SPA VILNIUS Triumphs at the European Spas Association Awards

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-winning wellness programme was the recently launched Forest Therapy package at SPA VILNIUS Anykščiai. Designed to restore balance between body and mind, the programme combines traditional Lithuanian forest rituals with modern wellness practices.

“We are pleased to see that in today’s increasingly fast-paced world, more attention is being paid to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Modern employers are investing more in their employees’ emotional wellbeing and health, making every effort to prevent burnout. However, each of us is also responsible for our own wellbeing. Forest Therapy is designed to help restore emotional balance and inner harmony. Nature, and especially forests, can work wonders,” says Sigita Vegnerė, Head of the SPA Centre at SPA VILNIUS Anykščiai.

Guests choosing the Forest Therapy programme enjoy a two-hour forest bathing experience in the famous Anykščiai Pinewood, followed by the Lithuanian Forest SPA bath ritual, a SPA VILNIUS Classic Massage enhanced with eucalyptus oil specifically for this programme, and relaxation in a hot outdoor tub surrounded by nature.

The award for Most Innovative SPA Hotel was presented for another technological solution developed by SPA VILNIUS to enhance the guest experience. In addition to the already popular digital check-in and check-out services, SPA VILNIUS introduced a new feature that eliminates the need for printed SPA schedules. Once a guest’s treatments are arranged, they receive a calendar file by email that can be added to their smartphone or preferred digital calendar with a single click, including automatic 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.