Spafinder Wellness 365 will be leading the first ever wellness tourism programme, in association with the Global Wellness Tourism Congress, across three days of World Travel Market 2014, from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 November. Spafinder will be running sessions with some of the world's leading wellness experts, covering a variety of topics within the sector spanning from discussions around the definition of wellness, to how businesses can make the most of wellness tourism. Spafinder will also be announcing the winners of the Wellness Travel Awards on Thursday 6 November.

John Bevan, managing director of Spafinder Wellness UK said “I am excited by this opportunity to increase the exposure of the wellness tourism industry to the wider global travel industry at WTM. The sector offers a wide range of opportunities for the travel and tourism industry to benefit from and World Travel Market, with more than 50,000 senior industry executives in attendance agreeing more than £2 billion in business deals, is the perfect platform to help grow the sector further.”

Thewellness tourism programme sessions will cover the following topics:

Tuesday 4 November

14:00 - 15:00 - Platinum Suite 1

“What exactly is wellness tourism? Why is it growing twice as fast as tourism in general? How can the travel industry benefit?”

Research entitled 'The Global Wellness Tourism Economy' has been carried out by the Global Spa and Wellness Summit in conjunction with SRI International to look at consumer wellness tourism trends and habits. This session will discuss how this research and the recent size benchmark of this niche market is creating change within the fastest growing tourism sector. This session will be chaired by Dr. Franz Linser, founder & CEO of Linser Hospitality. Speakers will include Stella Photi, managing director of Wellbeing Escapes; John Bevan, managing director of Spafinder Wellness UK; Anne Biging, founder and CEO of Healing Hotels of the World.

Wednesday 5 November

14:00 - 15:00 - South Gallery 15-16

“How is wellness tourism being newly integrated into both country and businesses' market positioning?”

Wellness tourism is growing 50 per cent faster than the global tourism industry as a whole. Increasing numbers of brands and countries are responding to this growth due to the rising consumer demand and the high yield nature of wellness travellers. This session will be chaired by Daniel Pearce, managing director of TTG Media. Speakers will include Conceicao Estudante, regional secretary for Tourism, Madeira Islands; Don Camilleri, director of Hospitality and Leisure Concepts; Steve Brown CFA, non-executive director and leisure industry consultant; Anni Hood, founder and CEO of Wellness Business Consultancy  

Thursday 6 November

10:30 - 11:30 - Platinum Suite 1

“Defining the difference between medical tourism and wellness tourism”

These two distinct tourism sectors often cause confusion for consumers, travel agents, the public and the private sector. This session will cover the differences between the two sectors, along with the commercial opportunities in each. This session will be chaired bySusie Ellis, CEO of the Global Spa & Wellness Summit. Speakers will include Brian Hunter, operations director of Lifehouse; Mia Kyricos, chief brand officer of Spafinder Wellness Inc; Alfredo Bataller Pineda, CEO of SHA Wellness Clinic, Michael Nazzal, chairman of Jordan Federation of Tourism Associations.

Wellness Travel Awards

11:30 - 12:30 - Platinum Suite 1

Following Thursday's session, Spafinder Wellness 365™ will be announcing the winners of the first-ever Wellness Travel Awards, the only awards that recognise the spas, hotels, resorts and retreats worldwide dedicated to offering experiences and environments that leave visitors healthier when they check out than when they checked in. An independent global panel comprising of 26 spa, wellness and travel journalists and industry experts selected the official nominees, while the public voted for the winners. On the day, Spafinder's presidentby Mia Kyricos, chief brand officer for Spafinder Wellness 365 will be awarding resorts with six Crystal awards, 40 country awards and 20 category awards.

For more information about Spafinder Wellness 365, please visit http://www.spafinder.co.uk/ or call 0870 121 6066.

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Notes to Editors

With over 25 years of experience as a spa and wellness authority, Spafinder Wellness UK Ltd guides the industry, partners, consumers and employers with the most comprehensive resource for wellness-related products, services and insight in the marketplace. Millions of people find inspiration to keep well every day via the Spafinder Wellness 365™ brand, also known for its widely distributed gift cards available at over 7,500 stores in the UK including Boots, Tesco, Costco, Clinton Cards and Asda. For more information, please visit http://www.spafinder.co.uk/ or call 0870 121 6066.

Media Enquiries

The Brighter Group:  Verity Ramsay / Jenny Groutage 

Tel 020 7326 9880 / Email: spafinder@brightergroup.com