European Spas

17/07/2025

European Spas Innovation Awards – Jury Announcement!
We are more than proud to welcome two outstanding new members to the Innovation Awards Jury! 🎉
👩‍💼 Prof. Alessandra Priante
We are equally delighted to welcome Prof. Priante, an outstanding promoter of European tourism and a passionate advocate for health and rural tourism. Her strategic vision and commitment to sustainable development bring an invaluable perspective to our mission.

👨‍⚕️ Prof. Patrick Carpentier
A renowned specialist in vascular medicine, internal medicine, and dermatology, Prof. Carpentier is the Honorary President of the European Society for Vascular Medicine and currently serves as Head of the Medical Commission of ESPA. His deep clinical expertise continues to shape the future of evidence-based spa and balneological medicine across Europe.

👏 We are honored to have excellent specialists on board as jury members for the European Spas Innovation Awards 2025! We are delighted that this year we have already received many fantastic applications and look forward to your input to help shape the spa industry!

02/07/2025

Registration is now open for the 16th SPA-CE B2B Workshop!
As health tourism continues to grow, today’s travelers are seeking healing environments, natural thermal waters, and evidence-based wellbeing programs.
SPA-CE is the ideal place for:
European Spa & Health Resorts to showcase their offer - from traditional spa therapies to innovative treatments and
Travel agencies, tour operators and Patient organisations to discover new destinations and learn about their offer

🧖‍♀️ This boutique B2B event is designed for meaningful connections, featuring pre-scheduled meetings with carefully selected hosted buyers and exhibitors.
Face-to-face conversations help you build trust and turn interest into lasting partnerships.

📍 Join us and position your brand at the forefront of health, wellbeing, and rejuvenation travel.

More information: https://europeanspas.eu/spa-ce/
Just 99 days to go until we meet in !

30/06/2025

Calling all leaders in spa and health innovation!
Are you working on groundbreaking ideas in:
✨ Spa design
✨ Health & wellbeing concepts
✨ Innovative spa products or digital solutions
✨ Sustainability in spa and balneology
✨Medical improvement and study about the effects of natural remedies?

Submit your entry and showcase your innovation to Europe’s top spa, health tourism, and spa medicine leaders.

🏆 Winners will be honored at the prestigious European Spas & Balneology Congress
📍 October 9, 2025 | Haapsalu, Estonia

🗓️ Deadline: 12 September 2025
🔗 Apply now and join the future of spa & wellbeing innovation!

Entries are accepted in eight categories. Awards will be presented to the most forward-thinking ideas and services that not only enhance the spa experience but also demonstrate a lasting and sustainable impact on the industry.

Learn more & submit here: https://europeanspas.eu/espa-innovation-award/

06/06/2025

02/06/2025

Board meeting can start - fresh air, sunshine and great company

27/05/2025

🤝 Strengthening Global Cooperation in Health & Tourism
We’re proud to share that Dr Siyka Katsarova PhD, Vice President of the European Spas Association (ESPA) and Board Member of the German-Bulgarian Industry Chamber, is currently on a business mission in China.
As an invited participant at the China-Germany Hidden Champions Forum 2025 in Beijing, Siyka Katsarova is taking the opportunity to build valuable partnerships and represent ESPA at an international level, thanks to
Today, she had highly productive meetings with:
🔹 Beijing Health Promotion Agency
🔹 Hiseas International, ESPA’s long-standing travel partner in China
🔹 And signed a vital cooperation agreement with the Academy for Tourism Professional Education—a key step toward future training, knowledge exchange, and professional development in health tourism.
This mission reflects ESPA’s commitment to expanding cross-border collaboration and promoting evidence-based, sustainable spa and health destinations across Europe and beyond.

19/05/2025

Teamwork makes the dream work! 💙
A big thank you to PassportNews and Overseas for partnering with us and sharing the magic of our natural treasures — , , and . 💧

It’s always worth being part of the SPA-CE B2B workshop, where health tourism meets business and leaders.

Gratitude to our fantastic hosts over the years:
🇱🇹 | 🇨🇿 | 🇸🇰

Next stop: — Visit Haapsalu 8-10th October!
Let’s keep building bridges through wellbeing, relaxing and healing in nature, and great partnerships.

-CE

First Direct Flights to Vilnius: A New Jewel in Northern Europe Opens. Discover a city where green l...

13/05/2025

🌊 Thalassotherapy & Coastal Health
📅 May 13 | 14:00–14:40 CET
🔗 Join us: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81786576378?pwd=qo0sz00IX6qKJcHYKvSCWkWEc7QgTX.1
💻 Meeting ID: 817 8657 6378 | Code: 985544
As part of the —European Public Health Week—we invite you to a focused session on Thalassotherapy and coastal Environments.
Moderation & Introduction
Marlies Sobczak-Boumans, Thalasso Group Leader, European Spas Association (ESPA)

Key Presentation: Lourdes Mourelle
Exploring the positive effects of thalassotherapy and sea air, and their growing role in preventive health and wellness strategies.
Join us to learn how the sea supports better health!

30/04/2025

ESPA at the 4th Medi Wellness Congress in Geneva
This inspiring event offered new perspectives on wellbeing and showcased groundbreaking innovations shaping our industry's future. We sincerely thank to Mrs. Vladi Kovanic for the kind invitation and for facilitating valuable networking opportunities.
Siyka Katsarova PhD, Vice-President of the European Spas Association (ESPA), and Secretary General Csilla Mezösi had the opportunity to attend the 4th edition of the Medi Wellness Congress in Geneva.
A special highlight was meeting with Sammy Gharieni, the founder of Gharieni Group and Jan Kern - winner of the European Spas Innovation Award 2024. As a global leader in advanced wellness technologies, Gharieni presented cutting-edge solutions and we had the opportunity to experience the RLX Satori.

The congress provided a wealth of insights on creating a better future with a stronger focus on mental health. A key moment was the thought-provoking panel discussion like "Integrating Mind/Body Technologies into Mental Wellbeing Service Delivery", Using Touchless Technologies to Integrate Mental Well-being "
A big applause and thanks to ALL EXCELLENT SPEAKER Tamás Dr. Gulyás Cristina Pedro Ozgur Cengiz Alina M. Hernandez to Sven Huckenbeck Dipl. Sportl. for the active movements, Celine Foster Maria José Bordera Rojas Claudio Tavera Jean-Guy de Gabriac Marilyn Vines Dr. Filippo Ongaro, MD Martin Goldmann Michael Landsberg Wojciech Tworek Clarisse Trouiller Gerfaux Pascale Elmalan Isabelle Mathieu, CPA Dr. Christine Pfeiffer, MD, PhD
We return inspired, with new ideas and a renewed commitment to driving innovation in the European spa industry. Our final visit to CLINIQUE LA PRAIRIE was also a highlight.

02/04/2025

🌍🏨 Visionary discussions shaping the future of hospitality!

At the International Hospitality Investment Forum in Berlin (April 1-2), industry leaders came together to discuss macroeconomic and technological shifts—highlighting new opportunities in destination development, investment strategies, finance, and alternative hospitality concepts.

We are proud that our Vice Presidents, Siyka Katsarova, Martin Plachy, and , represented by Mark Hennebry, participated in this prestigious event.

This forum wasn’t just about investment—it was about building connections, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening cooperation in health-related tourism. It also provided a unique opportunity to meet industry game changers in hospitality investment.

✨ Exciting times ahead for the future of innovative and sustainable tourism!

25/03/2025

🌊 Join Our Online Thalasso Workshop!

Don't miss this exclusive event 📅 April 16 | 10:00 – 11:40 AM (CET) Discover the latest in Thalassotherapy, its health benefits, and sustainability in European healthcare.

🔹 Insights from top experts
🔹 Active ingredients from the sea
🔹 PFAS impact on seawater & health

📅 Register now & be part of the future of wellness!
https://form.123formbuilder.com/6823292/thalasso-online-workshop

🔹 10:00 - 10:05 | Welcome – Marlies Sobczak (ESPA Thalasso Working Group)
🔹 10:05 - 10:20 | Thalasso Therapy in Bulgaria – Prof. Dr. Todorka Kostadinova & Dr. Evgeniya Vladeva
🔹 10:20 - 10:35 | Health Benefits of Marine Ingredients – Dr. Inez Linke
🔹 10:35 - 10:50 | PFAS in Seawater – Nicola Ackermann
🔹 10:50 - 11:05 | Coastal Walking & Stress Reduction – Dr. Jana Asselman & Julia Kinet
🔹 11:05 - 11:20 | Thalasso Educational Program – Dr. Friedhart Raschke
🔹 11:20 - 11:30 | Autumn Thalasso Workshop Preview – Claudia Wagner & Dr. Marcus Wengel
🔹 11:30 - 11:40 | Q&A & Conclusions

📢 Join us to explore the future of Thalassotherapy!