H&WB in the Czech Republic!

CzechTourism the national tourism authority for the Czech Republic has a new campaign to promote health and spas in the Czech Republic, calling the country "the promised land of wellness."

One section on the website is devoted exclusively to medical spas and health and wellness (link here), while another section is devoted to wellness in and out of the spas. (link here)

The Czech Republic is well known for its long tradition of medical spas where guests and patients can take advantage of a wide range of procedures and treatments based on natural resources. In addition, wellness resorts offer relaxation and an escape from stress and fatigue. As the trend towards health and well-being continues, the Czech Republic is working hard to meet the demand for both its domestic and international visitors.

Wellness food, a new trend in gastronomy

A workshop focused on gastronomy related to wellness nutrition was held recently at the Institute of Hospitality Management in Prague. The lecture was intended for students of IHM and was carried out as part of the elective Spa and Wellness Management course.

The lecturer, Mr. Jaroslav Škvařil, is a lecturer for the Czech Society for Nutrition and Vegetarianism (CSVV) expert group and a member of the Group for School Nutrition Development at the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic. He introduced a Wellness menu in Orea Wellness Hotel Santon and the project for Healthy and Quality dining - Slovnaft.

In his lecture, Mr. Škvařil analyzed the definition of wellness in this context, recommended the appropriate diet and demonstrated its impact on human health and performance, both physical and mental. At the same time he evaluated wellness nutrition from the point of view of the latest scientific findings on human nutrition and the way of implementing those findings in practice. The lecture concluded with a discussion of questions related to the topic. In this regard the international WelDest project, of which IHM is one of the partner schools, was presented by lecturer Věra Fišerová. She pointed out criteria that can be important to defining a “health and wellbeing destination” where possibilities for a quality and healthy menu for guests should be present.

ITB - Berlin (Internationale Tourismus Börse)

Die Planungen für die ITB 2014 sind in vollem Gange.  Nur noch 104 Tage, bis sich die Tore zur weltweit größten Tourismusbörse  öffnen und Gäste aus aller Herren Länder dazu eingeladen sind, auf mehr als 150.000m² Ausstellungsfläche die Welt zu entdecken. 

Was mit nur fünf ausstellenden Ländern im Jahre 1966 begann, zieht nun  jährlich mehr Aussteller an. Die ITB 2013 zählte 10.086 Aussteller aus 188 Ländern. Mit mehr als 43 % ausländischen Fachbesuchern kamen neben Repräsentanten weltweiter Tourismusorganisationen auch Tourismusminister  und Staatsoberhäupter. 

Die ITB 2014 findet vom 5.-9. März statt und schon jetzt befinden sich zahlreiche Hotels, Verkehrsträger, Zielgebiete und Veranstalter in Vorbereitung. 

Das nächste Meeting der am WelDest-Projekt teilnehmenden Länder mit ihren Vertreter wird in Bad Saarow stattfinden. Da der Kurort unweit von Berlin entfernt ist, wird auch der Besuch der ITB Bestandteil des WelDest Meetings sein. http://www.itb-berlin.de/

The ITB is the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show.

The process of planning and coordinating the ITB 2014 is in full swing. Just  104 days until the gates open for the world's biggest tourism fair and guests from all over the world are invited to more than 150,000 square meters of exhibition space to discover  the world.

What started with only five countries exhibiting in 1966, now attracts more exhibitors every year. The ITB 2013 counted 10,086 exhibitors from 188 countries. With more than 43 % of foreign visitors, representatives of worldwide tourism organizations, tourism ministers and heads of state arrived.

The ITB 2014 will take place from 5 - 9 March and already there are numerous hotels, modes of transport, destinations and operators in preparation of the event. 

The next meeting of the participating WelDest project countries with their representatives will be held in Bad Saarow. As the health resort is located not far from Berlin, a visit to the ITB will be part of WelDest meetings.

http://www.itb-berlin.de/

Can travel actually be bad for your health?

According to SRI international (2013,I), travel today can be bad for your health. As we all know waiting at the airport, transporting and especially jet lag and poor sleeping, disruption of exercise routines, and excessess in eating, drinking, and sun exposure can leave a traveller more stressed and less well after a trip.

Many of us travel to get away from our everyday life, seeking new experiences and stress free life. In this context travelling seems almost the wrong thing to do. However, as more and more people pay attention to their health, they increasingly want to keep up their healthy habits when they travel. SRI International (2013,I) claims that a growing segment of travelers are taking trips specifically focused on maintaining and improving their personal health and well-being. WelDest customer survey conducted between May and September 2013 supports this idea. The research report is out in just a couple of weeks at this blog with results from Finland, U.K. Austria. Germany and Czech Republic.

A wellness consumer tries to integrate healthy habits into their travel

Many of us try to seek better ways to take care of ourselves, trying to change our lifestyle and taking responsibility for maintaining a good health. This trend is driving the wellness industry - that includes e.g. complementary and alterntive medice, nutrition and weight-loss, spa, fitness and mind-body activities, beauty and anti-aging, preventive and personalized health, and wellness tourism. (SRI International, 2013, II).

So when we travel, we try to integrate these lifestyle habits into our trips. The primary purpose for travel can be wellness tourism - so the whole idea is to travel is about being active and to take care of your mind, body and soul. Sometimes we may engage in wellness-related activites as part of a trip ("secondary purpose wellness tourism"). In both cases we represent important business opportunities for tourism destinations, regions and even countries who all fight to attract us as a customer segment.

The wellness tourism economy means big bucks

Wellness tourism economy is all expenditure  made by tourist who seek to improve or maintain their well-being during or as a result of their trip. It can be divided into "international wellness tourism receipts" and "domestic wellness tourism expenditures".

The sub-categories are featured below:

The source of this blog post is "Global Spa & Wellness Summit, The Global Wellness Tourism Economy, prepared by SRI International, October 2013" and you can purchace the full report from GSS site (link here).

WelDest Meeting in Brussels

The beautiful city of Brussels, unofficial “capital” of the EU, saw a very productive 3-day meeting by the WelDest team recently when partners from 5 countries gathered to discuss their project.

WelDest, which aims to create a development framework to be used by public bodies, destination management organizations and private companies, when developing holistic health and well-being destinations (H&WB), is now at the halfway point of this 2-year project funded by the EACEA.

Exciting news came from the Daniel Binder and Kai Illing, leading the research team. They presented preliminary results from the primary research that had been carried out with both consumers and stakeholders in the industry.

Consumer research focused on such questions as, what exactly attracts guests to Health & Well-being destinations?, which services or elements of the destination do they value the most?, and perhaps most importantly, are their needs being met?

Stakeholder research was conducted through interviews with policy makers, regional developers, hospitality managers and other influential persons involved in shaping and providing the services that make up Health and Well-being destinations. The research focused on finding determining the role that H&WB currently plays in these places and what role it will play in the future.

The WelDest team is looking forward to the upcoming focus groups to be held with those in the industry in order to discuss the results, which will be used to create the e-handbook and self-assessment tool to be used in the development of H&WB destinations. These will be piloted when the team comes together again, this time with the industry partners, in March at ITB Berlin.

WelDest at the 2013 IHM Conference on Hospitality, Tourism and Education

The WelDest project was in the spotlight in two separate presentations last week at the annual conference on Hospitality, Tourism and Education at the Institute of Hospitality Management. Lucie Plzakova and Donna Dvorak spoke in the plenary session about the preliminary research results that had just been shared with the entire project team in their recent meeting in Brussels. Vera Fiserova also presented information on the project during the afternoon section on Tourism.



Those at the conference were introduced to the data collected from consumers and stakeholders in research that spanned five countries. Lucie Plzakova pointed out some interesting findings and emphasized the differences in garnering support and cooperation in the different countries. She also outlined the plan for the next half of the project,how it will progress and the research results will be used in the creation of the e-handbook and self-assessment tool for Health a Well-being tourism destinations.

The response after the presentations was extremely positive, with many individuals working in the field showing their interest and offering their future assistance in the project.



photos: Kristýna Brožková

WORLD OF BEAUTY AND SPA 2013 Trade Fair with special program by the Czech Association of Wellness (CAW).

The Czech Association of Wellness has prepared a special program on the theme of hotel wellness, the new spa regulations in the Czech Republic, and wellness tourism as part of the World of Beauty and SPA 2013 trade fair.

CAW President, Mr. Jan Hejma, discussed changes in the development of the spa industry in the Czech Republic, and namely the impact of the new spa regulations. He also mentioned the necessity of spa commercialization and its transition towards a focus on paying clients. Mr. Hejma underlined the opportunities for wellness and wellness tourism that are opening new horizons for the industry.

In his talk, Mr. Hejma focused specifically on wellness concepts. Each wellness concept should have its „ own story“which can raise a client´s interest, and the interior as well as the procedures influence the whole process as well. A wellness concept has to have its own power and energy, as harmonization and balance for the client results from the complete atmosphere of the process.

There was great interest in the discussion concerning the concepts of wellness, as well as wellness hotels. The CAW President pointed out the importance of embracing new technologies and the natural resources that make up a complete harmony of successful Czech wellness. This was a clear vision of the wellness concept that should prevail in the Czech Republic.

WelDest will be presented at an international managementseminar in Albania at Nov. 5th in Tirana. Information and Fotos follow!

The Babylon Wellness Center in the town of Liberec, which has been cooperating with the IHM on the WelDest project, has opened new premises and is offering new services. Guests attending the festive opening of the newly extended Wellness Center included Dr Ludmila Vacek from Vancouver, who is considered to be a world top expert in wellness. The Wellness Center is an important investment from the private company into the enlargement and improvement of the quality of services provided by The Babylon Center in Liberec. The new Center has an area of 1 000 m2 and thus belongs among the largest wellness premises in the Czech Republic.

The original premises in Center include the antique spa with sauna, Roman steam bath, whirlpools, salt and herbal inhalations, Kneipp treatments, and the sunny relaxation room. The newly renovated space, which was originally part of the Aquapark, now offers steam spas, two saunas, refreshments in the Sauna Bar, cooling down space, and new procedures from natural resources: beer and wine baths, peelings, Dead Sea baths, and peat and herbal compresses. Massages are available in the Wellness Center, too with massages for children being the latest new offer.


Guests can choose from two-hour or day-long stays aimed at quiet and comfortable relaxation and regeneration of well-being. To really experience everything offered by the Babylon Center, including its modern technologies and pleasant environment of entertainment for the whole family, guests can make use of the wellness services in the Babylon Hotel.

Those interested in the 15th anniversary of one Liberec’s dominant features - the Babylon Center – are invited to participate in the festive opening ceremony of the unique science center iQlandia, on March 28th 2014 at 11:11. This new center will be connected with the current science center iQpark. Its mission is to popularize and medialize science and technologies. The Aquapark will get a special birthday gift – an amazing light show with 3D effects – the first of its type in the Czech Republic. Let us wish the Babylon Center in Liberec a lot of satisfied guests and further innovative ideas.

Do you know World's Luxury Guide?

In the link you can find everything around travelling, spa industries and lifestyle in luxury surroundings (link)


Have a look!

Barrier-free tourism for all: the need for know-how

The economic significance of barrier-free tourism is on the increase however the awareness of the needs of elderly and disable people is frequently lacking. The potential market represented by travellers whose mobility is restricted has, in the past, been seriously neglected.

The German National Coordination Office for Tourism for All (NatKo) was created in 1999 to combine and coordinate the activities of a variety of self-help organisations working towards this end and thus help to improve travel facilities for disable people. NatKo is the central representative body for barrier-free tourism in Germany.

In 2003 the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour (BMWA) in Germany made a study to check the importance of training to be able to meet the needs and wishes of this target group. This study showed that the potential market of disable people must be fast considerable. In Germany there are 6.7 million people who are registered as severely disable, representing more exactly 8.1% of the population. Half of them are over 65 years of age and the proportion of elderly people is on the rise, doing that in a few years the overall proportion people with restricted mobility will become between 30 and 35%.

The results of the study on travel and tourism showed clearly that the market offers hugest lacks on the services to people whose mobility is restricted:
(a) the proportion of such people travelling is lower than in the case of those mobility is not restricted – 54.3% against 75.3%;
(b) travel is largely undertaken regardless of season;
(c) the proportion of tours within Germany is high at 41.2% compared with 30.5% outside Germany;
(d) 37% of those questioned has already abandoned plans to travel because of a lack of barrier-free facilities;
(e) 48% would travel more often if the available offers were more plentiful.
(f) This study also made various recommendations – one important was the creation of a nation-wide training programme for those working in travel and tourism.

Currently net sales of holidays in this target group has real potential for growth of EUR 620 to EUR 1930 million, that, according to the BMWA, could mean up to 90 000 new full-time jobs.

One of the chief areas of NatKo was ensure that employees in a barrier-free tourism industry are professionally qualified. For this it has designed a training programme with training material prepared between people who work in tourism and representatives of organisations of disable people. This training material, highly practice-related with no essential aspects omitted, is focus on four groups of people with restricted mobility:
(a) people with walking difficulties and those who are confined to wheelchairs;
(b) the blind and visually handicapped;
(c) the deaf and those with impaired hearing;
(d) people with understanding difficulties.

Elderly people often come into these categories with difficulties in walking, seeing, hearing or understanding and therefore also need the benefits of barrier-free tourism.

A considerable amount of training on barrier-free tourism is being carried out in Germany. A number of tourism organizations run training courses:
· Lower Saxony has run a whole series in its various regions;
· Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has made the subject part of a training campaign;
· Rhine Hesse is actively working towards barrier-free tourism, offers training to all those employed in tourism in the region;
· The State of Brandenburg has a comprehensive programme of training.

All those taking part have understood that know-how is one key to success in barrier-free tourism for all.

Health tourism and trends

Ways to travel are varied in length, comfort and conditions – and also holiday types.  With a view to travelling as a “healthy” market, it is a growing one all over the world.

For the vast majority of tourists doing health holidays good food and a natural environment are most important. Furthermore areas for sports like swimming and consultancies by doctors and qualified staff are essential.  In addition to that rehabilitation stays have a very strong focus on medical competence. Consumers book various packages, treatments, massages etc.  and stay for at least 2 weeks. The idea of fitness holiday means a high level of doing sports while vacations. People preferring a quieter life, could look after a wellness stay. Health farms and spa hotels offer a wide range of treatments. This kind of holiday has similarity to a cure, but medical care and sports are marginal.

Travelers expect a comprehensive package of services like healthy food, comfortable accommodation, qualified healthcare, nice environment, well-developed infrastructure, clear communication, entertainment etc. 

Competition is very strong, that’s why companies have to monitor and review their service quality regularly. To consult guests and patients is a necessary way to improve the services and products constantly. Otherwise there is no way to maintain a good position in the market.

German health and wellness tourism targets Middle East

The Middle East is one of the largest potential source markets of patients due to the high costs of healthcare and limited facilities in some states. Some trade estimates suggest that one in five global medical tourists and a significant percentage of health and wellness travellers are from Gulf and Arab states. Patients from UAE alone account for $2bn in healthcare travel on an annual basis. As a result, many countries are targeting the region.

Germany has long been a popular destination for those from the Middle East. Brenner’s Park-Hotel & Spa, in the Black Forest in Baden-Baden, offers a natural medical spa experience as part of the Oetker Hotel Collection - a European luxury hotel group. Brenner's Park is a luxurious hotel and medical spa where specialist doctors offer advanced diagnostic techniques in aesthetic dentistry, dermatology, naturopathic detoxification and elimination therapy, in addition to nutrition coaching, weight-loss programmes and beauty packages. Samir Daqqaq of Oetker Hotel Collection explains,
"The Middle East is one of the most important markets for us. Over the past few years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of GCC tourists to Germany.” Hans-Peter Veit, at Brenner's Park-Hotel & Spa, adds, "We are happy to invite Middle East tourists to enjoy the world-renowned natural and holistic medical care on offer at Brenner's - a hotel with an international reputation for over 135 years that has been a medical spa for over 25 years. We guarantee a unique experience for our guests - healthcare for the body, mind and soul and a medical spa like no other. With 20 treatment rooms and customized spa programs, our guests enjoy a comprehensive therapeutic care in comfort."

Statistics by the German Federal Statistics Office show that the number of overnight stays by GCC nationals in Germany during the first five months of 2010 was 243,759 nights - an increase of 16.4% compared to the same period in 2009. When compared to the same period in 2008, the number of GCC visitors to Germany rose by 30.3% - among the highest from any region in the world, making Germany the preferred destination for travellers and medical tourists from Gulf states.

Health and wellness holidays are one of the main marketing themes for Germany in 2011. The campaign features three key themes: spas/health resorts, wellness/beauty hotels and medical tourism, showcasing the modern and cutting-edge medical facilities, luxury hotels, spas and spa-towns. More than 400,000 tourists already visit Germany for health-oriented vacations, as do 70,000 medical tourists, and these numbers are growing. The German National Tourist Office markets “Wellness &Beauty” with a cross-media concept that centres on hotels and is supported by the independent hotel sector and wellness tourism brands.

See more...

A beautiful landscape is not enough to become a Health and Well-being destination!

WelDest Health and Well-Being in Tourism Destination ask for the components of what makes a region a health and well-being region. Team in 5 countries are working together to answer these questions.

You'll find the whole article here: http://www.spacamp.net/2013/09/was-macht-gesundheitsdestination-aus-weldest/

or at the website of the FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Science: http://www.fh-joanneum.at/gmt

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weldestproject

RELAXATION FROM NATURE, SAUNA AND POOLS

Finland is a sparsely populated country with 5.5 million inhabitants. Around 65 per cent of Finland's total land area is covered by forest and 10 per cent by lakes. The on-going WelDest consumer research in Finland has got 2,177 respondents so far. Almost 80% of the respondents are female aged between 40 and 60 years.

According to preliminary results, the most important factors which influenced the latest choice of a health and well-being destination of the Finnish respondents were in order of importance: possibility to relax, opportunities for outdoor and indoor sport activities, spa treatments available, nature, and nice scenery. Sauna and pool offerings are also highly valued.  When choosing a health and well-being destination, the Finns seem to rely on their earlier positive experiences in a destination. The Internet is the second most important source affecting the choice of a health and well-being destination.

The Finns seem to take nature almost for granted. The WelDest survey in Finland didn’t have any foreign respondents, but according to earlier tourism surveys conducted for foreign tourists in Finland, nature is the most important pull factor of the country. Forests seem to be an immense source of health, which could be productised to larger extent in Finland. According to research carried out in Finland, Japan and the Netherlands, e.g. green surroundings, silence of the forest, hiking and other activities in the nature have several positive effects on health including recovering from stress, positive effects on blood pressure, pulse rate as well as immune functions.

If you want to dig deeper in the preventive health-related effects of nature and forest, you can read the scientific article Nature Therapy and Preventive Medicine  (link)

Did you apply...?

... maybe you or your hotel / spa applied for the EUROPEAN HEALTH & SPA AWARD, then you have chances to win prizes about 30.000 EURO.

Interested in, what we are talking about? Have a look here and watch the video.

The Austrian WelDest team is proud to be part of the jury of the Award. Dr. Eva Adamer-König and Prof. Dr. Kai Illing are members of the jury team. At the moment they are testing facilities in and outside of Austria but they are also judging many many pages of application papers.

The results you can see at the SPA EVENT 2013 from 12th to 13th Nov. 2013 in Vienna. Further information to that event, you will find here. The Spa Event is one of the biggest Spa Industry related events in German speaking countries.

You can also find some information about the Spa Event 2013 and the EUROPEAN HEALTH & SPA AWARD on Facebook.

May be the next winners? 

New ways of thinking: Innovation in health tourism education

FH JOANNEUM Bad Gleichenberg offers a part-time MBA program in International Hospitality and Spa Management as from March 2014, breaking new ground in the field of tourism education.

Info: www.fh-joanneum.at/hsm 

This innovative and unique MBA program is designed both for people presently working as managers in the hospitality and spa industry or in health tourism and for those planning to do so in the future. The part-time international master program is taught in English and is structured on a flexible, modular basis. It includes extensive e-learning components, which allow students to apply what they have learned directly in their professional practice.

 “There are many degree programs in the field of tourism, but our special focus is on the practical requirements at the interface between hotel and spa management. We place particular emphasis on market and employee-oriented management in this context. ” Eva Adamer-König, Head of the MBA program

The degree program has been developed by hotel and spa managers from Europe and Asia together with experts from European universities and the internationally renowned tourism and hospitality vocational schools of Bad Gleichenberg under the coordination of FH JOANNEUM Bad Gleichenberg.

"Today's hospitality industry leaders require a better understanding of the new competitive landscape, such as dealing with institutional owners, developing e-commerce strategies, revenue management, international law and strategic management, rather than just tactical operational issues. The newly established Master in International Hospitality and Spa Management covers exactly these and other important topics to ensure its students are well equipped with the latest industry knowledge to further enhance their career opportunities in the future. The combination of e-Learning and interactive participation at the campus builds an ideal learning environment which I can only highly recommend." Markus Platzer, Area General Manager InterContinental Bangkok and Holiday Inn Bangkok

Interface management in hospitality and spa business

The graduates have an integrative understanding of the diverse requirements and operative and strategic tasks in hospitality and spa management and continually expand this expertise through their professional activities.

The graduates work as managers at the interface between health and tourism, in jobs such as:

• Spa managers with interdisciplinary responsibilities ranging from finances and marketing to human resources management through to customer relationship management and day-to-day business, e.g. monitoring of technical equipment.
• Marketing and sales managers in hotels with/without health tourism facilities.
• Strategic corporate planning experts in companies operating health tourism facilities (spa chains, wellness hotels, destination spas, day spas, etc.)
• Coordinators of human resources development projects in hotels and spas
• Project managers responsible for budgeting, financing, personnel and  business planning in companies involved in the development of spa and hotel projects.
• Self-employed consultants in operative and strategic spa management.
• Operators/managers of hospitality businesses with a health tourism focus (e.g. wellness hotel) or (independent) managers of facilities in the spa industry (day spas, spas, etc.)

"Our graduates can manage a spa as a business unit or as an independent company, but they are also prepared to manage hotels and in that context to make spa-related business decisions." Daniel Binder, MBA program coordinator

People who are interested in the program will find more information here:

International Hospitality and Spa Management or here.

FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences

International Hospitality and Spa Management
Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Strasse 24
8344 Bad Gleichenberg, AUSTRIA
Program coordination and information
Mag.(FH) Daniel Binder
E-Mail: daniel.binder(at)fh-joanneum.at
Tel.: +43 (0)316 5453-6724
Fax: +43 (0)316 5453-9 6724

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Balinese wellbeing - "eat, pray,love" way

Art by Ayung Resort, Ubud.
 

Bali is considered to be a world leader in spas and wellness. I had the opportunity to visit this magical island during May 2013. The month of May brings the islanders to the end of the wet season when the coulds scurry across the skies, the wind is little fresher and the rice in the fields is being harvested. A perfect time to visit.

Mandara Spa Villas

 



NUSA DUA AREA

My trip started at Nusa Dua area in Nikko Resort and Spa , which is set in a unique area overlooking the sea from a 40 meters high cliff edge. As I was participating a congress, I did not have that many opportunites to enjoy the many services they offered, but did take the time to sample their Mandara Spa once. The spa itself is down by the beach and offers a wide range of Balinese massages and body treatments that can be enjoyed in one of eight well-appointed Balinese spa villas or at the beach-side bale. The girl at the reception was very polite. The treatment in one of the villas was very pleasant and relaxing. I can really recommend a visit at this resort and the spa. 







UBUD AREA

After the busy congress it was time to travel uphill to an area called "Ubud". If you ever saw the movie by Julia Roberts "Eat, Love and Pray", you know the place. Rice paddies, lush and green forests, narrow roads, people, cars, animals - all in a peacefull harmony. In the middle of all this I found an oasis for body and soul. It is called the Ayung Resort.



Entrance to one of Bali's best kept secrets: Ayung Resort

The Ayung Resort Ubud is a luxurious blend of natural surroundings, an eclectic art collection and traditional Balinese hospitality located in the lush tropical rain forest along the banks of The Ayung River - Bali’s most sacred and important waterway. Their slogan "Hear the Silence - Feel the Peace" is very true. The five nights spent at this resort have been one of the best ever - and I have travelled a lot. This place is so new you could almost call it a secret. The hotel has several builings and private villas to choose from. I stayed at the Laksmana Bedrooms overlooking a stunning infinity pool and wild jungle.


Infinity pool overlooking wild jungle.

My days were leisurely spent reading a book by the pool, visiting Ubud village, dining at the hotel restaurant and enjoying the spa treatments. A perfect holiday for body and soul! The Dewi Sri Spa is small in size but has excellent facilities for different treatments both indoors and outdoors. I sampled two different treatments. The first treatment was a Thai massage by a young male therapist. The combination of oils and herbs was a bliss and I felt completely relaxed after the hour and a half. On my day of departure I decided to pamper my feet with a complete pedicure. The young female therapist was very thorow and did such a good job the nail polish lasted a month and my feet were as good as new!

 

My sincere thank you goes to Hotel GM Frits Henskes and the lovely Marketing Manager Elisabeth(Elle) Siboro and their beautiful staff for making my stay so special - I shall return!

 

 

(Text and all photos: Susanna Saari)


Sink or Swim?

Changes in the Czech Health Care System

 Spas in the Czech Republic

The Czech spa industry has a long tradition. Quality spa care in the Czech Republic is based primarily on natural medicinal resources associated with the use of highly specialized medical science. Spa towns have been creating unique architecture for many years, and have supported and continue to support culture and the arts. The best known Czech spas are part of the West Bohemian spa triangle, which includes Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad), Marianske Lázně (Marienbad) and Františkovy Lázně (Franzensbad) and aims to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Františkovy Lázně

At present, however, the spa industry is undergoing very significant changes and some spas are literally fighting for their existence. The situation is caused by changes in the List of Indications, a decree by the Ministry of Health which regulates the diagnosis and under what conditions a patient is eligible for treatment stays covered by health insurance. The new list was made effective in October 2012 and now the first effects of the changes are beginning to show. According to the Association of Spas "... through this adjustment the number of of insured residential days at spas has decreased by more than 50%. This is due to a combination of these restrictions and shortened lengths of patient's stays. One has to consider that policyholders made up an average of 56% of all overnight stays and in spa locations outside the West Bohemian spa triangle even up to 90%.“

Janské Lázně

Czech spas are now in a situation where they have to rethink their strategies. There are certainly a number of strategies they can apply, whether it be penetration of new markets in geographical terms or in terms of market segment, or the creation of new products, focusing for example on medical tourism, which is a new trend, and not only in Europe. A recent example is Janské Lázně, which has always been focused primarily on children and treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Now, however, parts of the Vesna children's treatment center are being rebuilt for accommodation facilites even for adult patients. Time will tell whether the changes in the List of Indications from the Ministry of Health will lead to the promotion of the Czech spa industry in terms of its further development or will ultimately harm Czech spas.

Great Spas of Europe

Karlovy Vary (also Karlsbad or Carlsbad) in the Czech Republic, one of the most well-known spa towns in the world, is leading the way as the project coordinator in a bid to be recognized by UNESCO along with other spa towns from France, Germany, Austria and Italy. The nominations will be submitted in 2015 for World Heritage status for the trans-national  „Great Spas of Europe“ group.

Karlovy Vary

Four spas towns in the Czech Republic are involved in the project group. Three of the towns – Karlovy Vary, Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně –  lie relatively close together and make up what is known as the West Bohemian Spa Triangle. The fourth spa town is Luhačovice in East Moravia, which is currently cooperating with the WelDest project team in their research on Health and Well-being destinations. In 2008 the West Bohemiam Spa Triangle submitted their own application to be recognized as a World Heritage site, but was placed on a tentative list with UNESCO as they requested further studies to look at other spas.

It remains to be seen whether the bid will be accepted, but throughout this complex process the Great Spas of Europe group continues to work toward ensuring that each of the project members fulfill the criteria necessary to be granted World Heritage status and determining the details of the management plan should they be accepted. 

Malvern Twinned with Mariánske Lázne – 15 April 2013

Malvern Hills

Malcolm Salisbury, Economic Development Officer of Malvern Hills District Council (one of WelDest’s UK industry partners), has been working with both district and town councils to further develop links with the spa town Mariánske Lázne  in the Czech Republic.

This has led to an official twinning ceremony that took place in Marienbad on Monday 15 April, 2013. It was held at the local Hotel School and attended by members of the ML City Council and business leaders. The ML Chamber of Commerce are interested in establishing trade links with the Malvern area and are planning a visit in July to meet the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Chamber of Commerce and local companies.

Links have been developed with Mariánske Lázne  because the town, like Malvern, has a history as a spa town and has an abundance of curative mineral springs. It is not far from Graffenberg, where Vincent Priessnitz pioneered hydrotherapy treatments in the 1820s and his example inspired Dr James Wilson to start the Malvern water cure.

Mariánske Lázne 

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is one of the destinations chosen for the UK’s destination audit and is a large seaside town located on the South Coast of England.  It has seven miles of beach and an exceptionally warm micro climate making it a favourite of U.K. travellers. With its large student population who attend Bournemouth University and the Art College, the town is a refreshing mix of young and old.

Bournemouth – Europe’s first national coastal tourism academy

In 2012 Bournemouth was awarded £2 million over two years from the government's coastal communities fund to create Europe's first national coastal tourism academy.   Funds will also support tourism businesses. The project aims to create 165 jobs over three years in Bournemouth and 2,100 nationwide.

Boscombe Spa Resort

Bournemouth Borough Council’s innovative £13.5 million Boscombe Spa Village regeneration scheme has transformed an economically and socially deprived coastal suburb, re-branding it into a year round 21st century surf lifestyle destination creating a centre-piece attraction as Europe’s first artificial surf reed.  Building on a long established local tradition for surfing and water sports, Europe’s first artificial surf reef extends the traditional beach season into the winter helping to deliver a year round beach attraction and has increased trading for the local tourism industry.   Boscombe Spa was actually the original Spa destination, first established during the reign of Queen Victoria back in 1867.

Surf Reef

Boscombe Spa is officially home to Europe's first artificial Surf Reef which will offer 10-15ft waves for over 150 days each year. Boscombe Pier has been restructured and now offers the perfect observation platform to bath in the sun and watch the surfers enjoy the reef.  Supported by surf shops and surf schools, the reef will attract surfers from around the world to Boscombe Spa and is key in the regeneration of Boscombe Spa Resort.  The Reef has 50 new surf pods replacing old style beach huts, secure locker facilities and new food areas offering a choice of restaurants, cafes and live entertainment.