Spa and wellness industry event SpaFest has announced industry legend Sue Harmsworth MBE will keynote its 2021 conference, hosted at five-star eco-resort, Gwel an Mor in Cornwall, UK, from 12-14 October.

Harmsworth founded established spa and wellness brand ESPA and will host a discussion focused on the trends and challenges facing the spa and wellness industry.

SpaFest focuses on people, planet and health, and will take on new meaning this year as every spa and wellness professional looks for new ways to reconnect, rebuild and re-energise their personal and professional wellbeing after a challenging year.

Founded by Amanda Winwood, founder of Made for Life Organics, SpaFest is a not-for-profit event to benefit the Made for Life Foundation, which supports people living with cancer.

This unique industry gathering, which welcomes all, is free from the formalities of business attire, name badges and organised selling.

“The vision for SpaFest is and has always been about creating sustainable change in wellness for a healthier world,” said Winwood.

“Meaningful conversations within the spa and wellbeing sector for both suppliers and operators, with no pressure to buy or sell, just to simply connect and be inspired.”

With empowering sessions, thought-provoking talks and the opportunity to truly connect, learn and grow, SpaFest offers a delicate balance of education, inspiration and social wellbeing activities.

This year’s speaker line-up includes Iain Bell, founder, Executive Fitness Foundation; Dr Neil Carpenter, founder, NMC2; Claudia Roth, founder, Soul Luxury; and Kay Pennington, group spa manager, Center Parcs Aqua Sana.

Attendees will also be treated to wellbeing workshops including gong baths, yoga, forest bathing and swimming.

Mental performance coach Jamie Edwards, founder of Trained Brain, will kick the event off with a leadership programme, focused on 'leading yourself and others beyond crisis', offering perfect empowerment for spa industry professionals.

More speakers and details will be announced soon.

SpaFest 2021 sign-up

Registration has opened for the event and the SpaFest team is proud to announce that operators and suppliers will be offered the same prices.

See below for full pricing information:

• Two-day ticket – including SpaFest Welcome dinner on 12 October and entrance to SpaFest on 13-14 October – £325 (US$452, €380) exc VAT
• Three-day ticket – including Reconnect boot camp with Jamie Edwards and a welcome dinner on evening of October 12 – £395 (US$549, €461) exc VAT

Booking enquiries should be made through [email protected] and accommodation must be booked separately though contacting Gwel an Mor.

SpaFest team expands with new appointmentsIn other news, Winwood has updated the SpaFest team with a selection of new industry appointments.

The new additions are as follows:

• Brian Hunter, director of spa and leisure at The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, Scotland – chair of the new SpaFest Advisory Board
• Sarah Camilleri, founding editor of European Spa magazine – SpaFest director

• Mark Smith, media consultant – official lead of communications.

SpaFest has also welcomed new Advisory Board members including Barbara Cooke, BC Softwear MD, Iain Bell, founder of Executive Fitness Foundation, Leon Trayling, co-founder of ishga skincare and Kicki Carlsson, co-founder of Drom.