The Hydrothermal Spa Forum took place last month at the Menzies Welcombe Hotel, Spa & Golf Club in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

A total of 21 delegates representing spa building companies, architects, interior designers, consultants, hotels, fitness clubs and spa centres attended the forum.

The Hydrothermal Spa Forum is an alliance of industrial spa companies with an aim to exchange information, spa standards and technical novelties with their global partners in the spa field.

Representatives from member companies each presented a lecture covering topics relating to hygiene, safety and wellbeing.

“There were new products and new innovations,” said Barry Smith, director at wet facilities provider Drom UK. “But the biggest benefit was having different suppliers, and like-minded companies that can work together and share their knowledge.”

Delegates were also able to take part in an open discussion where they shared their thoughts and experiences of the spa industry.

Tom Devin, managing director at Devin Consulting, UK Pool & Spa Consultants, said that the mix of consultants, suppliers and contractors made for a lively debate.

“There’s a huge variation in opinion among the trade,” said Devin. The event, he said, brought in “a bit more of that Continental culture,” with representatives from places like Germany and Austria.

“This was a very welcome and much-needed seminar for the industry, and addressed some of the fundamental issues facing the UK spa sector,” said Devin.