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Nearly 250 spa professionals gathered recently in the Caucasus
thermal springs region of Russia for the fourth annual Spa & Wellness
International Congress. Lisa Starr was there, and reports on the highlights
By Lisa Starr | Published in Spa Business 2018 issue 1
The congress was held in Russia’s Caucasus region, which boasts a large number of thermal springs Credit: shutterstock
Organised by the Spa & Wellness International Council, headed by Elena Bogacheva, the Spa & Wellness International Congress, or SWIC, presents a wide variety of speakers and topics for the Russian and Russian-speaking spa world. November’s event saw 250 people – the largest number yet – from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania come together for three days of workshops and conferences.
The event served as the test for the Green Resort Hotel & Spa in its soft opening phase. Perched on a hill above a river, the hotel is located in Kislovodsk, one of four thermal cities in this part of Russia. The hotel is a well-designed and modern space that features a large spa and pool complex on the ground floor, overlooking a rose garden. This year, 56 speakers made presentations over three days, covering topics including staff management, wellness tourism, psychology in spas and marketing.
According to the most recent Global Wellness Institute statistics, Russia ranks 8th in the world for the number of spas, with more than 3,000 locations, mostly in large cities, and is also fourth on the list of thermal spring areas, with over 800 establishments. Because of visa and language issues, international tourism to Russia is flat, but domestic tourism is strong, with between 33-36 million annual travellers. According to the Russian Union of Travel Industry, domestic tourism is growing between 8 and 10 per cent a year.
The market is very interested in wellness tourism, and the Russian Ministry of Health reports that only 30 per cent of Russians express satisfaction with wellness visits abroad, feeling that their home market provides a better experience. The Russian Federation has a Strategy of Development of Tourism in place up to the year 2020, which aims to improve the quality and competitiveness of their tourism products for both domestic and international visitors, indicating a growing opportunity in this region for spas and wellness-related businesses.
Some highlights from the myriad conference lectures include a presentation by Marion Schneider of Germany’s Toskana Therme on the economic effect of a therme, with her three current facilities providing a strong foundation for growth and tourism in their villages.
Gennady Bartukhin, president of the National Bath Federation, shared his organisation’s plans for a National Bath Museum in Moscow, and Gayane Suriakhina, director of La Salute Fitness Club & Spa, gave a detailed presentation on the best metrics to create revenue in a club spa.
Neurobiologist Dr Claudia Aguirre shared her findings on skin and beauty synergies with the brain, and local marketing guru Roman Tarasenko gave ideas and examples for current successful marketing strategies.
There was also a small expo with global and local brand and equipment sponsors including Thalgo, Comfort Zone, Sundari and Iyashi Dome, where attendees could browse the latest offerings from these companies, while demonstrations and spa treatments were available in the spa.
The fourth day of the congress offered tours of local sanatoriums and some other cultural activities, including a wine, olive oil, cheese and honey tasting by a local organic grower and vintner. Attendees also had the opportunity to sample local tea and herbs and visit the arcade of mineral waters, where they could try some of the different waters available from fountains. The evening culminated with the Perfect Spa Awards and Gala Dinner, which honoured local Russian spas across a variety of categories, and saw the Doville Hotel & Spa in Anapa, Russia, named as Perfect Spa of the Year.
The next SWIC Congress is set to take place 3-6 November 2018 in Astana, Kazakhstan. “We’re planning to attract more professionals from Asian countries,” says Bogacheva. “Alongside the business topics for spa owners and managers, the agenda will also comprise two scientific conferences devoted to anti-ageing technologies and integrative medicine.”
Discover how to prepare your spa or wellness facility for the influx of international guests
and meet global standards as tourism in Saudi Arabia surges. [more...]
Beltrami Linen’s approach to the world of spa is underpinned by a strong emphasis on bespoke
design, where close collaboration with customers and their designers is always of the utmost
importance. [more...]
Nearly 250 spa professionals gathered recently in the Caucasus
thermal springs region of Russia for the fourth annual Spa & Wellness
International Congress. Lisa Starr was there, and reports on the highlights
By Lisa Starr | Published in Spa Business 2018 issue 1
The congress was held in Russia’s Caucasus region, which boasts a large number of thermal springs Credit: shutterstock
Organised by the Spa & Wellness International Council, headed by Elena Bogacheva, the Spa & Wellness International Congress, or SWIC, presents a wide variety of speakers and topics for the Russian and Russian-speaking spa world. November’s event saw 250 people – the largest number yet – from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania come together for three days of workshops and conferences.
The event served as the test for the Green Resort Hotel & Spa in its soft opening phase. Perched on a hill above a river, the hotel is located in Kislovodsk, one of four thermal cities in this part of Russia. The hotel is a well-designed and modern space that features a large spa and pool complex on the ground floor, overlooking a rose garden. This year, 56 speakers made presentations over three days, covering topics including staff management, wellness tourism, psychology in spas and marketing.
According to the most recent Global Wellness Institute statistics, Russia ranks 8th in the world for the number of spas, with more than 3,000 locations, mostly in large cities, and is also fourth on the list of thermal spring areas, with over 800 establishments. Because of visa and language issues, international tourism to Russia is flat, but domestic tourism is strong, with between 33-36 million annual travellers. According to the Russian Union of Travel Industry, domestic tourism is growing between 8 and 10 per cent a year.
The market is very interested in wellness tourism, and the Russian Ministry of Health reports that only 30 per cent of Russians express satisfaction with wellness visits abroad, feeling that their home market provides a better experience. The Russian Federation has a Strategy of Development of Tourism in place up to the year 2020, which aims to improve the quality and competitiveness of their tourism products for both domestic and international visitors, indicating a growing opportunity in this region for spas and wellness-related businesses.
Some highlights from the myriad conference lectures include a presentation by Marion Schneider of Germany’s Toskana Therme on the economic effect of a therme, with her three current facilities providing a strong foundation for growth and tourism in their villages.
Gennady Bartukhin, president of the National Bath Federation, shared his organisation’s plans for a National Bath Museum in Moscow, and Gayane Suriakhina, director of La Salute Fitness Club & Spa, gave a detailed presentation on the best metrics to create revenue in a club spa.
Neurobiologist Dr Claudia Aguirre shared her findings on skin and beauty synergies with the brain, and local marketing guru Roman Tarasenko gave ideas and examples for current successful marketing strategies.
There was also a small expo with global and local brand and equipment sponsors including Thalgo, Comfort Zone, Sundari and Iyashi Dome, where attendees could browse the latest offerings from these companies, while demonstrations and spa treatments were available in the spa.
The fourth day of the congress offered tours of local sanatoriums and some other cultural activities, including a wine, olive oil, cheese and honey tasting by a local organic grower and vintner. Attendees also had the opportunity to sample local tea and herbs and visit the arcade of mineral waters, where they could try some of the different waters available from fountains. The evening culminated with the Perfect Spa Awards and Gala Dinner, which honoured local Russian spas across a variety of categories, and saw the Doville Hotel & Spa in Anapa, Russia, named as Perfect Spa of the Year.
The next SWIC Congress is set to take place 3-6 November 2018 in Astana, Kazakhstan. “We’re planning to attract more professionals from Asian countries,” says Bogacheva. “Alongside the business topics for spa owners and managers, the agenda will also comprise two scientific conferences devoted to anti-ageing technologies and integrative medicine.”
The Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan will reopen later this year with an
all-new design plus enhanced treatments and experiences inspired by its river valley home.
Operator Circadian Trust has launched a five-year growth drive designed to
support health and wellbeing across South Gloucestershire, UK. The initiative
will see a £2.4m investment in its five Active Lifestyle Centres.
Remedy Place, a US-based social wellness club brand, is poised for steady expansion in the
coming years, with plans to open two new clubs annually moving forward.
Swiss longevity brand Clinique La Prairie (CLP) has inked a deal with Montara Hospitality
Group
to operate a resort at Tri Vananda – a purpose-built wellness community in Phuket,
Thailand.
Basic-Fit has signed up to trial the Wellhub network across its recently expanded Spanish
network, giving access to subscribers and enabling them to use all 152 of its Spanish clubs.
Having redefined the model of public-private collaboration in Spain, Go Fit is now expanding
into Italy and has ambitious plans to grow its estate, memberships and profits.
Discover how to prepare your spa or wellness facility for the influx of international guests
and meet global standards as tourism in Saudi Arabia surges. [more...]
Beltrami Linen’s approach to the world of spa is underpinned by a strong emphasis on bespoke
design, where close collaboration with customers and their designers is always of the utmost
importance. [more...]