What's a Global Spa Summit?

SpaTrade aims to be the first place you, the spa professional, looks to for cutting edge industry news and information.  In keeping with that goal, next week I will travel to Istanbul, Turkey for the 2010 Global Spa Summit (www.globalspasummit.org) one of our premiere industry conferences.  This is the first year the GSS will feature live blogging, and we will be right there to bring you all of the great insights that will be shared (www.spatrade.com/blog).



The Global Spa Summit was created by a group of spa industry leaders, and is modeled in part after the format of the World Economic Forum held each year in Davos, Switzerland.  The summit is held annually, in May, last year was attended by delegates from a record 32 countries.  The agenda features a variety of interactive sessions, including panel-led discussions, general sessions, small group breakout sessions, and hosted dining conversations.  Each year’s agenda is unique, and develops over time right up until the Summit itself.  This ensures a high level of relevancy, and considers the expertise and interest of registered delegates.

The theme of the 2010 summit is “Bridges Worth Building,” which is emblematic both of the host city, and the continued trend toward globalization throughout the world.  In essence, the delegation will examine the spa and wellness industries in relation to outside industries and will explore ideas and opportunities for the future. The agenda will discover bridges to new markets, health and wellness tourism, technology and social networking, architecture and design, all in the context of looking toward the future.  Keynote speakers include well-known futurist Edie Weiner; current Miraval CEO Philippe Bourguignon; noted physician, scientist and author Dr. Kenneth Pelletier, Ahu Aysal, the proprietor of the renowned boutique hotel Les Ottomans; and Dr. Marc Smith, a sociologist specializing in online communities and computer mediated interactions.

The summit also includes a student architectural competition and pre-and post-summit activities such a visit to Turkey’s only destination spa, the Richmond Nua Wellness Spa, and excursions to Turkish hamams, spas and medical tourism facilities.  Stay tuned starting next Friday for my continuously updated blog posts, and you can feel like you’re there!