Top names to speak at Hotelier's first Spa Forum

Top experts in the Middle East spa business have confirmed their participation in Hotelier Middle East’s first Spa and Wellness Forum, being held on March 18 at Ritz-Carlton DIFC.

Paul Hawco, spa director, Talise Ottoman Spa, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Sharon Barcock, director of spa operations & development MEA, Hilton Worldwide, Neil Hewerdine, vice president spa services, Atlantis The Palm, Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, regional spa director, Anantara Resorts and Galina Antoniouk, complex director of spas - Grosvenor House, Luxury Collection Hotels, are just some of the names heading the agenda.

The one-day event, which aims to address the biggest opportunities and challenges facing spa managers and directors from hotels and day spas, will comprise a series of interactive panel sessions and workshops.

One of the UAE’s most well known spa professionals Daniella Russell, director at DR Global, will speak on a panel with Anantara’s Madden-Nadeau titled ‘Becoming a world class spa destination – is the UAE up to the challenge?’.

Atlantis’ Neil Hewerdine will be joined by Matthew Graham, health club manager – sports & leisure, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Afrah Hamdy, director of spa, Al Ghurair Arjaan & Al Ghurair Rayhaan by Rotana to discuss ‘The Rise of Wellness in the Middle East.

Other panel sessions include Speaking The Language of Spas and Business, Raising The Bar – Meeting The Dynamic (And Increasingly Demanding) Consumer Expectations and The Spa Journey – Engineering A Seamless Experience.

After a networking lunch, delegates will be able to choose two different workshops to attend. These include: Developing and Managing The Perfect Team; Boosting Revenue Through Upselling and Retail Sales; Mastering The Business Of Spa; and Spa Marketing for Non Marketers.

The agenda was devised following consultation with an advisory panel of spa experts, including Hewerdine, Hawco, Russell and Salina Handa, founder and managing director of Sensasia Urban Spa.

More than 100 spa professionals, who can register their attendance for free, are expected to attend the forum.

The event is being supported by The Product House, a Dubai-based company responsible for bringing a range of spa brands to the region, including Anne Semonin, Kerstin Florian and Camellia’s Tea House.

For more details visit: www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/conferences/spa-forum/

For sponsorship opportunities please contact diarmuid.omalley@itp.com or call +971 4 444 3568

For speaker opportunities or to register your attendance, please contact samantha.medina@itp.com