An nterview with Mr. Timon Köbele, Online-Marketing Manager at Fürstenhof klinik, Staatsbad Pyrmont, Germany  - Special Jury Winner of the ESPA Innovation Awards in the category Innovative Spa Research 1. “Fibromyalgia patients with severe symptoms are often told nothing works for them. Your three-week programme proves otherwise. What's the key to reaching this particularly difficult-to-treat group?” One very important task of rehabilitation is to give patients...

Karel Kalivoda, Cluster General Manager at the Marianske Lazne on how ONKOFIT-SPA empowers women through gentle guidance, community, and sustainable lifestyle change. ONKOFIT-SPA programme is the winner of the ESPA Special Jury Innovation Award 2025 in category Innovative Health Spa Programme. “Excess body fat increases recurrence risk for breast cancer survivors. How do you talk about weight and nutrition with women who've just been through cancer...

Strengthening business connections and showcasing Europe’s leading medical spas The SPA-CE B2B Workshop, held as part of the European Spas Association Annual Congress, once again proved to be a highly effective platform for fostering business connections in the spa and health-tourism sector. The event brought together travel agencies, tour operators, and patient organisations on one side, and leading European medical spas and health resorts on...

The European Spas & Balneology Congress, held in Haapsalu, Estonia from 8 – 10 October 2025 brought together health experts, policymakers, innovators, and spa professionals to explore how Europe’s spa destinations can shape the future of preventive health and wellbeing. The event opened with a strong message: spas are no longer just leisure spaces — they are emerging as important partners in public health...

On October 21, the fifth meeting of experts from the ESPA Thalasso Working Group took place with 19 participants. Among them was the new ESPA President, Dr. Siyka Katsarova, who joined us from Brussels, where she attended a Global Tourism Forum to emphasise the role of the healthcare sector and European spas. “This Thalasso Working Group is a benchmark for health and wellness innovation. Because...

An interview with Irmantas Karpis, Head of Sales at Gradiali Medical SPA & Wellness, Lithuania — winner of the ESPA Innovation Award for Innovative Spa Design Hotel and Special Jury Award in category Innovative Medical Spa 1. What visual experiences do guests encounter, and how do these environments support therapeutic goals? At the heart of the new Gradiali SPA is an extraordinary visual experience – a...

An Interview with Ioana Marian, Founder of SpaEdu & Wellandia, Romania — Winner of the ESPA Innovation Award for Innovative Spa Education 1. SpaEdu by Wellandia is a spa management academy launched two years ago in Romania and is growing fast. What enabled this acceleration?We founded SpaEdu after 15 years of experience with Wellandia—a professional hub built since 2010 to strengthen the Spa & Wellness...

Massimo Caputi on How De Montel – Terme Milano Became Winner of the ESPA Innovation Award in the category "Innovative Spa Destination" 1. This has been one of the largest investments in Europe’s spa and wellness sector in recent years. What was the driving vision behind this project, and what message do you hope it sends about the future of urban wellbeing in Europe? The driving...

An interview with Konstantin Novikov of VR Medical, Czech Republic, Winner of the ESPA Innovation Award in the category Innovative Spa Products Your system is the first MDR-certified VR rehabilitation in spa settings. What do patients typically do in the virtual environment, and how does it differ from traditional physiotherapy? In VR Medical, patients are immersed in carefully designed virtual scenarios that replicate meaningful movements and...

EU Commissioner Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva shares her heartfelt congratulations to the European Spas Association on its 30th Anniversary We are deeply honoured to receive this inspiring message from Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner, on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary Congress of the European Spas Association. Her words highlight the vital role of Europe’s medical spas and natural health resorts in advancing preventive healthcare, sustainable tourism, and climate-responsive wellbeing. “Reaching...