NEWSROOM

Top international speakers on health tourism in the Alpine region

2nd “Health & Tourism” conference in Pontresina: The “Health & Tourism” conference is being expanded to its second edition. The new all-day program features numerous well-known speakers from Germany and abroad. The main topics include the transformation of a holiday region into a health region and successful models of companies in health tourism.

The second specialist conference on health tourism in the Alpine region will be held in Pontresina on September 21 with top-class national and international speakers.

Speakers from abroad are: Dr. Christian Harisch (Lanserhof), Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner (University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt), Dr. Jakob Edinger (Edinger Tourismusberatung Innsbruck) and Heidi Thaumiller (Oberstaufen Tourism, Allgäu).

From Grisons and Switzerland, President of the Government and Director of Health Dr. Christian Rathgeb, Gribünden-Ferien-CEO Martin Vincenz, Daniela Krienbühl (Bürgenstock) and Philipp Gunzinger (Lower Engadine Health Region) will speak. In addition, a new concept for heart rehabilitation in high-altitude climates will be presented.

“The first conference last year was a great success, so that we were already able to attract internationally renowned speakers for this year,” says initiator and host Christian Gartmann. “Health tourism is seen as a great potential for tourism in the Alpine region. The conference should help attract new regions and companies to the topic.”

Case studies from home and abroad

The development of a holiday region into a health region will be the first main topic of the conference. Grisons Regional President Dr. Christian Rathgeb, internationally renowned tourism and regional development expert Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner, Oberstaufen Tourism Director Heidi Thaumiller, Managing Director of the Lower Engadine Health Region Philipp Gunzinger and the new CEO of Grisons Holidays Martin Vincenz will explain their views and intentions.

After a networking lunch, experts and practitioners will talk about successful models for health tourism companies in the afternoon. “Lanserhof” Director Christian Harisch and Dr. Jakob Edinger will report on their many years of practice, while Waldhotel operations manager Daniela Krienbühl will present the concept of the health hotel under construction on Bürgenstock. At the end of the conference, a new project for heart rehabilitation in alpine mountain climates will be presented.

The “Health & Tourism” conference is a private initiative to promote tourism in the Alpine region. It was held for the first time in 2015 and is made possible by broad support from tourism and the Graubünden economy. In 2016, the conference will take place on September 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pontresina Cultural and Congress Center.

Information and registrations at www.udir.ch

Conference program 2016

  • Keynote: Health tourism as a strategic development goal for Graubünden
    Dr. jur. Christian Rathgeb, President of the Government and Director of Health, Canton of Graubünden

Part 1: How does the holiday region become a health region?

  • From “water and bread” to modern health tourism: Oberstaufen in the Allgäu
    Heidi Thaumiller, Managing Director, Oberstaufen Tourism Marketing GmbH
  • Health tourism in the Alps: selected examples
    Univ.-Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner, University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
  • The Lower Engadine Health Region: Development, Success, Future
    Philipp Gunzinger, Director, Sandà Engiadina Bassa Center
  • Health tourism in Graubünden: The potential for a tourist region
    Martin Vincenz, CEO, Graubünden Holidays
  • Panel discussion: How does the holiday region become a health region?

Networking Lunch

Part 2: Success factors and successful models for companies in health tourism

  • “To have” or “to be”: becoming an alpine wellness hotel
    Dr. Jakob Edinger, Edinger Tourism Consulting, Innsbruck
  • Health and luxury hotels under one roof: the Lanserhof success story
    Dr. jur. Christian Harisch, Chief Executive Officer, Lanserhof GmbH
  • Lighthouse project in health tourism: The Waldhotel on Bürgenstock
    Daniela Krienbühl, operations manager, Waldhotel Bürgenstock
  • Santasana St. Moritz: Heart rehabilitation in mountain climates
  • Panel discussion: Success factors and successful models for companies in health tourism

Networking aperitif

Health & tourism

The “Health & Tourism” conference is a private initiative for Graubünden. It is aimed at service providers from tourism, healthcare and industry as well as decision makers from politics and associations and aims to highlight opportunities and market opportunities for health tourism development in Grisons.

Accreditations for media professionals

Media professionals are welcome to attend the conference; image and sound recordings are permitted. So that we can offer you the best possible working conditions, we kindly ask you to register in advance via reception@udir.ch.

Organizer/ Media contact

Christian Gartmann AG, St. Moritz
Christian Gartmann
+41 79 355 78 78
christian@gartmann.biz