The inaugural ‘Spa & Wellness by ILTM’ from 10-12 September at Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Seefeld, Austria, has announced its conference line-up of sessions that will inspire the leisure industry’s marketing techniques for the future.

The two-day event will see conference sessions moderated by Susan D’Arcy, luxury travel and spa writer at The Sunday Times and Spa Confidential. One of the UK’s leading experts on generational theory Dr Paul Redmond, from the University of Liverpool, will deliver a keynote addressing ‘The Generation Game: How to engage and attract multiple generations of Spa & Wellness travel customers’. As the global market for Spa & Wellness travel continues to expand, so too does the potential for attracting a significantly wider, multi-generational customer base.

Mr Redmond comments: “I will show how companies can better engage with the market beyond the traditional Baby Boomers, the generation of ‘digital natives’ which currently struggles to secure work-life balance.”

Stephen Cheliotis, Chief Executive of The Centre for Brand Analysis (TCBA) and Chairman of the UK Consumer Superbrands, Business Superbrands and CoolBrands Councils, will highlight how companies can be truly different in their communication by developing emotional attachment with consumers in this increasingly competitive environment. Mr Cheliotis will feature examples that illustrate how key emotions have an impact on consumer decisions.

The final panel discussion will include Frances Geoghegan, Managing Director of leading specialist tour operator Healing Holidays and Dietmar Müller-Elmau, owner of 5* hotel and spa Schloss Elmau.

Amongst exhibitors at the event are the new D-Hotel Maris in Turkey, that couples its ESPA Signature Treatments with the natural healing properties of the surrounding area and multi-award winning The Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, with a spa that has been certified by Leading Hotels of the World through its first global evaluation and certification programme for the spa industry. Also joining are Schloss Elmau, Radisson Blu Resort, Split, Radisson Blu 1835 Hotel & Thalasso, Mövenpick Hotels, Resorts & Spa, Tombolo Beach SRL, Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wellness- & Spa Hotels Ermitage and Beatus, Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Thanos Club Hotel and Longevity Wellness Resort.

All exhibitors at this restricted by-invitation-only event will meet with VIP buyers representing tour operators from countries including Switzerland, Russia, the UK and Germany. The pre-scheduled one-to-one appointments between buyers and suppliers will take place in between the conference schedule.

Alison Gilmore, International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Exhibition Director, commented:

“We have created a small conference programme for our inaugural event with key subjects that we know are of interest to the industry right now. Insights into how to attract new customers whilst keeping existing ones loyal, how to reach the new generations of spa users, and how to keep a brand alive in such a competitive market, will we hope, motivate our audience of buyers and suppliers”.