Customers visit a spa because they want to feel better about themselves and this makes for a great opportunity for spas to include nutritious food and drink as part of the spa experience. Even more so as the food that customers eat at a spa will have a direct impact on the majority of treatments they come in for - whether it is to improve the condition of their skin, achieve a more toned body or to simply feel less stressed and calmer.

However, performance standards in the food and beverage (F&B) area can be inconsistent and it is often considered a problem area by venues. Balancing the demand for nutritious, interesting food with spa packages - which often include the lunch price, is no easy fare.

The Aqua Sana spa facilities at Center Parcs holiday villages believe that they have solved this problem by entering into a partnership with the Zilli Cafe brand, developed by celebrity chef, Aldo Zilli. The Zilli Café delivers a healthy, nutritious and high-quality menu at all Aqua Sana facilities. What’s more, the café has become part of the spa journey helping to extend the sensory experience and add value.

But is outsourcing your F&B operation the best option for your spa?

To help weigh up this important question and get an insight into the work involved in such a decision, you can join Aldo Zilli and Don Camilleri, development director for Center Parcs, at the UK Spa & Wellness Conference on Wednesday 9th November 2011 when they will debate the relative merits of an in-house F&B operation versus an external catering franchise.

In this current economy, it’s more important than ever for spas to have a carefully planned professional F&B programme in place.

To register for the conference visit www.spaconference.co.uk or call 08707 80 44 90 or

email [email protected]