‘return on wellness’ says Spa Business' editor Katie Barnes
Promotional feature: TechnoAlpin
If you want to deliver a hot and cold experience as part of your wellness programme, adding a snowroom will introduce a delightful and more gentle form of cold therapy, as Sara Brenninger explains
Trends: Spa Foresight™
Climate emergency, gen alpha and brain optimisation are among Spa Business’ latest trend predictions
Promotional feature: The Wellness
Investing in children’s facilities gives a spa and wellness offering a competitive edge, as well as helping the next generation achieve their potential, explains Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of industry design and consultancy practice, The Wellness
Promotional feature: RKF Luxury Linen
As a symbol of luxury, innovation and quality in the world of spa and hospitality, much of RKF Luxury Linen’s success comes from its highly client-centric design process, says CEO Riadh Bouaziz
Design: Heat of the moment
From giant golden eggs and converted ski lifts to rustic, hand-crafted huts, we showcase the latest in heat experience design and innovations
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
Spa trends, innovations and concepts, investments in biohacking and science all underpinned topics at the Spa & Wellness International Congress in Azerbaijan. Lisa Starr shares her takeaways
By Lisa Starr | Published in Spa Business 2020 issue 1
Spa & Wellness International Congress in Azerbaijan / Ana Flasker/SHUTTERSTOCK
In December, 260 spa professionals from 15 countries gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the sixth annual Spa & Wellness International Congress, oriented to businesses in the Russian-speaking regions of the world. Organiser Elena Bogacheva, president of Russia’s Spa & Wellness International Council (SWIC), and CEO of consulting firm Spa Priori, put together an insightful four-day event.
Opening day, panels covered wide-ranging topics such as current spa concepts, wellness marketing and KPIs. Dr Tamaz Mchedlidze, creator of the Bioli Medical Wellness Resort in Georgia, shared the vision behind the resort’s successful mix of stress management, exercise, and functional nutrition. Later on, the resort received SWIC’s 2019 Perfect Spa Award (see opposite), along with Gazelli Art House, a gorgeous multi-faceted business in downtown Baku which hosted delegates for an evening.
On subsequent days, the congress was divided into sections such as Hotel & Resort Spa Segment Trends and Day Spa Best Practices, enabling deeper dives into content specific to these markets. There were numerous insightful presentations on subjects such as investments in biohacking, wellness architecture, and budgeting & cash flow management.
Meanwhile, in evening discussions, many delegates voiced their concerns about black market spas, especially in Moscow. These non-licensed facilities offer cheaper services and are tempting staff from legitimate spas with unrealistic compensation schemes. In other news, however, it was noted that younger clients are drawn to more sustainable businesses and practices.
In a Scientific Conference on the fourth day, professors and doctors gave expert presentations on Age in the 21st Century; Innovative Laboratory Diagnostics; and hormones, beauty and ageing.
The congress concluded with a gala dinner, with copious amounts of food, wine and a fun atmosphere emceed by Russian talk show host Alexander Gerasimov. The delegation now look forward to meeting again in Minsk, Belarus, on 15-18 September 2020.
2019 Perfect Spa Award winners:
Day Spa:
Riviera Day Spa (Minsk, Belarus)
Medical Spa:
Gazelli House Wellness Center (Baku, Azerbaijan)
Wellness Resort:
Bioli Medical Wellness Resort (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Hotel Spa:
Carelica
Eco Spa at Hilton
(St Petersburg, Russia)
Resort Spa:
Riviera Sunrise Resort Spa Hotel (Alushta, Russia)
Spa Hotel: ReLife Wellness Center in Green Flow Hotel (Sochi, Russia)
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 1
Editor's letter: Time to shine
As spas reach peak revenues, now’s the time for our industry to act as a catalyst in working out how we measure the impact of an experience and the ‘return on wellness’ says Spa Business' editor Katie Barnes
Promotional feature: TechnoAlpin
If you want to deliver a hot and cold experience as part of your wellness programme, adding a snowroom will introduce a delightful and more gentle form of cold therapy, as Sara Brenninger explains
Trends: Spa Foresight™
Climate emergency, gen alpha and brain optimisation are among Spa Business’ latest trend predictions
Promotional feature: The Wellness
Investing in children’s facilities gives a spa and wellness offering a competitive edge, as well as helping the next generation achieve their potential, explains Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of industry design and consultancy practice, The Wellness
Promotional feature: RKF Luxury Linen
As a symbol of luxury, innovation and quality in the world of spa and hospitality, much of RKF Luxury Linen’s success comes from its highly client-centric design process, says CEO Riadh Bouaziz
Design: Heat of the moment
From giant golden eggs and converted ski lifts to rustic, hand-crafted huts, we showcase the latest in heat experience design and innovations
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
