SOFIA/HAAPSALU – Bulgaria received two innovation awards from the European SPA Association – ESPA Innovation Awards, which are awarded for the most innovative and successful practices in the field of medical spa tourism in Europe. The country was recognized on the second day of the annual European Congress on SPA and Balneology 2025, organized by the association, which is taking place in the Estonian city of Haapsalu. BTA is a partner of the event.
“Hot Springs Medical and SPA” in Banya received the special jury award in “Category 4: Innovative Spa Concept” as the first spa resort aimed at children, offering spa services for family well-being, creating an educational, caring, and fun environment for children’s health. The award was presented by Chila Mezosi – Secretary General of the European SPA Association. The award was received by Tsvetina Ivanova – Executive Director of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism.
The main award in the category went to the Lithuanian center E77 for holistic, authentic, and sustainable therapy.
Inspiro Medical Center, Sveti Vlas, received the main award in “Category 5: Innovative Spa Program” for integrating climate therapy, marine therapy, physiotherapy, and nutrition for prevention and rehabilitation, developed by a multidisciplinary team aimed at strengthening physical and emotional well-being, the organizers noted. In the “Special Jury Award” category, the Czech complex ENSANA Hotels received recognition for its oncological rehabilitation program.
ESPA Innovation Awards are presented in eight categories, with five of them awarding a special jury prize in addition to the main prize, and participants from nine countries – Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, France, and the Czech Republic. The six-member jury includes Dr. Siika Katzarova, Chair of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism, who was elected President of the European SPA Association, Gunar Jonsson, First Vice President and Chair of the Jury, Italian architect Silvia Gianni, Prof. Todorka Kostadinova from the Medical University – Varna and a member of the board of the European Association for Health Management, Secretary General of ESPA Chila Mezosi, and Prof. Alessandra Priante, President of the Italian Board of Tourism.
The other awardees are: the Italian complex Terme de Montel, which received the prize for Innovative and Healthy Resort Destination; the Estonian anti-stress center Narva-Joesuu as an innovative medical spa destination; the Lithuanian Gradiali Medical SPA&Wellness, recognized for a spa hotel with innovative design; the Czech VR Medica with the main prize for an innovative spa product and the Estonian Varska Sanatooriummedica with the special jury award in the same category. For innovative spa education, the award went to the Romanian complex Spaedu by Wellandia, and the jury award went to the Czech Institute of SPA&Balneology; for innovative spa research, the main award went to the French The Masak, and the special award is for the German Fuerstenhof Klinik.
For the first time in the 30-year history of the European SPA Association, a Bulgarian expert has taken the lead of the organization, which represents the elite of balneo, SPA, and wellness destinations from over 20 countries. Our mission is to strengthen health tourism in Europe and to be as recognizable as possible at the highest political level in Brussels. As an organization with a 30-year history, the European SPA Association must support its members with expertise, said Dr. Katzarova after taking the leadership position.
BTA’s media partnership with the European SPA Association is related to promoting Bulgaria as a year-round destination for health tourism. (October 8-9)
