This year’s gathering attracted 170 participants (the most to date), including Spa Business’ Jane Kitchen (back row, fourth from right) / photo: Jane Kitchen
Samuel del Sol, the owner of Termas del Sol hot springs in Chile, is looking to develop his facility into one of the most preeminent thermal spas globally. But, he admits, “living in an area as remote as Patagonia, we are distanced from what other hot springs around the world are doing”.
Looking for inspiration and perspectives, he attended the fifth annual Hot Springs Connection for hot spring operators worldwide.
The largest event yet, this year’s gathering attracted 170 participants at Murrieta Hot Springs in California, USA. Held on 8-11 January, it offered a mix of speakers, a trade show and trips to local thermal spa icons such as Glen Ivy and the freshly unveiled Spa at Séc-he.
Exhibitors made up 10 per cent of the attendees and included Book4Time, Gharieni, Tara Spa Therapy and Universal Companies, while spa consultants such as Lynn Curry of Curry Spa Consulting and Karen Golden of Dwell Concepts for Belgravia Group also came to learn and network. Although American participants dominate the event, five other countries were represented with Gold waving the flag for Australia and del Sol for Chile.
Murrieta sneak peek A conference highlight was a hardhat tour of Murrieta and its 50-plus geothermal pools and extensive facilities which opened to the public a month later.
“We spent 18 months creating the framework of our wellness offerings,” said David Dronet, owner of Olympus Real Estate Group, the parent company of Murrieta. He revealed that standout features include a contrast bathing circuit, a panoramic rooftop sauna and a terra thermal mud loft. “We wanted to think about how we can impact wellness as a complement to the waters,” he added.
Outlining the opportunities and challenges of restoring the historic property is something that resonated with many attendees. Usually, hot springs sites in the US are small family-owned businesses without spa and wellness facilities. Seeing what Murrieta had planned provided much inspiration.
Helping to navigate issues Perhaps more importantly, the Hot Springs Association, which runs the conference, also helps these small businesses navigate industry-specific issues.
Damian Albright, project manager for Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort in Montana, for example, explained how precipitated silica, which is common in many natural thermal sources, can corrode copper pipes and cause misreading in temperature valves.
Meanwhile, Richard Nash, CEO of Nash Construction Company, detailed how 3D imaging for things like mechanical rooms is now a reality, helping with construction challenges. “Hot mineral water is not like any other water,” he explained, noting that many who work in the space are pool designers rather than hot springs designers. “Hot springs require specialised equipment, piping, pumps, filtration, chemical treatment, water quality control and water collection, storage and discharge systems.”
Geothermal energy consultant Jeff Birkby outlined concerns about current standards in natural flow through, a process by which thermal water flows in and out of the pools every few hours so that chlorine is not needed. These standards vary immensely from state to state (and country to country). New research Birkby is conducting aims to create a national standard for flow-through rates based on evidence of what the minimum replacement rate should be for hygiene – a welcome development for many hot springs owners.
“It’s important for the hot springs resorts to have a united front in addressing the hodgepodge of regulatory, legal, insurance and construction challenges they face,” said David Wickline, founder of Alchemy Resorts, who has worked in the sector since the 80s. “Hot springs resorts are typically owned and operated as independent small businesses that can ill afford the high costs of diverse regulatory and legal challenges. The Hot Springs Association can consolidate expert sources of information and lobbying efforts to help reduce the costs facing individual properties, but that are common challenges to all of them.”
Positive energy In the evenings, conference delegates had further opportunities to connect and discuss business while they soaked in the thermal baths, with contrast therapy circuits guided by Dr Marcus Coplin, medical director at Murrieta, on offer.
“What makes this event so powerful is the strong relationships that come out of our time together,” said Jessica Meath, executive director of the Hot Springs Association. “We learn from each other and take care of each other – and that shows in the enthusiasm and positive energy that occurs during and after the conference.”
Profile: King of Bhutan
Plans for a 'mindfulness city' nearly as big as Hong Kong have been unveiled by the King of Bhutan. Katie Barnes takes a closer look
Destination focus: London
Major hotel brands from Mandarin Oriental and Raffles to Six Senses are all investing in the UK capital, but how will they differentiate themselves asks Katie Barnes
Sponsored: Beltrami – made in Italy
Beltrami has more than 50 years’ experience creating bespoke textile products for spas around the world, with a focus on quality
Jeremy McCarthy: Details matter
Attention to detail is a superpower and necessity in the luxury spa arena, says our contributing editor
Interview: Esin Güral Argat
The owner of Joali Being tells Neena Dhillon what inspired her to create an island dedicated to transformative wellbeing in the Maldives
Family matters: The Wilhelmis
The father and son duo behind the Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting method share their exciting plans for research and innovation with Megan Whitby
First person: By royal appointment
Lindsay Madden-Nadeau has a hypo-healing experience at Atlantis The Royal, Kerzner's sister property to the iconic Atlantis The Palm
Interview: Lyndell Nelis
The wellness director for Atlantis Resorts explains how its two Dubai properties are 'smashing it' when it comes to spa performance
New opening: Kilolani Spa
Grand Wailea's famous Hawaiian spa has been transformed into a moon-inspired, open-air haven
Event report: Hotting it up
Jane Kitchen reveals the thermal spa issues and trends delegates were talking about at this industry gathering in California
Sponsored: High end
Hoar Cross Hall has a new gym to match its award-winning hotel and spa. We find out more about the transformation
Software: Building relationships
Using personal data to create tailored experiences is paramount for spas, but operators have been fined millions for breaching GDPR. How can software systems help navigate this?
Sponsored: Add life
Increasing life expectancy is one of the great achievements of our
times and Starpool is working to bring real meaning to longevity
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...]
This year’s gathering attracted 170 participants (the most to date), including Spa Business’ Jane Kitchen (back row, fourth from right) / photo: Jane Kitchen
Samuel del Sol, the owner of Termas del Sol hot springs in Chile, is looking to develop his facility into one of the most preeminent thermal spas globally. But, he admits, “living in an area as remote as Patagonia, we are distanced from what other hot springs around the world are doing”.
Looking for inspiration and perspectives, he attended the fifth annual Hot Springs Connection for hot spring operators worldwide.
The largest event yet, this year’s gathering attracted 170 participants at Murrieta Hot Springs in California, USA. Held on 8-11 January, it offered a mix of speakers, a trade show and trips to local thermal spa icons such as Glen Ivy and the freshly unveiled Spa at Séc-he.
Exhibitors made up 10 per cent of the attendees and included Book4Time, Gharieni, Tara Spa Therapy and Universal Companies, while spa consultants such as Lynn Curry of Curry Spa Consulting and Karen Golden of Dwell Concepts for Belgravia Group also came to learn and network. Although American participants dominate the event, five other countries were represented with Gold waving the flag for Australia and del Sol for Chile.
Murrieta sneak peek A conference highlight was a hardhat tour of Murrieta and its 50-plus geothermal pools and extensive facilities which opened to the public a month later.
“We spent 18 months creating the framework of our wellness offerings,” said David Dronet, owner of Olympus Real Estate Group, the parent company of Murrieta. He revealed that standout features include a contrast bathing circuit, a panoramic rooftop sauna and a terra thermal mud loft. “We wanted to think about how we can impact wellness as a complement to the waters,” he added.
Outlining the opportunities and challenges of restoring the historic property is something that resonated with many attendees. Usually, hot springs sites in the US are small family-owned businesses without spa and wellness facilities. Seeing what Murrieta had planned provided much inspiration.
Helping to navigate issues Perhaps more importantly, the Hot Springs Association, which runs the conference, also helps these small businesses navigate industry-specific issues.
Damian Albright, project manager for Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort in Montana, for example, explained how precipitated silica, which is common in many natural thermal sources, can corrode copper pipes and cause misreading in temperature valves.
Meanwhile, Richard Nash, CEO of Nash Construction Company, detailed how 3D imaging for things like mechanical rooms is now a reality, helping with construction challenges. “Hot mineral water is not like any other water,” he explained, noting that many who work in the space are pool designers rather than hot springs designers. “Hot springs require specialised equipment, piping, pumps, filtration, chemical treatment, water quality control and water collection, storage and discharge systems.”
Geothermal energy consultant Jeff Birkby outlined concerns about current standards in natural flow through, a process by which thermal water flows in and out of the pools every few hours so that chlorine is not needed. These standards vary immensely from state to state (and country to country). New research Birkby is conducting aims to create a national standard for flow-through rates based on evidence of what the minimum replacement rate should be for hygiene – a welcome development for many hot springs owners.
“It’s important for the hot springs resorts to have a united front in addressing the hodgepodge of regulatory, legal, insurance and construction challenges they face,” said David Wickline, founder of Alchemy Resorts, who has worked in the sector since the 80s. “Hot springs resorts are typically owned and operated as independent small businesses that can ill afford the high costs of diverse regulatory and legal challenges. The Hot Springs Association can consolidate expert sources of information and lobbying efforts to help reduce the costs facing individual properties, but that are common challenges to all of them.”
Positive energy In the evenings, conference delegates had further opportunities to connect and discuss business while they soaked in the thermal baths, with contrast therapy circuits guided by Dr Marcus Coplin, medical director at Murrieta, on offer.
“What makes this event so powerful is the strong relationships that come out of our time together,” said Jessica Meath, executive director of the Hot Springs Association. “We learn from each other and take care of each other – and that shows in the enthusiasm and positive energy that occurs during and after the conference.”
Profile: King of Bhutan
Plans for a 'mindfulness city' nearly as big as Hong Kong have been unveiled by the King of Bhutan. Katie Barnes takes a closer look
Destination focus: London
Major hotel brands from Mandarin Oriental and Raffles to Six Senses are all investing in the UK capital, but how will they differentiate themselves asks Katie Barnes
Sponsored: Beltrami – made in Italy
Beltrami has more than 50 years’ experience creating bespoke textile products for spas around the world, with a focus on quality
Jeremy McCarthy: Details matter
Attention to detail is a superpower and necessity in the luxury spa arena, says our contributing editor
Interview: Esin Güral Argat
The owner of Joali Being tells Neena Dhillon what inspired her to create an island dedicated to transformative wellbeing in the Maldives
Family matters: The Wilhelmis
The father and son duo behind the Buchinger Wilhelmi fasting method share their exciting plans for research and innovation with Megan Whitby
First person: By royal appointment
Lindsay Madden-Nadeau has a hypo-healing experience at Atlantis The Royal, Kerzner's sister property to the iconic Atlantis The Palm
Interview: Lyndell Nelis
The wellness director for Atlantis Resorts explains how its two Dubai properties are 'smashing it' when it comes to spa performance
New opening: Kilolani Spa
Grand Wailea's famous Hawaiian spa has been transformed into a moon-inspired, open-air haven
Event report: Hotting it up
Jane Kitchen reveals the thermal spa issues and trends delegates were talking about at this industry gathering in California
Sponsored: High end
Hoar Cross Hall has a new gym to match its award-winning hotel and spa. We find out more about the transformation
Software: Building relationships
Using personal data to create tailored experiences is paramount for spas, but operators have been fined millions for breaching GDPR. How can software systems help navigate this?
Sponsored: Add life
Increasing life expectancy is one of the great achievements of our
times and Starpool is working to bring real meaning to longevity
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.
Royal Caribbean has revealed its Hero of the Seas cruise ship, home to the most pools at sea
(nine), and a record-breaking 28 dining venues, as well as attractions including a waterpark
with two new family raft slides.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
DJW David & Lynn Willrich started the Company
over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual
Department [more...]
QubicaAMF UK QubicaAMF is the largest and most
innovative bowling equipment provider with
600 employees worldwi [more...]
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...]
