Event report: The focus is on hospitality at Forum HOTel&Spa 2026

Drawing one of its largest audiences to date, the 18^th edition of Forum HOTel&Spa, which took place in Paris on June 2, focused on the future of hospitality and the art of service in a changing world.

The theme drew speakers from across Europe and beyond, to speak about the challenges of industry, especially how spa and wellness operators adjust to changing demographics and guest demands.

With delegates coming from 14 countries including France, Germany, UK, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Italy and the USA, the audience enjoyed a series of networking breaks, lunch and time to explore the exhibitor showcase previewing brand innovations and new launches.

European Spa is a proud media partner to Forum HOTel&Spa in Paris.

Astronaut medicine

Dr Filippo Ongaro, founder and CEO of Metodo Ongaro Switzerland, drew on his experience working as a doctor with astronauts to reveal some of his knowledge about ageing and longevity.

Reveling that six months in space is equivalent to ten years of ageing on earth, he spoke about how the biggest action people can take is to avoid muscle loss and to lift weights to build muscle. “If there’s one thing that is truly counteractive ageing is weight training, weight lifting,” he said.

He believed that the longevity industry over complicates things, and he spoke of the importance of addressing health span – the length of healthy years, not just longevity or lifespan.

Dr Ongaro also noted the importance of nutrition, physical training and stress management, and how to make small changes for guests that has a lasting impact on change behaviour.

Longevity today

Simone Gibertoni, CEO, Clinique La Prairie discussed the growing longevity market, addressing the importance of reducing the gap between lifespan and healthspan.

He highlighted that lifestyle choices, including diet and stress management, significantly impact longevity, with studies suggesting 50-70 per cent of health outcomes are influenced by lifestyle.

Gibertoni outlined the key drivers behind growth in longevity. “One billion more people will be aged over 60 in the next 20 years,” he said. “We have seen growth in the advancement of scientific understanding in the last ten years and then there’s the cultural awareness driver. People, know much more about longevity today than it was in the past.”

Three-step process

Gibertoni introduced a three-step longevity intervention: diagnostic phase, intervention phase, and follow-up.

He stressed the need for a holistic approach, integrating medical, nutritional, and wellbeing elements, and also discussed the ethical implications of longevity being accessible only to the wealthy and the importance of creating a transformative experience for clients to foster healthy habits.

The human connection

Beata Aleksandrowicz, founder of Beata Digital Academy, explored the evolving human factor in a technologically advanced world. She began by talking about the paradox of increasing loneliness despite constant connectivity, noting that guests now seek wellness for human connection and emotional safety.

She highlighted the importance of advanced training for therapists, focusing on emotional resilience and injury-free techniques. “When I was preparing this talk, I knew that it will be inevitable, that talking about the human experience in spas will lead me to talking about therapists,” she said “Because these are the people who deliver that human experience. They deliver that directly for hours every single day. Without them, we cannot deliver.”

Advanced training

Passionate about better working conditions for therapists, Aleksandrowicz advocated not only for better education but also for integrating self-care and mental wellbeing into their training. She concluded that the future of wellness should prioritise preserving human experiences over technological advancements, ensuring that clients feel cared for and connected.

Leaders and Diamond Award winners

The event saw Isabelle Charrier, editorial director of Sense of Wellness magazine launch Women Wellness Leaders Club, a networking group to inspire and elevate women in spa spa, wellness and hospitality sectors.

In addition, the Red, Blue and Black Diamond awards were presented to high achievers in their field.

The winners were:

Red Diamond Award – Eglė Rukšėnaitė, founder, E77

Blue Diamond Award – Yoakim Trevago, wellness director, Groupe Barrière

Black Diamond Award – Anna Pierzak, spa director, Hotel Royal Champagne