Newly-formed industry body The Great Spa Towns of Europe association has appointed Stefan Szirucsek as its new board chair.

As of July 2021, The Great Spa Towns of Europe was established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site comprises 11 famous historic thermal spa towns and cities in seven countries (see full list below).

Each town was founded around natural mineral springs and their inscription onto the UNESCO World Heritage list will bring them better protection and enhanced cooperation in the fields of heritage conservation, balneology/health, tourism and promotion.

The Great Spa Towns of Europe organisation was subsequently formed in May 2022 to prepare and deliver UNESCO's property management plan.

Szirucsek is the mayor of Baden bei Wien in Austria – which is one of the 11 spa towns – and will take the reins as board chair from Margret Mergen, lord mayor of Baden-Baden in Germany.

Szirucsek commented: “It’s a great honour to be appointed as the new chair of the board and to continue to develop this great initiative.

“Being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a huge accolade for Baden bei Wien and the other 10 towns that make up the site. With the formation of the new association, I feel we’re all heading into the future with more strength and new energy.”

The Great Spa Towns of Europe was organised in the past by the 11 mayors of the towns across seven countries.

The new board, which met for the first time last week, is comprised of:

• Stefan Szirucsek, mayor of Baden bei Wien, Austria.• Sophie Delettre, mayor of Spa, Belgium.

• Andrea Pfeffer Ferklova, mayor of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.• Dr Dirk Vogel, mayor of Bad Kissingen, Germany.

The Great Spa Towns of Europe

• Baden bei Wien, Austria.• Spa, Belgium.

• Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.• Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic.

• Frantiskovy Lazne, Czech Republic.• Vichy, France.

• Baden-Baden, Germany.• Bad Ems, Germany.

• Bad Kissingen, Germany.• Montecatini Terme, Italy.

• Bath, UK.