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In Marrakech in March ITEC France held the first edition ever of SPAMEETING. Following the success of this first business event dedicated to spa developments, the Park Hyatt Dubai is preparing to welcome the next edition on 17 & 18 October, ahead of the Istanbul meeting that will close out the year.
Based on the idea of “speed-dating” between spa developers and suppliers, nearly 900 very targeted meetings were held over the two-day period in Morocco. These meetings enabled everyone to get to the nitty-gritty in terms of the successful outcome of their projects and do precious networking and create good commercial relationships.
In October, the Dubai event will more particularly concern the MENASA region (Middle East North Africa South Asia), with nearly 150 already confirmed, qualified spa projects including the regional offices of the groups MARRIOTT, OBEROI, HILTON, and SIX SENSES, as well as independent projects from MOVENPICK, THE LUXURY COLLECTION, HYATT, etc. Facing them will be 50 high-end suppliers selected from all the spa professions.
Valérie Vanier, the director of SPAMEETING, presents the key assets of these new business meetings that are doing such a good job of attracting luxury hospitality professionals in the regions of the world where the spa sector is showing excellent energy.
Why is the SPAMEETING format so attractive?
Valérie Vanier : “The speed-meeting format makes it possible to get down to essentials, to quickly discover spa players you have no access to. Buyers seek to meet an array of spa suppliers that they don’t know at all or don’t know well. For them it’s the chance to ‘do the market’ in a qualified way and efficiently. The buyers taking part in SPAMEETING are preselected because they have high quality projects, an approved purchasing budget and real business objective. They are seeking the suppliers they need as sources for future openings.
The format also means everyone can be on an equal footing. We were expecting this, and it proved to be clearly true at the first edition. The stakes are clear and mutual: learn to get to know one another quickly, identify your strong points, lay the foundations for a future commercial relationship.”
SPAMEETING Dubai will be held on 17 & 18 October. How is this edition looking?
Credit : Davin Pin
V.V.: “Dubai looks like it will be particularly good with lots of enthusiastic buyers and suppliers to follow us through this second edition. The aim is to keep a very targeted format: 50 quality, exclusive suppliers who are spa experts will meet 50 key buyers involved in projects in the Middle East (the Emirates, Oman, Qatar), India, the Maldives, Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand), the Indian Ocean (Maurice, Seychelles, Madagascar), plus a few projects from Europe.
We are going to bolster our strong points: the quality and diversity of those involved, the decision-making power of buyers, timing, and friendliness. It’s efficient, friendly business. ‘Work and Network’ is our goal.”
What are the special features of the MENASA region?
V.V.: “The MENASA region is particularly important for spas. In this zone, the spa market has reached more than $30 billion. More than 450 hotels have a spa project underway.
The spa business is clearly integrated from the moment the overall hotel project is conceived. According to Ernst & Young, hotel spa revenues in Dubai grew 45.5% in the first quarter of 2010.
Sports, spa, pool and outdoor facilities have also seen strong demand.
The Dubai government forecasts 10 million visitors in 2011. With the emergence of new destinations like Abu Dhabi and Qatar, the Gulf States estimate rapid development between by 2015.
The birthplace of spas, Southeast Asia will also be very well represented with major operators from the region, particularly sensitive to this format of very exclusive meetings.”
In Istanbul on 5 & 6 December, what type of projects are involved?
V.V.: “First, Turkey is the 3rd travel destination, showing the strongest growth, behind China and Russia over the past two decades. The country attracted 28 million tourists in 2009; 63 million are forecast by 2023. Istanbul is the 3rd city visited in Europe and the 9th in the world. Turkey has 300 hotel spas, showing exponential growth.
It is also the gateway to major spa destinations such as Germany and Croatia.
The projects present at Spameeting Istanbul will be mainly European projects, with a mix of hotel chains and independent spa developments (hotel or urban spas). The recruitment of developers has already begun and we are very confident about the quality of participants.”
Kristel Milet
CLARINS – Official Gold Sponsor of SPAMEETING DUBAI
SPADUNYA – Official Silver Sponsor of SPAMEETING DUBAI
SPAMEETING DUBAI
17 & 18 october 2011
Park Hyatt Hotel
SPAMEETING ISTANBUL
5 & 6 ddecember 2011
EUROPEAN SPA EXPO & SUMMIT
from 12 to 14 septembre – Paris Porte de Versailles
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