Our 2019 speakers
Roger Allen
Group CEO – Resources for Leisure Assets – USA – Autria- UAE
For more than 20 years, Roger has been working on multiple levels of project development in the hospitality and leisure industries, developing a singular expertise in leisure project asset management and the complexity of project planning through to delivery and operations.
Roger is the Founder and Group CEO of Resources for Leisure Assets (RLA) a recognized global advisory to investors, owners, developers and management companies. Specialized in hospitality, leisure, recreation, wellbeing and health tourism related to hotels, resorts, residential, mixed-use, healthcare, active living communities and destinations.
RLA works closely with project stakeholders across four continents from its offices in Sonoma, Vienna and Dubai to provide conceptual, financial analysis and asset management of complex properties including resorts and destination assets.
Roger has worked with most of the leading hotel operating brands, is a former a partner at Horwath HTL for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS Countries and was a contributing author to the book ‘Hotel & Resorts Valuation – An Investor’s Guide’ and is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC).
Tracy Boulware
Co-Founder of Deer Lake Lodge – Houston, Texas
In 2007, on a quest for a healthy vacation travel, oil & gas industry entrepreneur; Tracy Boulware and her homeopathic sister found several detox spas in Palm Springs, CA. Their experience made them realize that there was a clear need for a wellness/detox spa resorts in Houston, Texas – home of petroleum, fried food, beer and BBQ. Since their opening in 2012, Deer Lake Lodge has pioneered a unique, science-based, detox spa resort experience — where better health happens in the cozy surroundings of Texas Pines and woodsy cabins. The detox and healing starts with the environment — Tracy made sure that the buildings were made of earth-friendly materials and that even the mattresses, linens and cleaning products were organic. The spa’s chic detox program follows a self-guided protocol allowing guests to establish their own routine while pampering themselves with spa treatments and yoga classes.
Deer Lake Lodge continues to explore the frontiers in health and wellness-introducing new modalities for guests to explore while on their journey to feel and look better.
Emlyn Brown
Vice President Well-Being – AccorHotels’ Luxury & Premium brands – FR
Emlyn brings over 20 years of international spa and fitness experience to this role, beginning his wellness career in 1996. Since then, Emlyn has held several progressive management positions throughout Europe, The Middle East, Asia & China.
Over his career, Emlyn has led group operations of several leading luxury spa and fitness operators and consulting groups; including Resense Spas as both Managing Director of Asia and Global Design Director. Prior to that, Emlyn was the Director at leading wellness consultancy GOGO Hospitality, and also held senior positions at Six Senses Resorts & Spas where he was the Regional Director for Europe and later the Operations Director Asia. Prior to working within luxury hospitality Emlyn held senior operating roles with Holmes Place Lifestyle clubs in Central Europe.
Martin Goldman
CEO – ASPA International – Portugal
Robert Henry
Founder & Principal RDHA / Robert D. Henry Architects – USA
Mr. Robert Henry is the founder and principal of Robert D. Henry Architects, an award-winning Wellness Architecture and Design firm located in New York, NY. He is author of the book SPA: The Sensuous Experience.
Robert Henry is one of the few designers in the world who specializes in creating spas. He has received high praise for his work from the worldwide hospitality industry especially for his ability to produce spa designs that elicit an empirical experience for its visitors by incorporating the use of the five senses in his design in projects such as The Setai – New York; Vdara Spa- at the City Center in Las Vegas; Obagi Medi-Institute in Beverly Hills; G Spa & Lounge at the Hotel Gansevoort- NY and the Mandarin Oriental-Miami and recently NYC. Robert was inducted into the Hospitality Design’s “Platinum Circle” as Designer of the Year, in honor of his lifetime achievements in Wellness Design. He is a keynote speaker and regularly presents at both Wellness and Hospitality conferences internationally.
Please see his website: www.rdh-architects.com for recent projects, news and inspiration.
Liz Holmes
Director of “Commercial spa strategies” – USA
Industry commentator and presenter, Liz has over 30 years of spa experience, in the spa, hospitality and fitness sectors. From starting out at Gleneagles Hotel and working with top brands such as Steiner, Wella, Holmes Place and Virgin Active, Liz has developed a strategic approach to delivering the highest quality spa experience with a strong focus on the team.
Under Liz’s leadership, Commercial Spa Strategies is now associated with many successful spa openings including Swinton Park, Ripon, The Falls Spa, Keswick and now under development, new spas at Gisborough Hall and Formby Hall. Liz is also working in association with IIAA (International Institute of Anti-Ageing) delivering leadership training and writing articles.
Tammy Pahel
Co- GM of the Carillon Wellness Miami Resort, USA
Tammy Pahel is the founding Principal of Spa Management Solutions and has opened 15 different spas and spa resorts in her career, being responsible for creative design; revenue generation and profitability; creative marketing; public relations recognition, operator improvements, and increased customer satisfaction. Pahel began her career in 1990 as a Retail Product Manager for Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa. She serves as a Member of Advisory Board of Healing Arts Guide Magazine. She served for four years on the Board of Directors of the International Spa Association and American Aesthetics Education Association. Pahel received her formal education at Penn State University in Business Administration and Marketing. https://www.carillonhotel.com/
Mark Smith
Contributing Editor, European Spa and Founder, TheSpaMan – UK
One of the few male spa writers in the world, Mark has been writing about men’s grooming and beauty for over 20 years. A judge for the Asia Spa Awards and Contributing Editor at European Spa magazine, he has written for Tatler, The Daily Telegraph, Asia Spa, Luxury Spa Edit, Planet Mindful and Men’s Fitness. Reviewing spas since 2007 he visits around 30 spas a year and regularly speaks about the male spa market. Originally from Australia, but now based in London, he also works as a media consultant for beauty brands offering PR, marketing and social media support.
Read more of his stories on his blog www.thespaman.co.uk and follow his adventures on Instagram @markthespaman
Hans Peter Veit
Spa Director – Victoria-Jungfrau Grand-Hotel & Spa in Interlaken – Switzerland
The 51-year old sports graduate teacher is well-known in the spa industry and to spa clients all over the world. They have been able to take advantage of his craftsmanship, initially as personal coach (i.e. various members of the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan) in all fields of sport, weight loss, health and fitness since 1999 when he started his career at the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, Germany as a Personal Trainer and Assistant Spa Manager.
After being promoted as the Spa Manger in 2004, he also took over the position as Director of 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 Spas world-wide.
Furthermore, he was honoured with The Black Diamond Award for the Best Spa Manager in Europe at the Forum HOTel&SPA conference held at the Ritz in Paris in 2009. The same year, Mark Moloney, Managing Director of Professional Beauty in London, convinced him to become an official judge for the World Spa Awards.
https://www.victoria-jungfrau.ch/en/rooms-suites/suites
Michael Wallace
Thermal, Medical & Wellness Spa Consultant / Medical Tourism Expert – Hungary
For more than twenty years Michael Wallace has worked in the health, wellness and medical tourism industries specializing in hot spring/thermal medical spas. He provides a consulting service on thermal/hot spring, wellness and medical spas in addition to his part time role as the Medical Tourism Expert for the Hungarian Tourist Agency. A recognized international speaker, Michael lectures at several colleges and universities on health tourism/spa management and contributes articles for various spa and health publications.