The annual congress of the European Spas Association took place this year in Druskininkai, bringing together representatives from SPA hotels, wellness resorts, and sanatoriums across Europe. The two-day event concluded with a prestigious awards ceremony recognizing the most innovative SPA projects implemented in 2024.
This year, Lithuanian SPA hotels, sanatoriums, and the city of Druskininkai submitted the highest number of applications. Druskininkai was named the Most Innovative SPA Destination, attracting wellness seekers not only from Lithuania but from around the world.
SPA VILNIUS was the standout winner of the evening, receiving two top-level awards: Most Innovative SPA Wellness Programme and Most Innovative SPA Hotel of the Year. In addition, the organization was presented with a special award for the first time – a scholarship to pursue executive-level master’s studies at one of Switzerland’s leading hospitality management schools.
The award recognised an innovative SPA package – “Forest Therapy”, recently introduced at SPA VILNIUS Anykščiai. The package helps restore balance to body and mind by combining traditional rituals inspired by Lithuanian forests with modern wellness practices.
“I am pleased that, in today’s increasingly fast-paced world, there is a growing awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between work and rest. Modern workplaces are paying more attention to their employees’ emotional well-being and health and making greater efforts to prevent burnout. At the same time, each of us is also responsible for our own well-being. Forest therapy is designed to help restore emotional balance and inner harmony – nature, and forests in particular, can work wonders,” says Sigita Vegnerė, Head of the SPA Centre at SPA VILNIUS Anykščiai.
Guests choosing the “Forest Therapy” package will enjoy a two-hour Forest Bathing session in the Anykščiai Pine Forest, followed by the “Lithuanian Forest” SPA bath ritual and a SPA VILNIUS classic massage with eucalyptus oil, specially adapted for this package. The experience concludes with relaxing in an outdoor hot tub surrounded by trees.
The Most Innovative SPA Hotel award recognised another technological solution introduced by SPA VILNIUS to enhance the guest experience. Alongside the check-in and check-out solutions already appreciated by guests, this year SPA VILNIUS introduced another innovation that eliminates the need to print SPA schedules on paper.
Once a guest’s SPA treatments have been scheduled, they receive a calendar file by email. With a single click, it can be added directly to their phone or another preferred calendar, complete with reminders for upcoming appointments.
“These awards are truly inspiring for the entire team. We worked together to implement these innovations, and we already have new ideas that could create even greater value for our guests. We see that our guests appreciate these improvements, actively use them, and enjoy an increasingly seamless journey throughout their stay. Our signature warm hospitality and commitment to exceeding expectations go hand in hand with modern technology. It seems we have found a recipe for success that we intend to continue developing,” says Laimis Dambrauskas, Executive Director of SPA VILNIUS Druskininkai.
Awards were presented in eight categories: Most Innovative SPA Destination, Most Innovative Sanatorium, Most Innovative SPA Hotel, Most Innovative SPA Concept, Most Innovative SPA Wellness Programme, Most Innovative SPA Product, Most Innovative SPA Study Programme, and Most Innovative Medical Research Project.
