5 reasons to attend the 2018 World Spa & Wellness Convention

As the 2018 World Spa & Wellness Convention quickly approaches – held at the ExCeL exhibition centre in London on Sunday, February 25 and Monday, February 26 – we give you five key reasons why it’s an event not to be missed:

1. Excellent education
The World Spa & Wellness Convention (WSWC) covers the most pressing and relevant topics facing spa and wellness operators today; delivering new insight and ideas on the latest trends and challenges.

Topics covered this year will include Tech Disruptors: Threats and Collaboration Opportunities in the Digital Market, Make Wellness the Key to Repeat Business, and The Rebirth of Fitness in Spa.

0ther areas addressed at this year’s WSWC range from Solving the Staffing Crisis, and The New Wave of Hyper-Personalisation, to Drive Retail Sales In The Age Of Disruption. To view the full list of convention sessions, click here to read the complete 2018 programme.

2. Learn from the best in the industry
The World Spa & Wellness Convention offers one of the year’s few opportunities to hear many of the most experienced and high-profile names in the sector speak, sharing their input and expertise.

Among the many senior figures at the 2018 WSWC are Marc Ellin, global head of the Miraval group; Jessica Shea, senior director, spa and fitness operations, the Americas for the Hilton group; and Dr Elke Benedetto-Reisch, medical director of the Lanserhof group.

Other well known names on the programme are Andrew Gibson, vice president well-being luxury brands, Accor Hotels; Mia Kyricos, chief executive and founder of Kyricos & Associates; and Jack Tang, chief executive and co-founder of Urban Massage.

3. Fantastic networking opportunities
The World Spa & Wellness Convention is not only a chance to hear leading industry professionals speak, but also to network with them, and with your spa and wellness peers and colleagues.

The convention feature a number of more interactive sessions – the Creative Networking Sessions in the afternoon on both days – that actively encourage audience participation and offer the opportunity to talk to and engage in discussion with both session chairs and speakers, and other delegates.

The WSWC also offers plenty of networking breaks, including a drinks reception in the evening on Saturday, February 24, extensive lunch/networking breaks, coffee breaks on both days, and the World Spa & Wellness Awards on Sunday, February 25, which many convention speakers and delegates attend.

4. Discover the latest industry trends and launches
The World Spa & Wellness Convention takes places as part of the Professional Beauty show at the ExCeL exhibition centre in London. A leading trade event for the spa, beauty and wellness sectors, the show annually attracts around 33,000 visitors over two days and draws more than 800 brands from across the sectors, as exhibitors.

As the biggest beauty trade show in the UK and one of the largest in Europe, Professional Beauty sees a wide range of product launches every year and is a fantastic opportunity to see the latest innovations, and get a feel for the trends set to shape the industry.

Industry areas represented at the show will range from skincare, furniture, software, machines and equipment and organic and natural products, to nails, brows and lashes, makeup and tanning and waxing. Whether you’re looking for new suppliers and products for your spa, or simply want to delve into what’s new – this is the place to do it, and convention delegates have free entry to the show.

5. The World Spa & Wellness Awards
Although held separately to the WSWC, many convention chairs, speakers and delegates attend the World Spa & Wellness Awards, which are celebrated in conjunction with the Professional Beauty Awards for the UK salon market.

Not only are the World Spa & Wellness Awards an opportunity to celebrate the best spa sand wellness resorts in the business, across all geographic regions, it’s also a glamorous evening where the dress code is black-tie, and which includes drinks and a three-course meal.

Annually attracting around 800 attendees, including spa and wellness operators from around the world, and some of the biggest bands in the industry, the awards are also a great networking opportunity. To find out more about the awards, including how to purchase a ticket, click here.

To view the complete 2018 World Spa & Wellness Convention programme, click here

To register for a delegate pass to the convention, click here