International medical and wellness professionals are congregating today in Austria at St. Martins Spa and Lodge for the second annual Medical Wellness Congress (MWC).

Co-organised by Health and Beauty France – a subsidiary of the Bolognafiere Cosmoprof group headed by Pradip Bala and Vladi Kovanic, founder of Forum HOTel&SPA – the two-day conference is the first European event targeting the global medical spa sector.

This year’s event will centre around the theme “Focus on Integrative Wellness”.

The congress is attended by managers and directors of medical and wellness properties – including medispas, spa resorts, thermal baths, thalasso resorts, wellness centres or holistic retreat destinations, in addition to doctors, therapists, practitioners or any professionals related to the medical and wellness fields.

The schedule will see international specialists and industry brands come together in discussion during keynotes, panels, workshops and live demonstrations.

Industry figures featured in the line-up include:

• Beata Aleksandrowicz, founder of the Aleksandrowicz System.• Dr Boris Banovsky, group medical director for the Ensana Health Spa Resorts Group.

• Nils Behrens, managing director and CMO of the Lanserhof Group.• Emlyn Brown, global vice president of wellbeing at Accor.

• Anna Bjurstam, senior strategic advisor at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.• Sammy Gharieni, founder and CEO of the Gharieni Group.

• Andrew Gibson, international wellness and hospitality specialist.• Alina Hernandez, wellness programme designer and Gharieni Group Advisory Board member.

• Patrick Huey, chair of the Board for the International Spa Association (ISPA).• Susanne Kraus-Winkler, state secretary for tourism of the Republic of Austria

• Dr Franz Linser, founder and managing director of Linser Hospitality.• Tammy Pahel, chief wellness officer of Alchemy Wellness Resorts.

• Keith Pollard, editor-in-chief at International Medical Travel Journal. • Laszlo Puczko – co-founder and CEO of Health Tourism Worldwide.

• Simon Lee Saunders, VP of strategic health & wellness advisory at RLA Global.• Mudr. Kateřina Smíšková, leader of the Spiral Spinal Stabilisation Method Centre.

Delegates will also get the opportunity to forge new relationships during various networking moments including a plush gala dinner.

Established brands – such as Gharieni Group, Hydrafacial, Art of Cryo, Biologique Recherche, Olivier Claire, Laboratoire Revitacare, CeGat, Dr Spiller, Kerstin Florian and Derm Acte – are also in attendance.