EUROPEAN SPAS INNOVATION AWARD 2024

Celebrating innovation and excellence in the health & spa industry on 26th September ESPA Innovation awards and gala dinner at Snow Arena Druskininkai

We are calling for entries for 2025

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.

Do you have an innovative idea for the spa industry?

Deadline for applications is 12th September 2025

ENTER THE COMPETITION IN 2025

If you believe your project deserves to be recognised as a good practice case in the European health & spa industry, here are 5 good reasons to enter in 2025:

  • Gain broad international recognition and significant market visibility
  • Attend the annual gala awards ceremony
  • Meet other innovators and industry leaders
  • Showcase your award-winning innovation to international media
  • Promote your innovation by using the ESPA Innovation Award badge

Winners in 2024

The winners of the ESPA Innovation Awards 2024 showcased in eight categories.

Druskininkai municipality administration

C1: INNOVATIVE SPA DESTINATION

Toplice Sveti Martin d.o.o.

C2: INNOVATIVE MEDICAL SPA

SPA VILNIUS

C3: INNOVATIVE SPA HOTEL

GRIFID HOTELS

C4: INNOVATIVE SPA CONCEPT

 SPA VILNIUS

C5: INNOVATIVE HEALTH SPA PROGRAMME

Gharieni Group

C6: INNOVATIVE SPA PRODUCTS


Klangschale Akademie

C7: INNOVATIVE SPA EDUCATION

Institute of Spa and Balneology

C8: INNOVATIVE MEDICAL SPA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

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 Iceland

Gunnlaugur 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 & SPA

Silvia’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 for well know international brands and investments companies.

Dr. Siyka Katsarova

European Spas Association

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 and medical tourism business. She is Board member of the German-Bulgarian Chamber.

Csilla Mezősi

European Spas Association

Csilla Mezösi has been the Secretary General of ESPA since 2018. As Secretary General, she is active in cooperations with EU Policies, stakeholder groups DG Sante, Tourism and Sport, in the Tourism Manifesto Group, opening activities and cooperations in the overseas markets.

Prof. Todorka Kostadinova

Medical University in Varna, Bulgaria

Todorka 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.

Frank Oostdam

Mr. Oostdam is the president of ECTAA, the European Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, as well as the Director of ANVR (Dutch Travel Association).

Administration/ Contact:

innovationawards@europeanspas.eu

Partners

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Categories in 2024

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.

The winners of the ESPA Innovation Awards 2022 came from 12 European countries and showcased in eight categories.

Winners in 2023

The winners of the ESPA Innovation Awards 2023 came from 12 European countries and showcased in eight categories.

ST. Constantine and Helena  Holding JSCO

C1: INNOVATIVE SPA DESTINATION

Eglės Sanatorija

C2: INNOVATIVE MEDICAL SPA

Mövenpick Resort & Spa Fruske Terme

C3: INNOVATIVE SPA HOTEL

Hotel Preidlhof GmbH

C4: INNOVATIVE SPA CONCEPT

 Ensana Health Spa Hotels

C5: INNOVATIVE HEALTH SPA PROGRAMME

Royal Spa, a.s.

C6: INNOVATIVE SPA PRODUCTS


Centrul de Cultura al Judetului Covasna

C7: INNOVATIVE SPA EDUCATION

Niedersächsisches Staatsbad Pyrmont Betriebsgesellschaft 

C8: INNOVATIVE MEDICAL SPA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

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