At European spas section of the #HEALTHXCHANGE Summit, three leading voices will highlight why health tourism is becoming a strategic pillar of Europe’s prevention and health resilience agenda. Europe’s medical spas and health destinations are increasingly defined by evidence, economic relevance, and scientific leadership. Thierry Dubois 1st Vice-President of ESPA and President of Conseil National des Établissements Thermaux (CNETh) will present the French pilot study on the economic impact of...

Mrs. Anja Fortuna, Policy Analyst at the Rural Pact Support Office will be our guest speaker at the HEALTHXCHANGE SUMMIT 2026 in Varna. Mrs. Anja Fortuna has over a decade of experience in youth policy, agriculture, tourism and rural development, working across local, national and European levels. She is Policy Analyst for Rural Pact Support Office and has extensive expertise in EU programmes and project...

We are honoured to welcome Ass. Prof. Dr. Milena Angelova to HEALTHXCHANGE SUMMIT in Varna on 12th May — one of the key voices shaping Europe’s health and life‑science policies. Dr. Angelova is a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), President of the ACP–EU Follow‑up Committee, and the Rapporteur of the EU Life Sciences Strategy. Her work directly influences how Europe approaches prevention, innovation,...

HEALTHXCHANGE Summit, Varna — 13 May 2026 The future of longevity is changing - fast. It is no longer defined by isolated interventions, miracle supplements, or short‑term trends. The next decade will be shaped by integrated, science‑backed ecosystems that combine prevention, diagnostics, lifestyle medicine, and nature‑based therapies into one coherent model. The HEALTHXCHANGE Summit in Varna brings together the leaders shaping this transformation. It is the...

Anke Sponer is working and lecturing in the area of (health) tourism management at the European Campus Rottal-Inn, the international faculty of the Deggendorf Institute of Technology. Anke is global networker, speaker and an expert for innovative market strategies, communication and tourism initiatives. Her vision is to further evaluate future-proof and evidence-based approaches to enable people to live healthier and longer lives. That´s why...

Patrick Carpentier is Professor Emeritus of Vascular Medicine at the Grenoble - Alpes University in France, past-president of the European Society of Vascular Medicine and the International Union of Angiology, and currently president of the Medical Commission of ESPA. At the European Spas & Balneology Congress 2025 in Haapsalu, she will participate in the panel discussion “Europe’s Hidden Healthcare Power. Why Spas Belong in the Future...

Dr. Lorena Vela IglesiasMD, PhD in Medicine and Specialist in Medical Hydrology at Complutense University of Madrid, where she is Professor and Co-Director of the Research Group on Medical Hydrology. She has participated in over ten European and international research projects and authored scientific articles, books, and book chapters. With broad clinical experience in health resorts in Spain, France, and Argentina, she is an...

Sara Vandamme is a postdoctoral researcher at the Blue Growth Research Lab at Ghent University, where she explores the intersections between ocean environments and human health. Her work focuses on the unique composition of sea air and its potential health benefits, as well as the stress-reducing effects of coastal landscapes. She coordinates interdisciplinary networks and initiatives that foster social innovation in the blue economy. At...

Presented by Thorleikur Jóhannsson, VERKIS Iceland, and Markos Danas, Vice-President, European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA, advisory partner of GreenSPAS). Climate Resilience and Energy Efficiency in Thermal Spa Regions.Strategies for supporting greener, more resilient spa cities and rural destinations, including innovative geothermal solutions from Iceland and the Interreg Europe “GreenSPAS” project on climate change adaptation policies in European spa regions.

Claudia Wagner is a managing director of Fit Reisen. She is responsible for the area’s product, product development as well as hotel purchasing and -consulting at the Fit Reisen headquarters in Frankfurt am Main.  Since 1982, the graduate business economist of tourism (FH) accompanies and shapes the success story of the company significantly.  Due to her expertise in the field of healthy travel in Europe,...

Claude-Eugène Bouvier is a Board Member of the European Spas Association, a Member of the French College of Health Economists, and the former General Secretary of the French Spas Association. At the European Spas & Balneology Congress 2025 in Haapsalu, she will participate in the panel discussion “Europe’s Hidden Healthcare Power. Why Spas Belong in the Future of Public Health?”

Dr. Meglena Plugtschieva is the Ambassador of BUBSPA. She has served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to Montenegro, to the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, and to the Federal Republic of Germany. Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Plugtschieva has also held the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria. In...