Global Spa Summit 2009

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Mission

The Global Spa Summit (GSS) is an international organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively impact and shape the future of the global spa and wellness industry.

The 2009 SUMMIT At a Glance

The 2009 Global Spa Summit will be held in Europe for the first time. After spending two years in New York City, top-level executives will gather together at the five-star Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, a setting much like the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Under the theme, “The Power of Collaboration”, the content at this year’s Summit promises to be both innovative and compelling. New to the agenda are optional pre- and post-Summit opportunities including activities at the famous École hôtelière de Lausanne as well as visits to well-known hotels, spas and medical facilities in the country. Building on the popular Global Spa Economy Research report, which gave the first-ever snapshot of the size of the international spa industry, this year’s research will play a significant role in the Summit and, as last year, be distributed complimentary to all delegates.

New! Pre-and Post-Summit Activities:

All registered Global Spa Summit delegates are invited to participate in the following activities and events should they wish to extend their stay in Switzerland before or after the Global Spa Summit. Upon registering for the Global Spa Summit, invitees will have the opportunity to express their interest in the following options:

Pre- or Post-Summit Tour of the Dolder Grand Spa and Optional Hotel Stay (Zurich):

May 14th through 17th or May 20th - 24th

Delegates are invited to see and experience the Dolder Grand Resort and Spa, which recently underwent a $400 million dollar renovation, unveiling a brand-new spa designed by fellow delegate Sylvia Sepielli. Delegates are offered a special room rate and a 30% discount on spa treatments. Dig deeper into the spa’s theme, “Classic Traditions with a Techno Beat,” with Sepielli, who will be on-site at the Dolder through the 15th of May. Through this special room rate, delegates can also enjoy a continental breakfast in the Garden Restaurant; fruits, mineral water and Swiss chocolates in the room; late check out (3:00pm) and a shuttle bus service to downtown Zurich. The Dolder Grand is delighted to take reservations by phone, +41 44 456 60 00 or by e-mail, reservations@thedoldergrand.com. For more information please contact Daniel Szelényi, at sales@thedolderresort.com.

Pre-Summit "Spa of the Future" Student Strategy Challenge Presentations:

The Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken - Sunday, May 17th

The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne has invited teams of graduate hospitality students from around the world to develop a new and innovative spa concept (for 21 – 30 year-olds). Teams of up to four students will travel to Interlaken, Switzerland for the Global Spa Summit, where they will present their concept to a panel of industry judges and experts on Sunday morning, May 17th. The winning team will then present their concept as part of the GSS program. Delegates are invited to sit in on the student presentations Sunday morning. For more information on the strategy challenge, or if you are interested in participating on the panel of industry experts, please contact Demian Hodari at Demian.HODARI@ehl.ch.

Post-Summit Education Day at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne

Lausanne, Switzerland - Wednesday, May 20th

Renowned hospitality school, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), is excited to offer both Global Spa Summit delegates and hotel General Managers the opportunity to learn more about, and better understand, the other side of one another’s businesses in order to improve their ability to work, maximize value, and succeed together.

The Spa/Hotel Education day will begin with a collective case study discussion among GSS delegates and General Managers followed by breakout sessions specifically designed for each group to touch on industry and management principles such as IT, marketing and sales, yield management, operations and industry structure. After the breakout session, all participants will reconvene for lunch and conclude the day with a final case study discussion and Q&A session.

EHL will be arranging transportation from the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa to the school’s campus as well as overnight accommodations in Lausanne. More information on inclusive fees for transportation and lodging as well as details on the content for the training day will be provided in coming months.

Post-Summit Medical Spa Tour at Forever Laser Institut, Shopping & Lunch by the Lake

Geneva, Switzerland - Wednesday, May 20th

Drs. Barbara and Luigi Polla, creators of Forever Laser Institute (famous for introducing the first lasers into Europe), are inviting delegates to tour their medical spa facilities and to experience a complimentary facial. Following the tour, delegates will have the chance to visit the Polla’s art gallery, lunch by the lake, and shop on Geneva’s “Rodeo Drive.” Participants will have the opportunity to join the Clinique La Prairie cocktail reception that evening in Montreux. Transportation will be provided.

Post-Summit Tour & Cocktail Reception at Clinique La Prairie Tour

Montreux, Switzerland - Wednesday, May 20th, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Since 1931, thousands have visited Clinique La Prairie to experience the unique “CLP Cell Extract,” also referred to as Revitalisation Therapy. The clinic is offering a rare opportunity for delegates to tour its medical and spa facilities, followed by a cocktail reception. The organized tour will begin at 6:00pm. The clinic is located on the shores of Lake Geneva, in Montreux, opposite the majestic Swiss and French Alps.

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SUMMIT 2008 "ADVANCING THE GLOBAL SPA ECONOMY"

The 2008 Global Spa Summit built on the work which began at the 2007 inaugural gathering, where top concerns included an industry-wide skilled labor shortage, the lack of agreed-upon benchmarking, and the need for environmental leadership. These issues surfaced once again, however delegates indicated that the skilled labor shortage problem has escalated and the subject of low margins has supplanted benchmarking concerns which seem to have shown improvement. Keynote addresses by hotel visionary Ian Schrager and Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States, provided the delegates with powerful calls to action, encouraging the industry to invest further in the areas of design and preventative medicine.

A pinnacle of the 2008 Summit included the presentation of the first ever Global Spa Economy report, conducted by SRI International. This 64-page report, which looked at the year 2007, estimated $60.3 billion in core spa industry revenues, such as spa facilities, capital investments, education, consulting, media, associations, and events, and $194 billion in spa-related hospitality, tourism, and real estate. When broader spa-related industries such as beauty, nutrition, and fitness were factored into the equation, 2007’s global health and wellness market exceeded $1 trillion. The report also found that 1.2 million workers were employed in more than 71,600 spas worldwide in 2007. During the same period, capital investment in spas approached $13 billion, with continued expansion on the horizon. This one-year snapshot makes the spa sector one of the first industries to organize at a global level and analyze its own worldwide impact.

Click here to learn more about the Summit 2008.

To order a copy of the 2007 Global Spa Economy Report, click here

Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States and Vice Chairman of Canyon Ranch, answers a delegate's question following his keynote address 'Prevention and Global Health – the Vital Role of Spas'

Click the thumbnail images to view highlights of the Global Spa Summit 2008.

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SUMMIT 2007 "JOINING TOGETHER. SHAPING THE FUTURE"

Click here for access to the entire 2007 Global Spa Summit site

The inaugural meeting of the Global Spa Summit was an historic gathering which brought together top level thought leaders, industry executives and influential decision makers from the international spa and wellness industry. The many communications received upon the conclusion of the 2007 Summit (see photos and quotes below), indicated that there was great energy, enthusiasm and support for its future.

Steve Case, Founder, AOL, and Chairman, Revolution LLC. delivers his keynote speech "Building a Revolution"

Click the thumbnail images to view highlights of the Global Spa Summit 2007.
To view more photos click here.

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Quotes

Congratulations on hosting the Global Spa Summit it seemed from all accounts to have been a huge success and I am sure you have had lots of positive feedback from all the delegates. I must say whomever I spoke was impressed with the quality of delegates.

Leonard Fluxman, President & CEO, Steiner Leisure Limited

A quick note to thank you...I had a number of people approach me with business ideas, and I was able to meet with a couple of others with whom I had not yet contacted.

Ed McCall, Partner, Brentwood Associates

I am knocked flat by your extraordinary achievement. The Global Spa Summit is world class and totally surpasses any spa related event that I have ever attended.

Clodagh, Founder, Clodagh Design

The Global Spa Summit...was nothing short of a phenomenon. I also want you to know I fell in love with your tag line, "Joining together. Shaping The Future." It was perfect.

Deborah Szekely, Founder, Rancho La Puerta and the Golden Door

I just wanted to thank you for hosting such a wonderful summit!...the buzz was very positive...bringing all these different people together for such a major event. I was happy to share some of my perspectives with your distinguished audience.

P.S. to Pete - Thanks for your very kind introduction! And what was the name of that pool man who has the hot tips????? :)

Steve Case, Founder, Revolution, LLC.

Please accept my congratulations on an excellent first Global Spa Summit. It was incredible to find so many of the top people of the industry under one roof and sharing their vision and challenges so freely. I thought the sessions were excellent and I learned something from each one I attended...The summit created much food for thought and that is a very important step in bringing the industry together at this level.

Joy Menzies. Managing Director, Chiva-Som

I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating Peter, yourself and all those members involved in making the Summit in New York such a resounding success. This was a unique opportunity for a meeting of "minds", willing to share valid information to enhance the SPA therapy business.

Helene Weber Bramwell, President, CIDESCO INTERNATIONAL

I have seen the agenda and it looks great. Congratulations on such a high quality group and a sell out for a "maiden voyage".

John Vanderslice, CEO, Miraval

Thank you so much for a great event. To have all of those top spa individuals from around the globe was one hell of a feat, one that I hope is repeated regularly!

Brian Hunter, Spa Developments

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