Global Spa Summit 2009

HISTORY

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The Global Spa Summit evolved through years of dialogue among senior hospitality and spa executives worldwide who felt frustrated that no compelling gathering for top industry executives existed. The Summit is modeled after the successful format of the not-for-profit World Economic Forum which is held each year in Davos, Switzerland and gathers leaders from all parts of the world to solve shared problems. The Summit is held annually, beginning on the third Sunday in May. The 2007 and 2008 Summits were held at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in New York City. The 2008 Summit “Advancing the Global Spa Economy” built on the discussions which began at the inaugural 2007 Global Spa Summit, "Joining Together. Shaping the Future". A highlight of the 2008 Summit was the presentation of the first ever "Global Spa Economy" research report, conducted by SRI International, formerly the Stanford Research Institute.

FORMAT

A variety of interactive sessions are on the Summit agenda. They include panel-led discussions, general sessions, small group breakout sessions and hosted dining conversations. Efforts are made to ensure that all attendees participate at whatever level they choose: observer, speaker, panelist, contributor, questioner or table host.

Interpretation Services

Interpreters will be made available for groups upon request. Please notify us of your specific language request in your online registration questionnaire.

Dress Code

International Standard Business Attire is recommended for all Summit sessions. For social events, delegates may dress in Business Casual.

Invitees

The Global Spa Summit attracts top-level business executives from all over the world with interest in the spa and wellness industry. Representatives from diverse sectors including hospitality, investment, finance, real estate, medical, consulting, product and other related industries attend this intimate, high-level gathering focused on moving the spa and wellness sector forward. With sold out attendance in both 2007 and 2008, the Global Spa Summit delegation represented 29 different countries in 6 continents.

If you would like to receive an invitation for the 2009 summit, please send an email with your contact information and a brief bio to info@globalspasummit.org. To nominate an individual for possible inclusion, please email name and contact information to the same address. For general inquiries, please call Dulcy Gregory at +1 212.716.1199.

Objectives

The Global Spa Summit is dedicated to the advancement of the spa and wellness industry on a global basis. Key objectives include the following:

Create community by fostering relationships among global industry leaders; Facilitate friendly dialogue and the exchange of ideas; Act as a catalyst for continued conversations beyond Summit meetings.
Establish a common language and understanding across regions and continents, while retaining individual identities.
Create and endorse uniform measurement systems for performance tracking and benchmarking of spas world-wide.
Initiate, gather and trumpet quality industry research on a global basis.
Provide accurate and reliable information for the investment community.
Identify and assist in resolving issues affecting the spa and wellness industry.