European Spas Association
7 Rue de Crayer, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
European Spas Association c/o DELFINE SA
Email: office@europeanspas.eu
ESPA INNOVATION AWARD
Celebrating innovation and excellence in the health & spa industry
We are calling for entries for 2023
What is the ESPA Innovation Award?
AWARDING THE BEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE IDEAS, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN THE SPA INDUSTRY
The ESPA Innovation Award is an annual competition organised by the European Spas Association. Each year, it gives a voice and a prize to those, who developed new, outstanding, and more effective approaches for improving the quality of health & spa hotels and resorts. The award reflects the association’s goal of promoting the exchange of experience, best practices, and know-how. It is a celebration of well-being, innovation, and excellence of the spa industry.
Who is evaluating the events?
All projects are evaluated by a 6-member expert jury based on 5 evaluation segments, including originality, impact of the innovation, practicality, measurability of the benefits, and sustainability.
Gunnlaugur K. Jónsson
Nature Health association of IcelandGunnlaugur K. Jónsson has been ESPA´s First Vice President since 2008. He is the President of Nature Health association of Iceland (NHAI), founded in 1937 by his great-grandfather, Dr. Med. Jónas Krisjánsson who established NHAI Rehabilitation and Health Clinic/SPA in Hveragerði/Iceland (HNLFÍ) in 1955.
Silvia Giannini
Design for Wellness & SPASilvia’s career is directed to responsibility and distinctive projects for commercial and business activities, mostly SPA and Thermal areas, for which she is considered one of the leading experts in Italy. Her studio also develops projects for Hotel and Fitness, in and outside of Italy.
Inga Dora Sigfusdottir
Icelandic Centre for Social Research and AnalysisInga Dora Sigfusdottir is Professor and Founding Director of the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis at Reykjavik University, and Research Professor in Health and Behavior Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Csilla Mezősi
European Spas AssociationCsilla Mezösi has been the Secretary General of ESPA since 2018 and a member of the Board in the European Spa Association since 2002. She has 15 years of tourism management expertise in Europe’s largest outgoing tourism market and 5 years of experience working in the field of medical tourism.
Siyka Katsarova
European Spas AssociationSiyka Katsarova has been the Vice President of the European Spas Association since 2016. She is one of the founders of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and spa tourism – BUBSPA and its President since 2018. Siyka has 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry of Bulgaria.
Todorka Kostadinova
Medical University in Varna, BulgariaTodorka is a professor in strategic management, social marketing and project management, and Vice rector at the Medical University in Varna, Bulgaria. She is an associated editor of the International Journal of Integrated care and former Deputy Minister of Health in Bulgaria.
Categories in 2023
1. INNOVATIVE SPA DESTINATION
Intended for municipalities and regions that showcased innovation in urban development, destination ambience, branding, sustainability and quality and diversity of touristic attractions.
2. INNOVATIVE MEDICAL SPA
Intended for medical spa centers or medical spa facilities that showcased innovation in their medical services, spa management, branding, sustainability, evidence-based medical practices, architecture and design.
3. INNOVATIVE SPA HOTEL
Intended for spa hotels that showcased innovation in their services, products, design, architecture, spa programmes and sustainability.
4. INNOVATIVE SPA CONCEPT
Intended for recreational facilities, spa complexes and spa resorts using local & natural remedies that showcased innovation in their concept and integration with nature.
5. INNOVATIVE HEALTH SPA PROGRAMME
Intended for medical spa facilities (e.g Thermal Spa, Thalasso Spa, Climate health resort, Kneipp Spa, Radon Spa) that developed new medical spa treatments with evidence-based benefits.
6. INNOVATIVE SPA PRODUCTS
Intended for innovative spa brands, products, equipment, thermal dermo-cosmetics and other products with natural ingredients that provide clear benefits for the consumers.
7. INNOVATIVE SPA EDUCATION
Intended for universities and colleges that carry out degree programmes that challenge and seek novel theoretical concepts, new approaches or methodologies, and new findings.
8. MEDICAL SPA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Intended for authors of scientific research, who implemented new medical methods and scientific arguments to achieve breakthroughs in spa/health tourism.
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