An Interview with Ms. Vesela Bogdanova, General Manager of the Five Elements Hotel in Bulgaria – Winner of the Special Jury Award at the ESPA Innovation Awards for Innovative Spa Design
Q1 Translating the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—from philosophy into functional spatial design is ambitious. Can you walk us through one element and explain exactly how it manifests physically in the spa?
Water is...
Led by ESPA Board Member Marlies Sobczak, our recent online workshop, held on the 18 June 2026, united European experts to highlight the scientifically backed power of marine environments and thalassotherapy for preventive health and longevity.
Key Takeaways:
The Power of the Ocean: Prof. Jana Asselman (University of Ghent) prepared a memorandum for the workshop, which emphasised that integrating coastal exposure into healthcare can dramatically improve...
On 20 February, the first online knowledge exchange this year on the theme of Thalasso took place. ESPA board member Marlies Sobczak (Netherlands) and...
We recently spoke to Marlies Sobczak, project manager of ESPA’s Thalasso working group, who played a pivotal role in bringing the annual congress of the DHV to Norderney. Marlies provided valuable insight into the event and the activities of the Thalasso group.
Baths in spas, thalasso cures, nasal hygiene, drinking blisters: seawater has many health benefits. Studies remain rare but the sector wants to revive research.
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