The organisers are grateful that they will be able to bring representatives of tourist agencies from numerous European countries to this year’s spa and wellness tourism tradeshow SPA-CE Experience 2021. ESPA Congress will welcome representatives of several European spa centres, health institutions and experts in spa tourism. The honorary sponsor of both events was the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.
The SPA-CE tradeshow is designed to present the offer of health spa centres in Slovenia and neighbouring countries. In past editions, the tradeshow each time welcomed over 20 exhibitors who met with potential clients. The guests are esteemed representatives of tourist agencies that specialise in spa and wellness tourism. This year’s trade show will, due to COVID-19 restrictions, take place in a limited scope: the organisers are eager to welcome 11 exhibitors from Slovenia and Croatia, as well as 15 hosted guests from Germany, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic and Russia.
Representatives of foreign agencies will commence by visiting select Slovenian health resorts, Thermana Laško, Terme Dobrna, Terme Zreče and will conclude their tours in Terme 3000 – Moravske Toplice, where business meetings are set to take place on 30 September.
Concurrently with the SPA-CE tradeshow, the 25th Congress of the European Spas Association is set to take place. The community of Slovenian health resorts has been a member of the ESPA Association since 2017. Their active involvement in the association and the perpetual support of the Slovenian Tourist Organisation helped them won the bid to host the congress.
75 attendees have confirmed their participation at the ESPA Congress, 15 of which will participate online. Esteemed experts from home and abroad will present the main topics of the congress. They will delve into the challenges faced by the tourism sector. In particular, they will focus on health tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainability, digitalisation, and education in the field of balenology.
Every year, ESPA give away the best awards in innovation (ESPA Innovation Award), encouraging tourist destinations and individual service providers such as health resorts, hotel and wellness centres to further develop and enhance their service and strive for excellence. This year, numerous projects from 9 countries are competing to win the awards, including five from Slovenia. The announcement of winners will take place at the gala dinner on 30 September at 19.30 in Terme 3000.
The programme of both events will take place accordingly to the recommendations and guidelines by the National Institute of Public Health. All attendees will have to meet the Vaccinated, Tested or Recovered requirement to attend the event. Participants, who will not be able to attend, will be able to follow the event online and even conduct meetings at the SPA-CE trade show.
Regardless of modern technology available, the desire of all attendees is to meet in person, exchange experiences and results from the past year and a half while furthering cooperation and making deals for the upcoming year.
Find out more about SPA-CE here.
