This year the Wellness Experience Awards bring new features. In its fourth edition, the awards organised by the Piscina & Wellness Barcelona trade show is extending its geographical area to include the best spas, thermal baths and thalassotherapy centres of the year in Europe. In addition, as in the past, the Awards will specifically recognise the best wellness establishments in Spain, Portugal and Andorra in these same categories. These awards distinguish the innovation, sustainability and excellence of both the facilities and the management models, therapies and treatments offered by these businesses linked to health and wellness through water.
The awards organised by the Piscina & Wellness Barcelona for European spas, thermal baths and thalassotherapy centres
The Wellness Experience Awards, coordinated by Torrens & Pacheco Consultants, will be awarded in three categories: Best Wellness Spa; Best Bath, Therma or Medical Spa; and Best Thalassotherapy Centre and in two geographical areas: Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal and Andorra), and the rest of Europe. Wellness establishments can submit their candidature free of charge until 18 September 2023 using the specific form published on the show's website. The jury also reserves the right to propose a series of prestigious tourism businesses in each category, both on the Iberian Peninsula and in Europe.
The members of the jury will evaluate each establishment considering its commitment to wellness, as well as its architecture; equipment and environment; therapeutic techniques and unique programmes offered; communication and marketing strategies; management model; protocols for interaction with the client; quality certifications or value for money.
Likewise, the efficient use of resources (water, energy, raw materials), respect for the environment, connectivity, digitalisation, and other aspects that directly influence the user's perception and experience will also have a favourable influence on the final decision.
In the previous edition of the Wellness Experience Awards, held in 2021, some thirty projects participated, with the winners being Aqva Gerunda Banys Romans (Girona) as best spa, Las Caldas Villa Termal (Asturias), best spa; and Thalasia Costa de Murcia Hotel & Spa (Murcia), best thalassotherapy centre.
Wellness Experience at Piscina & Wellness 2021
Wellness through water
Wellness tourism is one of the segments with the best development prospects. According to the Global Wellness Institute, its annual growth will be 21%, representing a global market of more than one trillion dollars by 2024. New, more social, technological, and sensorial tourism programmes are expected to emerge, designed to attract people of all ages who want to turn their trips and getaways - relaxation, adventure, cultural, family and even professional - into opportunities to work on their health. In relation to wellness through water, this same entity estimates that the annual growth until 2025 will be 18% in spa and thermal and mineral-medicinal water businesses.
To prepare for this growth and create new tourist experiences linked to wellness through water, establishments will have to invest in improving and updating their aquatic facilities. In this sense, the Piscina & Wellness Barcelona trade show, which will take place from 27 to 30 November at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue, will be the best place to meet the leading international firms for the design, construction and equipment of wellness and spa spaces, focused on wellness and health in hotels, campsites, rural houses, tourist accommodation and sports centres, among others.
Likewise, to showcase the latest trends and innovations in design and equipment for these establishments, the Barcelona trade fair will once again recreate a complete wellness centre in operation called "Wellness Experience" with an active swimming pool and other rooms.
The Wellness Experience Awards will be presented on 27 November at a gala along with the other prizes awarded by Piscina & Wellness Barcelona, namely the Piscina & Wellness Awards for the most innovative product in sustainability and connectivity at the event, and the International Competition for Architecture Students for the best theoretical design of an aquatic complex located on Passeig de Lluis Compayns, where Barcelona's Arc de Triomf is located.
