The first edition of the Wellness Hospitality Conference (WHC), co-organised by Teamwork Hospitality and InSpaTime, was recently hosted at the NH Hotel in Milan and attracted more than 500 delegates.

The event was created to encourage the exchange of ideas among professionals from the wellness and hospitality industries and also showcase Italy’s wellness opportunities.

Delegates included consultants, designers, media, corporate spa and wellness leadership from established hospitality operators, industry suppliers and more.

Topics covered ranged from wellness architecture and design, new technology and sustainability to the latest and upcoming trends, key challenges for the industry and how to create a distinctive, competitive wellness offering.

Looking to the future, the WHC also explored how the industry predicts consumer demand will evolve and how wellness services can adapt to meet changing expectations.

With 42 speakers drawn from Italy and around the world, attendees experienced a varied schedule of panels and keynotes – several of which were moderated by Raffaella Dallarda, InSpaTime founder and author of E-SPAnsive.

Industry figures who headlined the WHC included:

• Alberto Apostoli, architect and founder of Studio Apostoli.• Emlyn Brown, global vice president of wellbeing at Accor.

• Silvia Giannini, architect and founder of Studio di Architettura Silvia Giannini.• Andrew Gibson, international wellness and hospitality specialist.

• Alcide Leali, CEO of Lefay Resorts & Residences.• Julanda Marais, senior lead spa and wellness of Explora Journeys.

• Louise Moore, director of spa operations and development at Hilton Group.• Michael Newcombe, vice president of spa and wellness of Four Seasons.

• Kent Richards, global spa and wellness corporate operations director at Six Senses Spas. • Astrid Ros, publisher of Spa Business and Spa Business Insider.

Discussions were richly populated with case studies and testimonials to showcase industry best practice and innovation.

The event also featured networking and an exhibition where suppliers – including Lemi Group, Sothys, Matrix and Biologique Recherche among others – shared their latest innovations and news.

A bright future

Mauro Santinato, CEO of Teamwork Hospitality, labelled the inaugural WHC a major success and revealed that the 2024 edition will take place in Italy on 21 November.

Matteo Brusaferri, GM of Lemi (the event’s patron partner), added: “The conference represented a unique meeting point for professionals and enthusiasts in the field, offering a comprehensive overview of the latest trends and innovations in the world of wellness and hospitality.

“The quality of the presentations and the variety of topics discussed highlighted how broad and dynamic this sector is, and how important it is to continue investing in training, research and development.

“I’m particularly excited about the positive response we received, both in terms of participation and feedback. This confirms that we’re on the right path and encourages us to continue with even more energy and passion.”