From 15 – 17 April 2025 Varna will be hosting the first Thalasso Exchange The Thalasso working group, a joint initiative between ESPA and Staatsbad Norderney, is dedicated to advancing and professionalizing Thalassotherapy in the health and lifestyle sector. Led by Marlies Sobczak from the Netherlands and Mr Wilhelm Loth of Staatsbad Norderney, the group seeks to integrate Thalassotherapy more closely into European healthcare practices. With...

On November 28, 2024, ESPA and the European Institute of Thermalism participated in the EU Commission’s #EuRuralPact Policy Lab in Brussels. This high-level initiative, involving 100 experts, focused on advancing EU Rural Development through collaboration among key directorates such as AGRI, MARE, REGIO, FINANCE, and SANTE. The discussions highlighted rural desertification as a critical issue, driven by the closure of healthcare services in villages,...

On December 5, 2024, the European Spas Association (ESPA) and the European Institute of Thermalism (EIT) were key participants at the “EUREGHA Annual Conference 2024 – Driving Implementation Forward.” This event, hosted by EUREGHA (European Regional and Local Health Authorities), explored how regional and local authorities play a pivotal role in advancing health policies within the new European mandate. The conference gathered influential speakers, including...

The National Spa Conference, organised by the French Thermal and Climatic Federation (FTCF) and its partners, has been held in Gréoux-les-Bains from 5 to 7 November, bringing together 230 key players, spa operators, representatives of the sector's institutions, and dedicated elected representatives of the spa industry. The meetings provided an opportunity to take stock of the contribution made by the spa industry on health, to...

The Work, Move and Perf (WMP) Conference took place on November 26, 2024, at the French National Olympic Committee headquarters. Organized by the Fédération Française du Sport d'Entreprise (FFSE) as part of the Erasmus+ WMP project, it focused on the effects of physical activity at work on employees’ well-being and company performance. Thierry Dubois, President of the Conseil national des établissements thermaux (CNETh) and...

Strengthening EU Healthcare Collaboration The European Health Summit, held from December 3–4, 2024, at the historic Egmont Palace in Brussels, brought together policymakers, business leaders, and healthcare experts from across Europe. As a high-level pan-European platform organized alongside the EPSCO Council, the Summit fosters collaboration among European institutions and member states to shape the future of healthcare. This year marked the 5th edition of the Summit,...

The German spa and health resort industry convened from November 14 to 16, 2024, under the theme "Shaping the Future – Health Resorts and Spas in Germany" in the rapidly growing spa town of Bad Nauheim, located in the heart of Hesse. The conference's main topics addressed the continuously rising demand since the pandemic for treatments related to post- and long-COVID as well as fatigue...

The aim of the Balneoforum, organised by the Institute of Spa and Balneology from Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic is to bring together experts from the spa industry for presentation and discussion on the medical, natural science, and socio-economic aspects of this industry. The conference provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience, focused on new trends and challenges in the...

We invite you to participate in an informative free webinar on thermalism, hosted by the Medical University of Nancy in collaboration with #EUHealthUnion. This esteemed institution is dedicated to teaching and researching thermalism in France. Take advantage of this opportunity to expand your knowledge and engage with experts in the field! When: Tuesday 3 December - 9.00 -12.00 AM (CET) Where: Online Webinar on ThermalismRegistration: please...

From 24 to 27 September 2024, the city of Druskininkai, Lithuania hosted the 28th European Spas & Balneology Congress. Held at the renowned Grand Spa Lietuva, the event brought together 220 distinguished participants from 27 countries. The congress concluded on a high note with the much-anticipated ESPA Innovation Awards and a grand gala dinner at the spectacular Snow Arena Druskininkai. Welcoming Remarks Lithuania’s Deputy Minister of...