Milan will bring together professionals, investors, hotel operators, consultants and wellness sector specialists on 1 December for the fourth edition of a gathering that expands its programme with a second room dedicated to the technical and operational aspects of wellness spaces.
The relationship between hospitality and wellness occupies an increasingly relevant space in the development strategies of the international tourism industry. Evolving guest expectations, interest in longevity, the incorporation of new technologies and investment in specialised facilities are broadening the scope of a segment that demands specific expertise in both its conception and its management.
The fourth edition of Wellness Hospitality Conference, will take place against this backdrop, scheduled for the upcoming 1 December 2026 at the Milan Marriott Hotel, in Italy. Organised by Teamwork Hospitality, an Italian consultancy specialising in training and advisory services for the hotel sector, the event will bring together Italian and international professionals linked to hospitality, spas, thermal centres, medical-wellness facilities, architecture and consulting.
The programme will address some of the issues shaping business decisions in this market: development of new business models, investment opportunities, longevity, artificial intelligence, space design, technology and customer experience. A combination of content that reflects the breadth wellness has acquired within hotel offerings and the diversity of skills required to develop profitable projects with their own identity.
From investment strategy to day-to-day management
One of the new features of this edition will be the addition of a second conference room with sessions in Italian, specifically oriented towards the technical and operational aspects of developing and managing wellness spaces and services.
The organisation thus proposes two complementary levels of discussion. The main room will host international presentations and strategic conversations about the future of the sector, while the second space will allow deeper exploration of issues related to the day-to-day activity of establishments.
Mauro Santinato, president of Teamwork Hospitality, explains that this expansion responds to the need to complement the strategic vision of international leaders with a technical forum aimed at those who design, develop and manage wellness facilities and services.
The distinction is relevant for an industry in which investment decisions must find correspondence in the operational capacity of establishments. Equipment selection, space layout, team training, treatment definition and cost control directly condition the performance of a spa or wellness centre.
The event will include seminars, case studies, round tables and discussion sessions, as well as spaces for professional networking and discovering proposals from specialised manufacturers and suppliers.
Longevity and new opportunities for hospitality
Longevity will have a prominent presence in the programme, alongside technology and the evolution of the guest experience. Its incorporation into the hotel agenda responds to growing interest in integrating prevention, health, physical recovery and wellness into travel and leisure stays.
For hotel operators, this area opens up possibilities for differentiation and commercial diversification. Establishments can expand their offering through specialised programmes, nutritional advice, recovery services, thermal experiences and proposals linked to healthy ageing.
However, incorporating longevity also poses different demands from those of a conventional spa. The participation of healthcare professionals, the selection of evidence-backed interventions and the delimitation between wellness services and medical treatments are fundamental issues for developing rigorous proposals.
In this context, the conference will offer insights into different perspectives from professionals working at the intersection of hospitality, wellness management and health.
An international panel of specialists
The fourth edition will feature a group of speakers bringing together profiles from hotel management, consulting, architecture, spa management, research and business strategy.
Among the announced names is Anna Bjurstam, international wellness advisor, founder of Wahayla and partner at RoseBar Longevity and Ageback. Also participating will be Anne-Cannelle Boyer, Vice President of Wellbeing at Jumeirah, alongside Verena Lasvigne, CEO of VLF Spa Consulting, and Piers Schmidt, founder of Luxury Partners.
Italian representation will carry significant weight, with professionals such as Renzo Iorio, president of Federterme Confindustria; Antonello Del Regno, general director of Terme & Spa Italia; and Flavio Zuliani, CEO of Aquardens.
The connection between luxury hospitality and wellness management will be represented by managers of establishments and international operators. Among them are Giulia Patulli, Spa Manager at The SPA at Orient Express La Minerva; Giusy Castagna, spa manager at Hotel Cipriani; Ketty Mozzi, from Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco; and Lucia Papalini, director of Spa & Wellness at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze.
The programme also incorporates specialists in longevity and nutrition, such as Claudia Venturini, responsable de Medical Nutrition y miembro del comité científico de The Longevity Suite, y Raffaella Di Sipio, Medical & Longevity Manager de Terme & Spa Italia.
La arquitectura y el diseño de espacios estarán representados por profesionales como Caterina Locati, fundadora de Habitat Evolutivo; Daniela Baldo, socia fundadora y COO de STUDIO MARCO PIVA; y Andreas Profanter, partner de NOA Network of Architecture.
Otro de los ámbitos presentes será la aplicación de la tecnología y la inteligencia artificial. En este apartado destaca la participación de Stefania Bandini, profesora de informática de la Universidad Bicocca y directora del Centro de Estudios e Investigación sobre Sistemas Complejos e Inteligencia Artificial.
El panel se completa con responsables de operaciones, consultores internacionales, especialistas en experiencia de cliente y profesionales vinculados a establecimientos termales y destinos wellness, entre ellos Hanna Kulyba, directora de Wellness de Miraval The Red Sea.
Las sesiones estarán moderadas por representantes de consultoras y publicaciones especializadas, entre ellos Lisa Starr, principal de Wynne Business Consulting & Education; Sarah Camilleri, directora editorial de European Spa Magazine; y Mauro Santinato.
El diseño y el equipamiento como parte del modelo de negocio
La configuración de los espacios y la selección de equipamiento profesional también tendrán protagonismo en el encuentro. La arquitectura wellness debe responder a criterios funcionales, técnicos y sensoriales, pero también a las necesidades de explotación económica de cada instalación.
La circulación de clientes, la capacidad de las zonas húmedas, la eficiencia energética, el mantenimiento y la ergonomía de los equipos son factores que repercuten tanto en la experiencia del usuario como en los costes de funcionamiento.
Lemi Group, fabricante italiano de equipamiento profesional para spas, centros wellness y establecimientos de estética, participará como patron partner de la conferencia.
La organización celebrará esta edición en un Milan Marriott Hotel recientemente renovado y ampliado, con mayor capacidad para las actividades de networking y el intercambio profesional.
Con su combinación de debate estratégico y formación técnica, Wellness Hospitality Conference aspira a reunir en Milán a los distintos actores que intervienen en el desarrollo de la industria wellness hotelera, desde quienes financian y diseñan los proyectos hasta los profesionales responsables de su funcionamiento diario.
More information: Wellness Hospitality Conference.
