Spa industry buyers from Asia and worldwide suppliers gathered to do business and learn about the latest industry developments at Spameeting Asia in Vietnam from 12-13 June.

Three key speakers delivered lectures over the two-day event, with the topics focused on employee engagement, differentiating to survive in an increasingly generic marketplace, and the need for efficient and sustainable operations.

First, group director of operations at GOCO Hospitality Thomas Wurzinger gave a speech on the importance of staff selection, training, empowerment, motivation and recognition in providing the highest quality service.

Ron Jean, director of international business development for consultant and supplier Pevonia, discussed what he feels is the inevitable change towards medispas as properties seek to differentiate from the rest of the market. He highlighted how crucial the details are if a spa wishes to engage with a client on a personal level. This, he said, ranges from the design of the spa – which should be functional rather than simply good to look at – to which product lines supply the facility.

Group director of spa for Langham Hospitality Group, Barry White, spoke about how spas have reached a turning point in terms of how they operate. As director of spa, White is responsible for the consistency of the hotel collection’s Chuan Spa properties. He explained urban spas are no longer going to be giant luxurious spaces because they are no longer sustainable. Efficiency and sustainability are going to be vital, according to White, as the industry moves forward – meaning net profit per square foot will take precedence over any other variable in future spa business models.

The Spameeting, which took place at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is the first of three this year. Approximately 35 buyers local to Asia and 30 international spa suppliers took part in back-to-back 30-minute networking meetings.

The next meeting will be held in Europe between 30 September and 1 October at the Radisson Blu in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Between 10-11 December, Spameeting Middle East will take place at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE.