A gathering of world thermal industry leaders will take place 13-14 October at Hotel an der Therme in Bad Orb, Germany.

The invitation-only Global Thermal Think Tank is the first-ever event designed to provide an opportunity for sharing knowledge and ideas on how to grow and enhance the hot springs industry across the world.

The event is timed to coincide with the Global Wellness Summit in Kitzbühel, Austria, which takes place 17-19 October as well as the pre-Summit tour to Austria’s largest thermal bathing facility, Aqua Dome, on 15 October.

Organisers said while there will be extensive opportunities during the GWS to discuss the hot springs industry – including GWS pre- and post-summit hot springs tours – they felt that a full-day gathering before the Summit would provide a focused opportunity to discuss key industry issues.

Topics to be discussed include global hot springs consumer research, bathin biome research, global cultural approaches to hot springs, hot springs business best practice, hot springs and the transformation economy, and global hot springs marketing collaboration.

Confirmed attendees include Marc Cohen, who heads up the Australasian Wellness Association; Toskana World CEO and co-owner Marion Schneider; Charles Davidson, CEO and co-founder of Australia’s Peninsula Hot Springs; and Mark Hennebry and Mike Wallace of the UK’s Danubius Hotel Group; about 20 people in total are expected to attend the invitation-only event.

“Toskana Therme Bad Orb and Hotel an der Therme Bad Orb are hosting this event as they are a hot spring, as they are not so far apart from Längenfeld where Aqua Dome is located and as they are very close to the Frankfurt airport,” said Schneider.