Venue: Grand Spa Conference Centre
08:30 – 09:30 ESPA Board Meeting
09:30 – 11:00 General Assembly (Meeting of the European Spas with separate invitations)
10:00 – 12:00 REGISTRATION
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OFFICIAL WELCOMING & OPENING CEREMONY:
11:55 – 12:00 Unique Lithuanian Music Therapy
12:00 – 12:45 Welcoming
- Mr. Karolis Žemaitis, Vice-Minister of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania
- Mr. Šarūnas Vaitkus, Lithuanian Resorts Association, President, Mayor of Palanga municipality
- Mr. Thierry Dubois, European Spas Association, President
- Mr. Artūras Salda, President of the National Association of Medical Spas of Lithuania
- Mr. Ričardas Malinauskas, Mayor of Druskininkai municipality
12:45 – 13:00 Opening ceremony with Flag Parade of Countries’ representatives Druskininkai – a hometown of a famous artist Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis
OPENING SESSION: Charting New Horizons: Shaping the Future of Health Tourism
13:00 – 14:00
- Keynote: Mr. Marius Dubnikovas, economist, lecturer, business development manager, Compensa Life Vienna Insurance Group SE Lithuanian Branch, “Future of Europe Health Tourism” (Lithuania)
- Mr. Michel Julian, Senior Programme Officer at the Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness Department, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism, Spain)
- Ms. Ingrida Zurlytė, Head of WHO Country Office in Lithuania
14:00 – 14:40 Coffee & mineral water break
Session 1 – Perspectives of European Health Resorts
14:40 – 15:30
- Ms. Vilija Malinauskaitė, PhD., Hospitality industry advisor. Lecturer at Vilnius University Business School (Lithuania), “Future of wellness: how to attract different generations?”
- Mrs. Alina Huseynli, CEO of Institute of Spa and Balneology Karlovy Vary, “A new era for Czech Spas: The transformation power of the Balneology/Spa research center (Czech Republic)
- Mr Iztok Altbauer, GM Slovenian Spas Association: Ideal cooperation with National Tourism Board to create strategic promotion (Slovenia)
- Non-Communicable Diseases at Commision DG Sante / TBC (Véronique Wasbauer)
- Mrs. Zaritsa Dinkova – Minster of Tourism Republic Bulgaria a.d., EU Parliament Head of Office R.Kanev MEP, specialized in health and sustainability projects (Bulgaria)
15:30 – 16:00 Coffee break
Session 2 – Climate-based Treatments
16:00 – 17:30
- Mrs. Janka Zálešáková: Climatic conditions suitable for treatment, requirements for recognition of climatic spas, New Publications from Slovakia and Czech Republic (Slovakia)
- Mrs. Austė Juozapaitytė and Mrs. Monika Peldavičiūtė, “Nature’s Wellness Potential: Global Trends and Cases of Forest Therapy Integration” (Lithuania)
- Mr. Daniel Fajkus, Falkensteiner Spa Resort: Be In, Go Out – Importance of physical activity in climatic spa (Czech Republic)
- The growing potential of sustainable climate health resorts in Europe – Discussion with Mrs. Siyka Katsarova, BUBSPA President (Bulgaria) and Mrs. Marlies Sobczak-Boumans, Thalasso Group ESPA (The Netherlands).
17:30 – 18:30 Thalasso Working Group presentation, led by Ms. Marlies Sobczak-Boumans
19:00 – 23:00 Networking Dinner inclusive Beer tasting & Lithuanian bread corner Venue: Kolonada restaurant
Venue: Grand Spa Conference Centre
08:00 – 08:30 Rise with the sun with the resort stretch at Grand Spa conference center
Session 3 – New Horizons in the Spa Industry: Emerging Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
09:00 – 10:30
- Ms. Egle Rukšėnaitė and Mr. Edgaras Neniškis, Prof, E77 SPA Hotels Development & ARCHES. “SPA Business Architecture: The SPA Hotel of After Tomorrow” (Lithuania)
- Mrs. Elisabetta Neri – Luxury Wellness Travel @Travelux Club 2025 (Italy)
- Mrs. Aistė Povilauskaitė, Eglė Medical Spa “Comfort for clients and workforce solutions in one app is possible” (Lithuania)
- Mrs. Patricie Hloušková, Ph.D, Institute of Spa and Balneology: “Modern technology and education for quality and sustainable spa care” (Czech Republic)
Session 4 – Spa Medicine & Prevention using Balneology and Climate-based Evidence
10:30 – 11:45
- Mr. Kęstutis Skauminas, M.D., Ph.D., Director for Medicine at “Eglė“ Medical Spa “Integrative Approach to Prevention of Stress Diseases at “Eglė” Medical Spa” (Lithuania)
- Mrs. Margrét Grímsdóttir, Director of Nursing at Heilsustofnun Rehabilitation and Health Clinic Increasing the Quality of Life of Seniors: The effectiveness of balneology treatment on strength, endurance and mental health (Iceland)
- Mr. Dr. Martin Gehlen, Chief Physician of the Rheumatology and Osteology Department Bad Pyrmont, spa and rehabilitation clinic specializing in the treatment of osteological and rheumatological conditions. (Germany)
- Mr. Patrick H. Carpentier, MD, Prof. Leader of the European Spas Association Medical Group (France) The potential role of European Spas in the prevention of non-communicable diseases. A medical perspective.
11:45 – 12:00 Mud Flashmob at the garden of Grand Spa 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
Session 5 – Balneology – New Programs and Long-term Results
13:30 – 16:00
- Mrs. Lolita Rapolienė, Dr., Associate Professor at Klaipėda university, “Balneotherapy in reducing stress, depression, and anxiety: short and long-term results of randomized controlled study” (Lithuania)
- Mrs. Tanja Rauter Pungartnik, Dr., Representative of ESPA Medical Group (Slovenia), “Presentation of current focuses in the balneology research in Slovenia”
- Mr. Konstantin Ovsyannikov, Prof., Director for Medicine SPA Vilnius, “The use of hot mineral baths in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus” (Lithuania)
- Thierry Dubois, Presidient of Conseil National des Etablissements Thermaux (CNETh) – How can balneology studies be financed and inform the heath ministry, best case France
14:30 – 15:00 Coffee & mineral water break
Session 6 – Balneology in Children’s Health
- MSc. Iva Brozičevič Dragičevič, Prof. of Psychology, Head of Special programs & Member of the Board Polyclinic “Terme Selce & Rijeka“, CEO Healthy Living by IBD, „Junior Camp by IBD for Obese children & youth -solution & Opportunity” (Croatia)
- Mrs. Karin Lehmann, Dr, “Healing Forest and children health – Usedom” (Germany)
- Mrs. Rekha Chaudhari Dr, Founder – World Digital Detox Day, Growing Revolution: Offline is the New Luxury, best practices on how digital detox can positively impact children’s health and overall well-being
- Summary of the section by Mr. Patrick H. Carpentier, Leader of the European Spas Association Medical Group (France) followed by Medical doctors round table discussion
Announcement: Estonia will be the host of the upcoming congress
18:30 – 19:30 Setting off to the Snow Arena for an Enchanting Gala Dinner Experience by cable car – special Druskininkai Air Line. Meeting point: Vilniaus avenue 13, Druskininkai. (Each of 2 cabins fit 10 people every 7 minutes). 19:30 – 01:00 Gala Dinner & ESPA Innovation awards at Snow Arena. The cable car from the Snow Arena to the city center will operate until 11:00 PM. Departure transfers will be organised via taxi or Bolt. Dress code: evening elegant (notice for the ladies: wardrobe will be available at the venue, so we advise you to come in comfortable shoes and take the elegant shoes with you)
