n Sign up for your FREE digital subscription to spa opportunities magazine: www.spaopportunities.com/green Health tourism key for Spanish spas


Spain is aiming to capitalise on the health tourism market and a number of organisations have joined forces to make the coun- try a world leader in the sector. The new alliance, made up


of the National Federation of Private Clinics, National Spas Association, Business Federation Unit, Spanish Confederation of Hotel and Tourist Accommodation and the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agents is aiming to pro- mote Spain’s medical sector and build on the 21,868 health-driven tourists who visited Spain during 2012. “Advances in medicine allow people


around the world to seek the best technical and economic solutions for the prevention and treatment of various diseases,” said Inigo Valcaneras, president of the alliance. “Spain can become a great health tourism destina- tion, in which we can use spas to incorporate treatments using our prestigious health system to provide assistance.” One spa that will benefit from the tourism drive is the Hotel Balneario Valle del Jerte, in


Visit www.spahandbook.com to read the report Te Spanish wellness economy could grow to €500m a year


the Cáceres, Spain. Te spa has a 1,500sq m (16,000sq ſt) water area, split into two sec- tions – a spa area for rest and relaxation and a thermal area that offers sulphur, fluorinated and chlorinated sodium bicarbonate waters to treat a variety of ailments, including arthritis, rheumatism and various respiratory problems. According to market research, health tour-


ism is worth an estimated €140m (£121m, US$186m) to the Spanish economy and with the creation of this new alliance, the figure is expected to grow to €500m a year (£432.5m, US$664.1m). Details: http://lei.sr?a=m9D9n


Pacha opens its first resort and spa in Ibiza


Pacha, the global nightclub operator, has opened its first luxury resort in Ibiza, with the development offering 164 rooms, a 200-seat restaurant, a pool and its own spa. Destino sits on the cliffs


of Cap Martinet, on its own corner of the island, offering visitors panoramic views of the Mediterranean, Dalt Vila and Formentera. Te 50,000 sq m (538,195


sq ſt) resort offers two room types – guest room or luxury suite – with prices starting at €300 (US$400, £258). Luxury suites offer guests full views of the Mediterranean, their own private show- ers, plunge pools and outdoor baths, which sit in the middle of lush scenery and vegetation on the third-largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands. Te resort offers its own yoga studio, confer-


ence centre (opening in 2014) and spa. Destino’s wellness facilities provide mas-


sages, facials, manicures and pedicures, body waxes, skin treatments and oxygen treatments,


© CYBERTREK 2013 Te resort sits on the cliffs of Cap Martinet offering Mediterranean views


in addition to hair styling and make-up. To complement the spa, Destino also


provides a swimming pool, outside bar and dining areas. Described as a mod- ern oasis, the pool is surrounded by palm trees, sunbeds and day-beds with a king- size spa pool to view the sunset. Ice-chilled towels and outdoor massages are also avail- able for guests who choose to sunbathe. Details: http://lei.sr?a=d7m2a


Twitter: @spaopps


Barnes calls for spas to engage guests’ emotions


Too many spas are dreary and fail to engage the emotions of customers, according to Katie Barnes, editor of the Spa Business Handbook 2013, which has just been pub- lished in print and digital. “Incredible spas resonate with guests at a deep level,” says Barnes, “they fill their senses and engage their emotions in a way that makes the expe- rience powerful, profound and pleasurable.” She argues that too many spas fail to achieve this level of engagement, but that doing so presents the industry with an opportunity to make a major leap forward. Barnes, along with Spa Business editor Liz


Terry, have published the first Spa Foresight™ report in the handbook, outlining gobal trends and opportunities for growth. Te Spa Handbook 2013, a 300-page ref-


erence book, can be ordered online here in print: http://lei.sr?a=A9O7e. Viewed online here: http://lei.sr?a=P3l4j, downloaded as a PDF edition here: http://lei.sr?a=N2S9d


Costas Christ new Six Senses sustainability ambassador


Sustainable tourism expert Costas Christ is to join Six Senses as sustainability ambassador – reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainable tourism. Christ, who will be speaking at the


GSWS, is renowned for helping to define the term eco-tourism, as a founding mem- ber of the International Ecotourism Society. As sustainability ambassador, he will


advise the vice president of sustainability and represent the company as its global spokesperson on sustainable tourism. Christ said: “We’re at a new turning point


as more travel businesses and destinations adopt sustainable tourism principles to help safeguard our planet and deliver tangible benefits to local communities. “I look forward to supporting Six Senses


in their commitment to advancing efforts worldwide.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=5R4n2


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