SUMMIT REVIEW: GSWS 2014
Magatte Wade, the CEO and founder
of Tiossan – a luxury Senegalese skincare brand – gave a powerful talk about brands embracing African culture as the spa industry grows. “There’s a need to create more jobs on the continent and the spa industry is labour intensive so it’s perfect,” she said. “But… it drives me crazy to see Asian inspired spas. Why do I not fi nd African inspired spas?” Africa has all the right ingredients for wellness, from the varied biodiversity which brings us everything from shea butter and argan oil to traditional healers. “What we have is so rich that it’s bound to make a diff erence to people,” she said, adding that she’s committed to fi ghting for authentic African brands both within the country and outside. “The last frontier is going to be through consumer brands – this is the way that we can change the perception that the world has of Africa. That’s what you people in this room can help me with.” Meanwhile, in separate discussion with
Spa Business, Elaine Okeke-Martin, the president of the Spa & Wellness Association of Africa spoke about plans for the organisation to represent all spa trade associations on the continent and about setting up partnerships with them. It will have board members and advisors from the spa industry in the north (Raoul Andrews Sudre), south (Janine Shipra), east (Alison Caroline Ng’ethe) and the west (Dzigbordi K Dosoo). It will focus on developing guidelines about what an African spa concept might look like and consist of, with a goal of promoting the continent’s spa sector domestically and internationally. Okeke-Martin also said plans are afoot
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Closing toast: GSWS board members and organisers raised their glasses in celebration of a inspirational event
for an association magazine, as well as a conference next September in Mauritius. To top off the African theme, the GSWS
hosted an Arabian Nights gala evening in the desert, complete with local artisans, bedouin tents, camels and traditional dancers. Delegates donned bright-coloured kaftans, dined on Moroccan tagine and danced under the stars in a evening that celebrated the best of African culture.
Mexico calling In the fi nal session this year’s co-chair Anna Bjurstam said: “Well, I’m standing here, with lots of ideas fl ying around my head. I think you’ve all had a lot of inspiration too, and I think it’s all very exciting that we’re just at the starting phase of big change [in the industry]. I’m looking forward to next year.” Along with Neil Jacobs, Bjurstam
passed the summit co-chair baton onto Gina Diez Barroso de Franklin and Alfredo Carvajal. Diez Barroso de Franklin, who was appointed to the GSWS board in Janu- ary, is the president and CEO of Grupo Diarq, which specialises in promoting and developing Mexican creativity. Carvajal is the president of Delos International and Signature Programs and also has a lot of knowledge about the Latin American spa market. They will help to organise the 2015 summit which, it was announced, will be held in Mexico City, Mexico.
Mexico bound: the 2015 co-chairs are Alfredo Carvajal (left) and Gina Diez Barroso de Franklin (far right)
This will be the fi rst time the GSWS will
be held in Latin America. “It’s exciting [for the summit] to be in diff erent countries and immerse delegates in diff erent cul- tures because every experience is unique,” said Susie Ellis. The urban location was specifi cally chosen over more well-known Mexican beach resorts such Cabo San Lucas and Riviera Maya as it was thought that most people won’t have been there. Delegates will be in for a treat, Carvajal
concluded: “Mexico is a place where I’ve personally seen some of the best spas in the world. And we’re going to try to create a wellness off er you can’t refuse!” ●
Katie Barnes is the managing editor of Spa Business Email: katiebarnes@
spabusiness.com Twitter: @SpaBusinessKB
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spabusiness.com/digital Spa Business 4 2014 ©Cybertrek 2014
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