Our minds and bodies are exposed to all sorts of stress and strain. How delightful it is to unwind, even if it`s just for a short time – for example by enjoying the soothing effect of a good massage, floating in a thermal bath, reinvigorating ourselves through sport, or just thoroughly relaxing!
Europe currently has more than 18,000 providers of health and wellness tourism. But what makes a spa good? In EuropeSpa's view, effective treatment doesn't just depend on the right manual and technical skills. After all, wellness always entails intervening in the patient's health. For example, not every type of massage is suitable for every visitor. Incorrect treatment or failure to carry out a check-up beforehand could put the patient's cardiovascular system at risk or harm the musculoskeletal system if they suffer from back problems. Hygiene is also an important quality parameter – for bathing in thermal water may pose a health risk if it is not properly cleaned and disinfected.
Accordingly, apart from aspects of service, quality assessment under EuropeSpa wellness also encompasses safety, hygiene and the infrastructure. The EuropeSpa wellness criteria were compiled during a project lasting two years in conjunction with hotel companies and experts in order to develop Europe's most ambitious system of certification for spas. The result is a list of about 1,300 criteria, which is continuously reviewed by independent auditors. The EuropeSpa wellness criteria are used to certify wellness hotels, hotel spas, thermal spas and day spas.