The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) will host its inaugural International Wellness Tourism Conference at the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Florida, between 28-30 September 2021.

For the first time, the association’s annual two-day event – formerly an AGM – is being opened to non-members.

The event will be themed on ‘Wellness Tourism: Now and Beyond’ and embrace topics targeted to industry stakeholders including DMOs, suppliers, travel agents, wellness practitioners, wellness retreat leaders and others already in the space or looking to be part of the growing global industry.

“While other conferences focus on the many aspects of the wellness industry, the International Wellness Tourism Conference will focus solely on one pillar – wellness tourism,” says Anne Dimon, WTA president and CEO.

The conference programme will include a presentations on the following topics:

• Post-pandemic developments/trends/challenges as the industry recovers
• An in-depth look at the WTA’s 2021 wellness travel consumer survey
• Medical wellness: what suppliers and agents need to know
• Opening up to diversity, inclusivity and accessibility of wellness travel
• Post-Covid customer service: attracting new hires and working around staffing shortages
• How to develop a marketing plan and digital strategy to reach the wellness-minded traveller.

The WTA will release a speaker line-up for the event in the coming weeks.

Conference package prices start at US$690 (€586, £507) for premium WTA members, US$890 (€756, £653) for standard members, and US$1,090 (€926, £800) for non-members.

“By welcoming non-members to this new International Wellness Tourism Conference, the WTA is reinforcing the industry movement to become more accessible and more inclusive,” says Dimon.

Find more information and registration details, head to the WTA's official website.

In addition to educational sessions, the conference package will include meals plus optional wellness activities and plenty of time to network.

More about the WTAThe WTA is a registered US not-for-profit and launched in 2018 with the mission to support and further the growth of the wellness tourism industry through networking, education, research and communication.

Co-founders include Accor Hotels, Canyon Ranch and Travel To Wellness with founding members Art of Living Retreat Center and the Monaco Government Tourist Office.

Earlier this year, the WTA announced a new membership model to make the organisation more accessible and more inclusive to those who meet the basic criteria set forth by the association, and with the goal of bringing standards to this growing global industry.

As part of the new model, memberships fees were reduced, and a free monthly newsletter, available to all industry stakeholders and those interested in the business of wellness travel, was launched.