The first-ever US Hot Springs Conference will take place 7-9 November in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

The event is organised by Vicky Nash, whose firm, Resort Trends, has worked on tourism marketing and PR for numerous hot springs throughout Colorado for more than 23 years and who helped to create the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop.

“I often wondered why there was no national effort to promote hot springs as a whole in the United States,” said Nash. “After doing some research and conducting a survey of 200+ commercial facilities, I discovered that there was in fact interest from the industry to create some sort of networking organisation.”

The event is designed for hot springs owners, operators, general managers, facilities directors and marketing professionals, and Nash expects about 100 people to attend.

Topics will include new technology; water treatment management; sanitation/filtration/pump systems; online reservation software; co-op marketing opportunities; industry trends; balneology methodology and culture; water stewardship and preservation; health, healing and wellness practices; hydrotherapy treatments; and mineral water product development.

Speakers include Jeff Birkby, a geothermal energy specialist and author of several hot springs guidebooks; Don Genders, CEO of Design for Leisure and author of the Guide to Hydrothermal Spa & Wellness Development Standards; and Mark Detsky, an attorney specialising in hot springs water rights.

“This first goal is to get all the US hot springs communicating and sharing information,” said Nash. “At the end of the conference, perhaps a formal trade association can be created so they can do some strategic planning and visioning to benefit the hot springs industry. I would personally like to see them develop a promotional website and publications to raise consumer awareness on the wide variety of hot springs there are and the wellness benefits they provide – each facility is so unique!”

For more information on the event, click here.