International Travel Fair Cologne

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In Germany demand for recreation and relaxation - and active forms of preventive health care - is on the rise. According to a study by the BAT Leisure Research Institute, nearly half of all Germans (45 per cent) would like to take advantage of holiday offers that promote good health. Hotels, travel agencies and holiday destinations are responding to this trend by offering ever increasing numbers of packages and deals that include health and wellness features. From 30th November to 2nd December, an overview of this development will be provided at the International Travel Fair Cologne (RKI), which will present the latest health spa and wellness trends.

Together with its partner, the Deutscher Heilbäderverband e. V., Koelnmesse Austellungen GmbH will be presenting a model of a "wellness hotel" at the trade fair, which visitors can enter and explore. Here, at the "Wellness, Spas & Co." special event, exhibitors from these segments will enable visitors to enjoy their offerings with all of the senses. The wellness segment suppliers taking part in the RKI will include Thermen des Südens of Bad Krozingen, Badenweiler Therme, the Eisenmoorbad Bad Schmiedeberg, Steirisches Thermenland of Austria, and the Home Health Products company.

Spa locations will also be presenting their latest offerings. These include Bad Reichenhall, Bad Kissingen, the State of Saxony's Bad Elster and Bad Brambach spas, Bad Krozingen, Bad Pyrmont, Bad Sassendorf, Bad Bertrich, Bad Mergentheim, Bad Franzensbad, Bad Westernkotten, and the Baltic Sea resort Kühlungsborn. The event's conceptual sponsor is the German Wellness Association (DWV).

The selection of health-promoting offers available on the tourism market is more extensive today than ever before. For those who would like to go on a holiday that brings body, mind, and spirit into balance, there is a vast array of possibilities to choose from at holiday destinations in Germany and abroad. From traditional spas and baths to luxurious weekend wellness trips or holiday combinations with athletic and cultural attractions in major

This trend particularly emphasises methods intended to holistically strengthen body and spirit. In addition to widespread practices such as yoga and meditation, more and more holiday-makers are becoming interested in less well-known offers like ayurveda and tai chi. The number of wellness hotels in Germany that offer practices such as thalasso and ayurveda is on the rise. And classic massage treatment is still very popular.

In addition, it is no longer true that most people who go on wellness holidays are women. Wellness offers designed especially for men are steadily attracting more interest. A survey by the marketing alliance Wellness Hotels Deutschland shows that last year 56 per cent of its member hoteliers reported greater interest from men for sports, fitness, and cosmetic treatments. Many of these men are looking for a way to reduce the effects of everyday stress in their lives.

Visitors can expect to discover a highly varied programme presented on approximately 25, 000 square metres of Koelnmesse's modern Northern Halls: At a live event making its premiere at the fair, the airline germanwings will be recruiting candidates for a dream job in a "heavenly" workplace - as flight attendants. There will also be a job fair for young people starting out in the tourism sector, luggage auctions, and slide presentations that will transport visitors to the most beautiful places on Earth.

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