New York, NY. The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, have announced that the 2013 summit will be held in the city of Jaipur, capital of the Indian state of Rajastan. The global forum, which attracts top executives from around the world, will take place from Oct. 4 to 8, 2013, and the Ministry of Tourism will be the first Titanium Sponsor (the highest level of sponsorship) for this year’s conference. The 2013 Summit’s theme and program will be announced at a later date.

The GSWS is recognized as the pre-eminent gathering dedicated to bringing together industry leaders in a collaborative setting, and this seventh annual summit in India will represent the second held in Asia. The summit is known for inspiring delegates to impact the future of the industry through innovation and open dialogue.

“As the next generation of spa and wellness emerges, this summit promises to be a defining moment,” said Susie Ellis, chairman and CEO of the GSWS. “It is very significant that we will be meeting in India where the government has taken a worldwide leadership role by identifying wellness and wellness tourism as important contributors to a nation’s economy.”

Ellis noted that India, as the birthplace of yoga, mediation and ayurveda, has played a profound role in the development of spa and wellness worldwide, and that this country is an ideal location to explore those historic roots, and, at the same time, address new markets and new revenue opportunities around the globe.

India’s Wellness Economy at a Glance

India has one of the world’s fastest-growing modern spa/wellness markets, estimated at $10.7 billion a year, with a 20 percent annual growth rate that is expected to continue through 2014.

Home to 1.2 billion-plus people, and with 740 million domestic travelers annually , India has experienced record growth in wellness tourism and is considered one of the most lucrative hotel markets in the world. (Next to China, India has the most rooms in development in Asia .) Much of the nation’s hotel expansion has a strong spa component, led by Indian-based hospitality brands like Taj Hotels and Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, and international hospitality brands like Starwood, Hilton and Fairmont, which are also developing new properties.

The country has recently expanded its wellness tourism initiatives with a new phase of its “Incredible India” global marketing campaign; known as “Find What You Seek,” it promotes its famed, millennia-old wellness culture to the world.

Under the auspices of the National Board of Hospital & Healthcare, the government has also developed new guidelines for accreditation of wellness centers and is founding wellness-training academies to meet the growing demand for well-trained personnel able to offer the highest levels of service.

Pre- and Post-Summit Attractions

Jaipur, known as the “Pink City” for it uniquely colored buildings, is one of the top destinations in India for domestic and international travelers. Before the summit, delegates are invited to tour the Himalayan region, and delegates will be among the first to experience the new VANA Retreat, poised to become one of the world’s foremost ayurvedic centers. Post-summit options include a tour of the Kerala region, the cradle of ayurveda.

Co-chairs of the 2013 Summit are Emanuel Berger, founder, Berger Hospitality Management GmbH, Switzerland; Susie Ellis, president, SpaFinder® Wellness, U.S.; and Andrew Gibson, group director of spas, Mandarin Hotel Group, Hong Kong.

For detailed information on the 2013 Summit and registration, visit www.globalspaandwellnesssummit.org.

About the summit

The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) is an annual event that attracts executives and leaders from around the world with an interest in the spa and wellness industries. Delegates from diverse sectors, including the hospitality, tourism, finance, medicine, real estate, manufacturing, technology, consulting and product industries, attend this intimate, invitation-only gathering. The summit has been responsible for some of the most important spa industry research and launched a breakthrough research tool, SpaEvidence.com, the world’s first online portal to the medical evidence for common spa and wellness therapies. The GSWS was honored as “Spa Event of the Year” for 2009, 2010 and 2011 by AsiaSpa magazine’s awards program.