SPA-CE EXPERIENCE 2019

11^th edition of B2B event SPA-CE was held in Šmarješke Toplice and Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia

The SPA-CE, first and unique specialized Spa and Wellness B2B Experience, oriented in the promotion of thermal and natural spas in Central and South-eastern Europe, was held for eleventh time from 20^th to 23^rd of October for the first time in Šmarješke Toplice and Rogaška Slatina Health Resort, Slovenia.

11^th SPA-CE business experience gathered 22 regional exhibitors, representatives of natural spas, spa and wellness hotels, resorts and destinations.  This year the organisers are extremely proud to expand the SPA-CE circle from Baltic, across the Adriatic to the Balkans. For the first time the natural thermal Spa resorts from Lithuania and Serbia were presented beside the exhibitors from Croatia, Bulgaria and Slovenia. They presented their offer to selected hosted buyers from 11 European countries and USA.

Since its beginning in 2009, SPA-CE has been organized in various spa & wellness destinations across Slovenia and Hungary and has hosted more than 250 spa and wellness providers as well as 330 representatives of travel agencies and tour operators, specializing in spa and wellness tourism, from 19 European countries. The number of B2B meetings held so far is exceeding 4,700.

Programme was created in a way for participants to discover and experience different health resort in Slovenia. This year participants gathered in Šmarješke Toplice Thermal Spa, known by the medical wellness and detoxification programs, preventing the increasing lifestyle diseases. Terme Krka was the first one in Slovenia to establish a foundation for dialogue and collaboration between conventional and complementary practices with the primary goal of promoting optimal health and well-being.

In addition to the business aspect of the event, focused on pre-scheduled B2B meetings, SPA-CE offered an educational programme with selected speakers: Ms. Csilla Mezosi, secretary general of the European Spas Association, Ms. Claudia Wagner, managing director of the Fit Reisen agency and Ms. Ljubica Knežević Cvelbar from the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana. The added value of the event are the study trips for customers and exhibitors at the selected Slovenian spas, which we call “rolling workshop”. The main focus is on providing an interactive and authentic experience with numerous opportunities for networking and learning about medical and wellness treatments, healthy lifestyle, effects of healing waters, from wellness to selfless experience, …

SPA-CE would not be possible without the support of the Slovenian Tourist Board, technical organiser Toleranca marketing and the hosts: Rogaška Slatina, Terme Krka, Terme Zreče, Thermana and Terme Olimia.

What did participants say about 11^th SPA-CE EXPERIENCE?

“Let me thank you, also on behalf of Heike Jachmann, very much for the opportunity to be part of this great conference. Like previous years you always ensured that everything is well organised and a programme, which is well diversified. You generated over the years a state-of-the art conference for CEE and for professionals in the medical spa business it is a must to be here.”

 Franz J. Biesel & Heike Jachmann, Kuren & Wellness, Germany

“Let me sent you my heart THANKS for your really brilliant organizing job and amazing hospitality!”

Yuri Palianski, Anlas Tour, Belarus

“SPA-CE is an excellent opportunity for the thermal spas to present themselves to interested buyers from all around the Europe. Personal contact with the potential client is the most important thing, as you can present the offer much easier than using the e-mails. Time provided for the One2One meetings is very effectively used and gives the hosted buyers a chance to get to know their potential partner. Referring to the meetings with the clients at SPA-CE 2019 I believe that we have got some new partners!

Many thanks to the organisers for carrying out this event!

Alberta Drevenšek, Terme Zreče, Slovenia

“It was interesting and intense days. Wonderfully organized and very varied in the offers. Now we look at what products we offer our customers and which packages I sell as a reseller to existing groups.

I will keep you posted.”

 Christa Hörnke, ReiseSpass, Germany