People's desire for wellness is high – higher than ever, according to the Global Wellness Summit*. The demand for fitness facilities in hotels has also increased. The days of the small, dark room with a handful of fitness machines are over. Hobby athletes also want to train like athletes and regenerate like professionals.

This is a synergy that FIBO represents like no other platform. With its combination of exhibition area and lecture programme in Hall 8, it specifically addresses owners and directors as well as fitness managers and buyers from the hotel and spa industry and illustrates how to successfully establish fitness and wellness offers.

Anke Brendt, Product Manager FIBO elaborates: “We are delighted to see the increased interest in wellness, regeneration and a holistically healthy lifestyle. To drive these interests even further, we are continuing to expand the wellness and spa segment at FIBO. In 2024, we will be even more international, innovative and inspiring. Like no other platform, we offer knowledge transfer, exhibition and networking all in one."

The Meeting Point Spa & Wellness with its own lounge is of central importance for this. The meeting point for all innovative hosts and those who want to become such, impresses with an international four-day lecture programme and countless networking opportunities. FIBO works together with strong partners such as the Deutscher Wellness Verband, Mein Tophotel, 101 Best Future Hospitality, SpaCamp, Dehoga Nordrhein, ahgz, Deutsche Hotelakademie and others. Different themed days cater to the individual needs of visitors.

All Eyes on: Hotel Industry

On Thursday, the focus will initially be on the national hotel industry. Presentations and expert talks by representatives of Dehoga, Alexander Aisenbrey, Franz Linser, Nils Behrens, and more will provide visitors with exclusive insights into the industry. Things get festive at noon with the presentation of the Active Hotel Award by MeinTophotel. The award recognises hotels whose activity areas offer exceptional concepts and solutions. In the afternoon, FIBO invites you to a community get-together at the Meeting Point from 4.30 pm. The day will conclude with a FIBO dinner at the Hyatt Hotel with invitees from the industry and winners of the award.

Premiere of the International Day

On Friday, FIBO celebrates the premiere of the international day at the Meeting Point Spa & Wellness. Visitors can look forward to presentations in English and industry insights from other markets. Firstly, Nina Ruge will provide insights into the trending topic of longevity, the pursuit of a long and healthy life.

"FIBO offers a platform for the new megatrend "Healthy Longevity": fantastic! We are opening up the spectrum of possibilities for staying healthy and fit for a long time. This is where widely communicated medical knowledge, diagnostics 'for the home', wellness and fitness interact for the health and well-being of all!" says science journalist Nina Ruge.

Following the successful premiere of a networking event in Dubai at the beginning of February, FIBO is bringing its new partners to Cologne on Friday. Speakers like Yves Preissler, Judith Cartwright, Pooja Shah-Mulani and Stewart Miller will provide insights into the design of fitness and wellness areas, digital fitness offerings in hotels and the successful transformation of fitness and wellness areas into revenue centres.

Trends from Wellness & Spa

A reliable analysis of the status quo is needed before we can look ahead in a targeted manner. This will be provided by the programme on Saturday. Renowned speakers will deal with the current trends in wellness and spa and, among other things, shed light on the implementation of environmental and climate protection. One highlight is the presentation of the Spa & Wellness 2024 benchmark study, which was conducted by the Deutscher Wellness Verband together with IST-Hochschule.

Focusing on Personality

The four-day programme will conclude with the Spa Manager Day on Sunday. This starts with a SpaCamp session by and with Wolfgang Falkner on the topic of "Inspiration in the spa: from mini-break to wellness time-out". Around 45 interested participants will have the exclusive opportunity not only to take part in this special format, but also to actively help shape it. The day will be crowned by the festive presentation of the Spa Manager Awards by the Deutscher Wellness Verband. This honours special personalities from spa businesses in the DACH region in the two categories of resort spa and hotel spa.

Guided Tours for The Right Leads

The Meeting Point Spa & Wellness will once again be the focal point for decision-makers from the spa, wellness and hotel industry in 2024. It will be surrounded by exhibitors with specific offers for the hotel industry, wellness facilities and spas. Gharieni Group GmbH, Starpool, RoboSculpture GmbH, Klafs GmbH, InnoZen GmbH and many more will be presenting their new products and innovations at FIBO 2024.

FIBO also offers guided tours on the topics of wellness and spa. Industry luminaries such as the German Wellness Association and Dehoga will act as guides and facilitate just the right contacts. The focus is on "providers of multifunctional solutions for small fitness and wellness rooms" or "providers with trend themes".

* https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/press/press-releases/gws-trends-2024/