Our 2024 speakers
Dr. Christian Harisch
CEO Lanserhof
In 1998, Dr. Christian Harisch, together with his partners Anton Pletzer, as well as Prof. Andreas Wieser and Hans Hager, laid the foundation for the expansion of the Lanserhof Group by acquiring the first Lanserhof health resort in Lans/Tyrol. This marked the ascent of a luxury global brand, with two further resorts at Tegernsee and on the island of Sylt. The origin of entrepreneur Dr. Christian Harisch’s success lies in Kitzbühel, where he has personally shaped the tourism scene for many years with his numerous ventures. Coming from a family of hoteliers in its fourth generation, the qualified lawyer heads the Harisch Hotel Group, which includes the Schwarzer Adler and Goldene Greif hotels, both of which have been in the family for over 125 years. Additionally, the Leading Hotel of the World Weisses Roessl and the family hotel Lisi are part of the company.
Hans-Peter Veit
Director of Spa & Recreation at Appenzeller Huus Gontenour – Switzerland
Since 2024, Hans-Peter Veit is Director of Spa & Recreation a- Appenzeller Huus Gontenour – Switzerland. On July 2020, he managed the Spa at the famous Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in Switzerland.
After being promoted as the Spa Manager in 2004, he also took over the position function of Director Spa Development for the Oetker Collection in 2009, with new projects in Marrakech, Courchevel, Sao Paulo, the Seychelles and London as well as the opening of “Villa Stéphanie”, Baden-Baden in 2015, one of the most luxurious Medical & Health Spa worldwide. After 17 years, he left the Oetker Collection and Germany to the iconic VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken. In May 2020, Veit took over the position as Director of Spa & Wellbeing at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz and in February 2023 he was on top promoted Managing Director for the public Tamina Therme, also located at Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.
Furthermore, he was honoured with The Black Diamond Award for the Best Spa Manager in Europe at the Paris HOTel&SPAconference held at the Ritz in Paris in 2009. The same year, Mark Moloney, Managing Director Professional Beauty in London, convinced him to be an official judge for the World Spa Awards.
Adam Mogelonsky
Partner – Hotel Mogel Consulting Ltd. – Canada
In 2016, Adam joined his father in directing Hotel Mogel’s engagements with owners, focusing on financial analysis for hotels, project planning for new developments, technology evaluations and wellness programming. As strategic advisors, Hotel Mogel primarily works with luxury and upscale independent or small groups to solve complex issues and chart a course for maximum profitability.
Outside of his strategic planning role for hotel brands and owners, Adam represents one-half of the company’s thought leadership arm, frequently writing articles under the dual byline (Larry and Adam Mogelonsky) for numerous hotel trade publications on various topics. Adam is also the host of the GAIN Momentum Podcast devoted to timeless lessons from hospitality leaders. For speaking engagements, webinars, podcasts and panel discussions, he’s keenly focused on key trends that will come to have a profound impact on hospitality.
Hannes Illmer
Co-Onwner of Villa Eden*****L The Private Retreat
Hannes, starting from an Alps guesthouse background, pursued his education at Cornell University and later worked with international hotel brands, becoming a prominent figure in Northern Italy’s hotel industry. After founding his consulting firm, he married Angelika, owner of the magnificent Villa Eden. Together, they transformed the former 4-star Kurhotel into a premier medical wellness destination. Now a 5-star luxury retreat and member of Leading Hotels of the World, Villa Eden is a haven of serenity and holistic well-being. With just 25 suites and a staff of over 80 professionals dedicated to preventive medicine, the villa attracts discerning guests worldwide. Hannes will share insights into this transformation and the evolving requests of luxury travellers seeking to enhance their quality of life.
Ramy Elnagar
Cofounder, Production Partner at White Mirror
Ramy Elnagar, is a strategist and innovation specialist with a focus on Tech-For-Good. A passionate student of human behaviour, he built a career spanning from cutting-edging immersive technologies (AR,VR,AI) and interdisciplinary research to experiential design and digital arts.
White Mirror is an award-winning Wellness Innovation consultancy. We leverage sensory sciences and transformative technologies to create impactful solutions.
Tom Middleton
Cofounder, Production Partner at White Mirror
Tom is an award-winning composer, wellness music pioneer, and sleep science coach. He toured the world and performed to millions, sharing the stage with the likes of (Kan)Ye, Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson, quietly observing the positive therapeutic benefits of sound. Now he’s the mind behind leading wellness giants like Calm, Apple Music, and SleepCycle.
White Mirror is an award-winning Wellness Innovation consultancy. We leverage sensory sciences and transformative technologies to create impactful solutions.
Hervé Duperret
Deputy General Manager of ForstyleHôtels Collection since January 2021
After a career in the hotel industry in France and abroad, Hervé DUPERRET also managed the famous Parisian cabaret, the Lido de Paris, for over 11 years, before joiningFamily Office Roulleau (FOR BZH) to create and develop, alongside Cécile Geffroy, General Manager of the hotel division, the FORSTYLE HOTELS COLLECTIONS hotel group brand.
Created in January 2022, ForstyleHôtels Collection currently offers 4 establishments:
The Esprit Mer Collection with EMERIA Thalasso& Spa Dinard
ALLIANCE Thalasso& Spa Pornic
The Esprit Ville Collection with PARISTER
Paris BLOOM HOUSE HOTEL & SPA Paris
Alexandre Pierart
Founding manager at APS.A – SUPREM ARCHITECTURES
Alexandre Pierart gained experience as a collaborating architect and interior architect in the luxury, tourism, and hospitality sectors internationally. He has worked in numerous countries for prestigious hotel operators, which led him to be one of the first architects to conceive and realize spas.
In 2011, after serving as agency head for several years, Alexandre Pierart established his own studio: APS.A SUPREM ARCHITECTURES, a multidisciplinary studio specializing in architecture, interior architecture, and design, with a focus on Hospitality, Wellness, Residential, and Commercial projects internationally.
His most iconic projects include the Mama Shelter Paris la Défense hotel, the Le Garden and Urban Hotels in Aix-les-Bains, the renovation of the Novotel on Oléron Island (competition 2023), the spas of the Monte-Carlo Bay Resort in Monaco (Cinq Mondes), Raffles Palm Jumeirah in Dubai (Cinq Mondes), Beau Rivage Palace in Lausanne, Switzerland (Guerlain). He has also designed the Sothys Spa – La Parenthèse in Aix-les-Bains and the Cinq Mondes Spa at Samaritaine in Paris.
Jean Guy de Gabriac
CEO TIP TOUCH International since 2004
is an award-winningadvisor&educator in Guest experience, elevating the skills& engagement of associates in Spa, Wellness, and Hospitality.
Jean-Guy is the founder of World Wellness Weekend celebrated by 8,000 venues in 150 countries (20-22 Sept 2024) with 60 supportingorganizations. He also serves as Conferenceproducer of World Spa & Wellness Convention London ; BoardMember of the International Massage Association ; judge of the World Championship in Massage and World Spa & Wellness Awards.
Verena Lasvigne
Director and Founder VLF Spa Consulting
Verena is the Director & Founder of VLF Spa Consulting and is a highly experienced
professional with two decades of progressive experience in the Luxury Hospitality, Spa,
and Wellness industry. VLF Spa Consulting is committed to providing strategic,
innovative, and creative solutions for its clients’ future projects. Its goal is to create
exceptional experiences for spa guests, offering personalized services and state-of-theart facilities. With her experience and expertise, Verena is here to help you transform
your vision of a wellness project into reality from conceptualization through opening. VLF
Spa Consulting aims to optimize the quality of the experience and to maximize financial
results, ensuring your spa stays ahead of the competition.
Philippe M. RUBOD
Founder, Chairman &CEO of Swiss Hospitality Global
a Swiss based company offeringtailor-made solutions and support to investors, owners and operators of the high-end hospitality industry, for over 10 years. Its 11 Associate Partners are active on 3 continents (Europe, USA, Middle East).
Acknowledged among the “300 most influential in Switzerland” by Bilan, the leading Swiss business magazine, Philippe has managed some of the most iconic hotels and resorts in Switzerland and the Middle East, distinguished numerous times under his leadership. Member of the France-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, medalist of the Crans-Montana Forum, Philippe is also a speaker and a trainer. He teaches luxury hospitality at CREA luxury marketing school, Geneva.