Programme


Expanding Spa Horizons

British and International—BISA’s Second Annual Conference takes place in Bad Sulza, Germany, and brings together experts, practitioners and visionaries from around the world.

Catering for both mind and body, the conference consists of a theoretical day and a practical day, giving participants the opportunity not only to explore new business strategies and ideas, but also to learn about and gain first-hand experience of wellness and therapy offerings. Pre and post conference events examine selected areas strongly represented in the conference location in greater depth.

Whether spa owner, spa educator, consultant or therapist, the BISA conference and associated pre and post conference activities offer an opportunity to learn from one another, to broaden one’s horizon and establish contacts from across the world. In short: informative, practical and inspiring!

Thursday
24th November

Salt, Saline and Spa

Salt, not only a flavour enhancer, a medicine, a preserver of fresh food and fixative for textiles but also a ‘white gold’, a key to economic prosperity and cultural importance. Its extraction brought forth elaborate technological developments which, as fortunes changed, were later harnessed for therapeutic uses.

Our tours offer an insight into this fascinating topic: in the morning we explore the historic salt extraction machinery and facilities in Bad Sulza, including a visit to the graduation house, a construction now used for the therapeutic savouring of ‘sea airs’ inland; in the afternoon we visit the spectacular water-powered graduation wall in neighbouring Bad Kösen.

09:00Saline and Salt Extraction in Bad Sulza
– 3 hours
14:00The Salt Machines in Bad Kösen
– 3 hours
19:00Welcome Evening in the Toskana Therme

Friday
25th November

BISA: Spa Culture and Spa Business

Spa Culture, Past, Present and Future

Taking a broader perspective, the first session will examine not only new spa trends and developments but also reflect upon the origins, context and history of spa and their potential in today’s cultural climate. The European setting is an opportunity to reflect upon different approaches, cultures and political conditions for spa around the world.

Spa Business, Design and Marketing

The second session narrows in on the specifics of spa business, design and marketing: the essential ingredients of a successful spa concept, ways of motivating your spa team, approaches to developing a rounded approach and ways of developing effective marketing and retailing partnerships.

09:00Welcome and Opening
09:15Evolution of Spa Services
Dr. Karl-Ludwig Resch
09:50European Tendencies in Spa and Wellness Concepts
Stephan Gerhard
10:20       Tea and Coffee
10:40Spa Cultures: Ancient, Actual, Avant-garde & Eternal
Dr. J. Paul De Vierville
11:30Liquid Sound – A Present Day Catalyst For The Transformation Of Spa To Future Spa
Micky Remann
12:00Spa Journeys
Linda Troeller
13:00       Lunch
14:20Leadership in motivating and developing your spa team
Susie Santiago
14:55Attention to Detail and Moments of Intensity
Berni Hawkins
15:30A new opportunity for advancing your school status: PDA Diploma in Spa Therapies
Susan B Wilson
16:05       Tea and Coffee
16:25The Essence of Spa: the Elements in Spa Design, Management and Therapies
Sara Boas
17:00A Profitable Spa Concept
Michael Quinn and Mary Elizabeth Bondu
17:35Effective Retailing
Gina Molinari
20:00Aqua Wellness – a 'dry land' overview
Musia Heike Bus

Saturday
26th November

BISA: Seminars and Workshops

A day of workshops and discussion and an opportunity for therapists to demonstrate, and for participants to experience first-hand a variety of wellness and therapy offerings for the Spa Business.

The day begins with an early-morning Aqua Wellness workshop and concludes with an information session on the BISA Spa Therapist qualification programme in which all who wish may take part.

The remainder of the day is split into two halves with a series of workshops in parallel in the morning and afternoon. Delegates can choose between three workshops in the morning and three workshops in the afternoon.

We will round off the BISA conference with an evening reception and party in nearby Auerstedt Castle. All are welcome.

08:00Aqua Wellness
Musia Heike Bus – 2 hrs
09:00Homeopathic salt remedies in beauty and wellness treatments
Hans-Peter Kuhl
11:00Hydrotherapy in Medicine and Spa Applications
Several speakers – 2½ hrs
11:00Therapeutic Beverage Selections to Enhance Your Spa Services
Gina Molinari – 2½ hrs
11:00LifeDance! Therapy
Sara Boas – 2½ hrs
14:30Awakening: An Afternoon for Men and Women
Mukee Okan – 2½ hrs
14:30DolphinSolutions: Learning from Nature – Living like the Dolphins
Michael Lautenbach – 2½ hrs
14:30Hydrotherapy in Spa Resorts and Practice
Several speakers – 2½ hrs
17:15Healing Stones Massage
Terry Liew –
20:00Reception and Party in Auerstedt Castle

Sunday
27th November

Sound and Light for Healing and Wellness

Sound and light are integral aspects of the Toskana Therme spa concept. They have transformed not only the way in which the thermal baths are experienced but also how they are operated. Liquid Sound®, the experience of bathing in light and music first developed in Bad Sulza in 1993, is the centre of and basis upon which other wellness and medical therapies with light and sound have developed.

The final post-conference day concentrates on these and other uses of sound and light both in spa and wellness as well as in healing. Topics range from the design of integrated multimedia environments to passive water-borne vibration therapies and active air-borne vibration therapies.

With contributions from Anne Nash, Nik Schweiger and engcoo.

08:00Crystal Sound Bath
Anne Elizabeth Nash
09:15       Heartmath Meditation
Janet Blevins –
10:00FlowDance
Andreas Mascha – 90 min
11:30High-end Sound and Light Design
Nik Schweiger
14:00SoulTalking at the Spa!
Dr. Jacqualine Dyess and Erika M Nelson
15:00Aura Soma – A Colour-Care-System
Iris Rebilas

Wednesday
23rd November

TranceDance

This event will help you find an answer to a question you have been longing to answer through dance. Bring a blindfold with you (a scarf for instance). You will be asked to consider your question once more and then blindfold yourself, before placing yourself in the hands of specially chosen music which will help you to find your own way of finding an answer. Marion Schneider, manager of the Toskana Therme, will introduce and lead the event.

Entrance is free and the event begins at 7 p.m. in the Conference Center of the Toskana Therme in Bad Sulza.

Further information on trancedance from www.trancedance.com

All weekend
25th-27th November

Liquid Sound Festival

The weekend is also the occasion of the annual Liquid Sound Festival, a 48 hour non-stop festival of music, light and sound with live music and events occuring in parallel in both the Toskana Therme in Bad Sulza and the Toskana Therme in Bad Schandau near Dresden.

Night 1 (25th-26th November 2005):

19:00
Thomas Kagermann and Friends (High End Violin and High Spirit Voice)
22:00
Broekhuis, Keller and Schönwälder (The Chill In)
24:00
Keller and Schönwälder (Pianos)
00:30
Der Laborant (Contact)
02:30
Broekhuis, Spyra and friends (Acoustic vs. Synthetic)
03:00
Schönwälder vs. Spyra (Abstract Sounds in Water)
04:00
Les surprises de la musique subaquatique 01

Night 2 (26th-27th November 2005):

19:00
Thomas Kagermann and Friends (High End Violin and High Spirit Voice)
22:00
Bas Broekhuis vs. Der Laborant (Contact Two)
23:00
Keller and Spyra (The Future of the Different Faces)
01:00
Der Laborant vs. Schönwälder (Analogum)
02:00
Schönwälder (Tone Float, Minimal Sequences)
02:30
Broekhuis, Keller, Laborant, Schönwälder and Spyra (Le Grande Finale)
04:00
Les surprises de la musique subaquatique 02

Throughout the festival special treats for aquatic eyes:

And as a special extra thanks to the Spa Research Fellowship

Further information from:
www.liquidsound.de
www.toskana-therme.de