Brand new opportunities through EUROPESPA med, the international quality seal of the European Spas Association (ESPA)
The European Spas Association (ESPA) represents the interests of European spas from 20 nations in Brussels. With membership totalling over 1,200 spas and spa towns, it is the largest international spa association in Europe. In addition, it has members from neighbouring countries such as Turkey.
The ESPA is officially based in Brussels. With direct links among leading decision-makers from politics, administration and other health and tourism organisations, the ESPA is often the first partner to be contacted with respect to cures, medical rehabilitation or medical wellness. The members of the ESPA profit from the contacts stemming from the association’s extensive network and first-hand information. The ESPA is headed by its president, Dr. Janka Zálešáková (Slovakia), with support from the general secretary, Mr. Joachim Lieber (Germany).
The ESPA launched the international quality seal EUROPESPA med in conjunction with
leading experts to boost transparency and fairness in competition. Previously, neither guests nor health insurance companies were able to tell the level of quality behind attractively priced offers. After all, the standards of cures and medical wellness vary considerably from one country to the next. The new EUROPESPA label puts an end to this dilemma by enabling the quality of spa facilities and medical treatment to be uniformly rated across Europe, allowing easy comparison.
The EUROPESPA criteria are based on national and international guidelines focusing on safety, hygiene and the therapy infrastructure. Aspects such as service, therapy, wellness, accommodation as well as kitchen and food safety are addressed in around 400 audit questions.
The EUROPESPA med concept is supported by leading health insurance companies such as in Germany Techniker Krankenkasse (which insures 6 million customers) and TAUNUS BKK (a million customers), which in future will only accept EUROEPSPA certified spa facilities as premium partners. “Our policyholders have to be in good hands during their cures and enjoy impeccable care,” declares Udo Sennlaub, the CEO of TAUNUS BKK, “which is why we rely on the new quality seal.”
Important tour operators also draw attention to the EUROEPSPA med quality seal in their catalogues. Michael Häckel (Globe International GmbH / DMZ-Deutsches Medizinisches Zentrum): „The international quality seal EUROPESPA med gives confidence. Then our clients and patients are sure to have a spa facility on a high quality level. Also the cost-sharing through a health insurance company in case of medicinal need will be easier to get, because it is guaranteed that in EUROPESPA certified hotels, spas and clinics the necessary quality standards are given.”
The certificate gives good spa facilities an international platform bringing them to the
attention of tourists, tour operators and health insurance companies all over Europe via the EUROPESPA directory at www.europespa.eu, which lists all the EUROPESPA med certified spas.
When hotels and clinics apply for the international seal, an onsite inspection taking 2–3 days is carried out by an ESPA-appointed expert. The seal of approval is awarded if 80 % of the criteria and certain basic requirements are met. Apart from a comprehensive report, the spa facility can also assess its level of quality in comparison with competitors through an anonymous ranking. The seal of approval is valid for three years, although a reinspection is carried out after 18 months.
To enable the seal of approval to be granted to spas in countries with a weaker economy, the ESPA has set prices at a generally acceptable level. The exact costs depend on the number of employees. For example, hotels and clinics which are ESPA members and which have 45 members of staff are charged an annual fee for the EUROPESPA med seal of approval of €1,250 plus VAT. With just an additional 15–20 guests per year booking a cure lasting two or three weeks, the seal of approval actually pays for itself.
The marketing benefits of EUROPESPA med can be summed up as follows:
- Having the international seal of approval means you’ll be seen all over Europe thanks to the EUROPESPA portal (www.europespa.eu) instead of just in one country.
- EUROPESPA med expands your target groups – and hence your potential business. For example, with EUROPESPA being supported by health insurance companies, this opens up access to patients needing preventive cures – a huge target group.
- Clinics and hotels from neighbouring countries can be ‘part of Europe’ with
EUROPESPA med and will enjoy the confidence of European guests, who can expect the same high level of quality.
For more information about the seal of approval, log on to www.europespa.eu.
Documents:
Contact:
Reinhard Petry
European Spas Association (ESPA)
AETC Secrétariat Général
1, avenue de la Renaissance
B 1000 Bruxelles
Tel.: 0032(2)7332661
Fax: 0032(2)7330619
petry@espa-ehv.eu or info@europespa.eu
www.europespa.eu
Last modified: June 12, 2008
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