Speakers and program reflect futuristic “Fast Forward” theme. Conference will take a creative and strategic look at the future of spa and wellness, covering a range of topics from technology, design and brain science to retailing, marketing and investment trends to corporate wellness and wellness tourism.
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 03, 2014
The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) today announced key elements of its
conference agenda for the 8th annual event, taking place September 10-12th at
the Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, Morocco. Considered the world’s most
prestigious gathering of business, government and academic leaders in the
wellness, travel and spa industries, the Summit is expected to attract a record
number of attendees. The 2nd annual Global Wellness Tourism Congress (GWTC) will
run concurrently on September 10th.
Speaker Highlights: In addition to the recently announced Dr. Kjell A.
Nordström, the Swedish economist and futurist and co-author of Funky Business,
numerous other prestigious keynote speakers have been added to the agenda:
- Bjarke Ingels, architectural sensation, will dazzle delegates with
his futuristic look at design and architecture and his unique take on
hedonistic sustainability. - Paul Price, CEO of Creative Realities, will reveal marketing lessons
from global brands like Coca-Cola, Pfizer and ExxonMobil and enlighten
delegates on the future of the marketing landscape. - Danny Friedland, founder and CEO of SuperSmartHealth, will educate
delegates on intricate brain science developments and its relation to
overall health, well-being and – a first – on beauty. - Don Ardell and Jack Travis, both considered founders of the wellness
movement, will take the stage and enlighten delegates with their extensive
expertise in a life lived well. - Louie Schwartzberg, filmmaker and founder of Blacklight Films,
recently featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, whose work reveals the heart
of the human soul through nature, will share how he is applying his unique
vision to the spa world. - Mr. Lahcen Haddad, Minister of Tourism for Morocco, will outline the
country’s forward-thinking plan for tourism development, dubbed “Vision
2020,” and the role wellness tourism will play.
Host/Emcee
The host of this year’s Summit is internationally recognized
speaker, author and media personality, Alexis Jones. Jones is known for her
positive impact and influence on Gen Y and is founder of I AM THAT GIRL
(iamthatgirl.com), a community devoted to empowering girls in the discovery of
their innate worth and purpose. Jones has recently delivered keynotes at the
following events and institutions: The White House: Healthy Media Initiative;
The United Nations Nexus Leadership Conference; NASA Innovation Summit; Harvard
Business School and Stanford University.
“Alexis’ enthusiasm and message of empowerment, confidence and inner beauty
for Generation Y makes her a perfect fit for this Summit’s focus on the future.
In fact, she is the future!” said Susie Ellis, GSWS Chairman and CEO. “The
combination of an enthusiastic Gen Y savvy expert with world renown experts on
cultural change in a wide array of fields that are set to impact the spa and
wellness industries for decades to come will make the 2014 Summit
unforgettable.”
Wellness Tourism Congress Highlights: The 2nd annual GWTC will deliver
insights into this $439 billion* USD market and focus on how the spa & wellness
industry can help drive the recognition of its importance both at global and
national levels. Some highlights include:
- Yolanda Perdomo, Director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members Programme,
discussing significant international tourism trends and their relation to
wellness tourism. - Peter Greenberg, renowned travel editor for CBS news, will be taping
his radio show onsite, interviewing thought leaders, moderating a panel of
tourism ministers, and taking an extensive look at wellness tourism and how
the industry can capitalize on this trend. - Jean-Claude Baumgarten, former president, World Travel & Tourism
Council, will share the stage with Peter Greenberg to discuss wellness
tourism’s impact. - Ministers of Tourism from a collection of countries will also be on
hand to discuss the impact that wellness tourism is having on their regions.
Tech Jam: Each delegate will be asked to bring a wellness technology device
or app that they either have used or are currently using to share with other
delegates. This fun interactive session will help set the stage for the
important technology discussion to follow – “What does this all mean for our
future?”
Global Industry Forums: For the second year, the Summit will feature
dedicated sessions for destination spas, hotel spas, hot springs spas, spa
education and hydrothermal spa creators. New forums will include corporate
wellness, mixed use/real estate and a wellness tourism roundtable discussion.
Global leaders from these key sub-sectors will gather to strategize on how to
solve their biggest challenges and collaborate to expand opportunities.
Panels and Workshops: Summit luminaries in their respective fields will hit
“Fast Forward” and look into the future of spa and wellness architecture; mobile
technology; well-being leadership; investment trends; getting the media’s
attention; the science of wellness and wellness tourism 2.0.
Moroccan Touch: Workshops and salons will explore Moroccan spa traditions,
including North African hammams and the making of argan oil with Professor
Zourbida Charrouf, recently dubbed the “mother of the argan oil revolution” by
CNN. An audience with Yahya Rouach, the renowned Moroccan lantern master and
artist whose client list includes Harrods and Saudi princes, will also be on the
agenda.
Student and Infographic/Videographic Competitions: The 6th annual Student
Challenge, a competition between international universities to create a spa
resort/wellness concept of the future, and the 2nd annual
Infographic/Videographic Competition with the theme “Imagining the World of Spa
and Wellness in the Future” will both take place.
To register to become a delegate to the GSWS, click
here. For more information, visit
http://www.gsws.org or email Alexandra Plessier at
Alexandra(at)gsws(dot)org. For sponsorship information, contact Executive Vice
President Sallie Fraenkel at sallie(at)gsws(dot)org.
About the Summit: The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) is an international
organization representing senior executives and leaders from over 40 countries,
joined by a common interest to drive economic development and understanding of
the spa and wellness industries. Delegates from diverse sectors, including
hospitality, tourism, health and wellness, beauty, finance, medical, real
estate, manufacturing and technology, attend the organization’s annual Summit,
which is held in a different host country each year. After just seven years, the
GSWS is now considered the leading global research and educational resource for
the $1.9 trillion spa and wellness industry. For more information, visit http://www.gsws.org.
