The 60th CIDESCO WORLD CONGRESS 2011

28th June to 3rd July 2011

COEX Convention Center,

Seoul, Korea

For further information, please see: www.cidesco-korea2011.com.

Review of the 59th CIDESCO World Congress

The 59th CIDESCO World Congress and Exhibition was held from the 26th to the 30th May 2010 in the beautiful city of Stockholm in Sweden. The Congress was once again hugely successful and was enjoyed by all who attended.

Not only does Stockholm have a fantastic vibrant culture but, due to the fact that it is spread over fourteen islands and the city itself is over seven hundred years old, Stockholm

has many wonderful historical places to visit. Hosting the Congress in such a beautiful city made the experience even more enjoyable and on behalf of CIDESCO Section

GB ‘A’, I would like to extend our gratitude to CIDESCO Section Sweden for hosting such a fantastic Congress.

The Examiners’ Workshop was held on the 26th May.

This is where the CIDESCO International Examiners gathered to discuss and update examining procedures, rules and regulations. The Examiners meeting was held at Privatskolan, an accredited CIDESCO School, where the Examiners concentrated on the Spa Examination procedures and regulations. Examiners from many countries who attended the workshop went through every aspect of the CIDESCO Spa Examinations, from the consultation to the practical aspects. Josephine Wackett, CIDESCO Board Member for Education chaired the day. Mrs Wackett then kindly led us to a nearby spa where we had a lovely lunch and tour of the spa facilities. We ended the day by discussing different aspects of education and examinations, so that all of the examiners were able to gather information from one another and learn from each other’s experiences. The workshop was, as usual, incredibly interesting and informative, which is what is needed to ensure that all examinations are being conducted to the high standards that CIDESCO demand.

The Schools Meeting was held on the 27th May, where representatives of CIDESCO Schools from around the world gathered to discuss many different topics related to the standards of CIDESCO Schools, accreditation procedures and rules and regulations. President Kyriacos Poupoutsis began the meeting by thanking all of the schools for their hard work and dedication to CIDESCO, before handing over to Mrs Josephine Wackett to chair the remainder of the day.

That evening the attendees were invited to a cocktail and buffet evening to meet up with fellow colleagues and experience a fascinating glimpse of Stockholm’s exciting history. The evening function was held at the Vasa Museum, which contains the only preserved and restored seventeenth-century ship in the world. The beautiful carvings on the 69 meter-long warship were among the many topics discussed throughout the evening.

The General Assembly was held on the 28th May and was attended by the majority of the 35 CIDESCO Sections from around the world. This is where decisions are voted upon and where the rules, regulations and standards of CIDESCO are updated and agreed upon every year.

The Gala Dinner was on the evening of the 28th and once again was enjoyed by all. Held in the historically impressive and beautiful City Hall, an abundance of delicious food was presented while we were entertained by a wonderful opera singer. After dinner, a fantastic Abba tribute band performed, which managed to get everyone to their feet!

The opening ceremony for the Exhibition on the 29th May was equally enjoyable: a beautiful choir sang to entertain the attendees and CIDESCO Section Sweden gave an excellent speech where they informed us about the history of their section and their vibrant city. The exhibition itself was held over two days and showcased all of the latest and greatest brands and techniques within the industry. All good things have to come to an end and the closing ceremony followed the next day, on the 30th, with everyone saying their goodbyes before flying home.

Every year, the CIDESCO World Congress and Exhibition allows us to network, learn new things and keep up-to-date with industry trends. I do hope to see you at the next congress as it is an experience that you will not want to miss.

The 60th CIDESCO World Congress will be held from the 28th June to the 3rd of July in Korea. For further information, please visit www.cidesco-korea2011.com.

Vicky Harper

BISA – CIDESCO Section GB ‘A’

Tel: +44 (0)1580211055

www.spaassociation.org.uk

Vicky Harper
BISA – CIDESCO Section A GB
Tel: (+44) 01580211055
www.spaassociation.org.uk