Spa Life is bringing its industry conference format to Europe, with the launch of Spa Life Germany, set to take place in May 2016 in Bad Orb.

“This is not taking the UK market to Germany, it’s taking the model to Europe,” said Andrew Hammond, event director for Spa Life.

Hammond said Germany’s strong spa culture, along with its proximity to neighbouring countries like Austria and Switzerland – that also have strong spa cultures – inspired the location. Specific dates for the event have not been set.

“We’ve been growing and growing in the UK, and the Germans have asked us to deliver the concept there,” said Hammond.

Numerous sponsors from the UK event have already signed on to attend the German version, Hammond said, and the organisers are also looking at Ireland as a possibility for a third show.

Now in its sixth year in the UK, Spa Life UK – which bills itself as ‘The Serious Fun Event’ – offers a combination of speed-dating style meetings, a networking awards dinner, mini tradeshow and educational conference.

“This event has evolved and is evolving, because the individuals tell us what the event should be,” explained Hammond. “We started with education, and we’ve cherry-picked the best of every other event in a single night away. We’re focused on educating, communicating and networking.”

This year's Spa Life UK, which took place earlier this week in Stratford-upon-Avon, featured a keynote from Green & Blacks chocolate founder Jo Fairley and a gala dinner, where the Good Spa Guide awards were given out.