SPATEC UK & Europe News

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SPA PROFESSIONALS HAIL SPATEC 08 A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

Operators and suppliers returning from the second SPATEC UK and Europe have hailed it an overwhelming success and the best forum for conducting business in the spa industry.

Held at the luxury five-star spa resort, the InterContinental Aphrodite Hills, Cyprus, the event attracted more than 150 of the most prominent and influential spa professionals. The unique format of face to face meetings pre-selected by both operators and suppliers allowed delegates to catch up with existing contacts and forge relationships with new ones.

Andrew Gibson, Group Spa Director of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, which currently operates 15 spas around the world, says: “SPATEC is a very efficient use of my time, where I can dedicate 20 minutes of quality time to each supplier. I have been telling many suppliers that if they want to meet me they should book SPATEC as they will be guaranteed devoted time to speak.”

Andrew led the SPATEC open forum, where a number of thought-provoking questions were discussed. A panel of spa professionals comprising Sheron Anne Boddy, Operations Director EMEA of Six Sense Spa; Mike Wallace, Brand Manager of Danubius Health Spa; Delvis Bona, Director of Elements Spa and Principal of Bonaroma Training Academy UK and Dave Courteen, Managing Director of Imagine Spa, gave their views on a range of topics from how suppliers could improve their service to operators to what constitutes a spa.

The latest research into the UK spa market by The Leisure Database Company was also launched at the event. The findings showed that the spa sector is growing steadily and consumers have more knowledge of spa than ever before, but operators must stop selling the features of spa and concentrate on the benefits they offer to attract more consumers in future.

As well as the 20-minute meetings, delegates were able to network in coffee breaks, at lunch and during the social events held each evening. “SPATEC has been a real revelation,” says Emma Jane North, Operations Manager, Ragdale Hall. “The opportunity to spend time with so many of my colleagues and meet new people was wonderful. Everyone is here to do business and the unique structure of SPATEC means it is far more effective than any exhibition. It’s an incredibly rewarding forum.”

SPATEC aims to repeat the success of this year’s event in Portugal in 2009 when it takes place one month earlier at Grande Real Santa Eulália Resort & Hotel Spa from 25th to 28th March 2009.

“SPATEC this year was a really exciting event with operators from so many global brands linking with new, niche and innovative spa companies and a terrific range of suppliers. The feedback has been outstanding and to have already received so many requests for next year’s event when we have barely returned is such a boost for all concerned,” says Nigel Wallace, SPATEC Event Director.

For more information about next year’s SPATEC UK & Europe please call (0)208 547 9830 or email nigel@mcleaneventsinternational.com.

NEWS - 28/05/2008

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• SPA PROFESSIONALS HAIL SPATEC 08 A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

  Operators and suppliers returning from the second SPATEC UK and Europe have hailed it an overwhelming success and the best forum for conducting business in the spa industry.

  NEWS - 28/05/2008