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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.”
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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
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England
with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’
concept.
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of
total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth
in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real
Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional
dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social
connection.
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Oakworks Inc Oakworks is a US-based FSC-certified manufacturer of spa, massage, and medical equipment. [more...]
