The second edition of the Wellness & Spa Event, at the long-running industry show Piscina & Wellness Barcelona, will take place between 13-16 October at Fira Barcelona. The organisers will welcome industry speakers from a number of disciplines who will provide recommendations to the spa industry on how to develop the tourism and economic potential of wellness-focused facilities.

The Piscina & Wellness Barcelona show has taken place 11 times annually but the wider spa section has become a distinct focus for the organisers – illustrated by the change in the event’s name to incorporate the words “& Wellness”. The aim of this new name is to enable exhibitors, speakers and other event attendees to enhance the synergies between the different water facilities geared to health, leisure, sport and wellbeing.

An actual 350sq m (3,767sq ft) spa, equipped by a number of the event’s exhibitors, will be constructed at the show. This example spa has been described as “perfectly sustainable from both a financial and functional/environmental perspective” by the organisers.

Approximately 30 international industry speakers are set to attend and share their spa-specific knowledge. For example, Jeremy McCarthy – Group Director of Spa for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group – will deliver the keynote address.

Other speakers include Resources for Leisure Assets’ co-founder Roger Allen; Tempo Hospitality Consulting’s regional manager Gérard André; Dr Franz Linser of Linser Hospitality; and Alfredo Pérez Sainz de la Maza – chair of the Spanish association Spatermal.

International architects attending the event include Josep Maria Gutiérrez Noguera, partner architect of 080 Arquitectura, and Robert D Henry – founder of RDH Architects. These specialists will discuss the design of sustainable facilities: making rational use of resources with minimum environmental impact.

CEO of Tip Touch International, Jean-Guy de Gabriac, and Adília Oliveira – spa director at the Yeatman Hotel in Portugal – will both discuss how to manage and maintain a healthy and profitable wellness centre.