Interview with David Cámara, Director of the IV Wellness Business Meeting Latin America/Caribbean – Europe – Middle East
Less than a month before the opening of Piscina & Wellness Barcelona, we spoke with David Cámara, a pioneer in the Contract Channel in Spain and Latin America/Caribbean, and one of the leading experts in the sector. His relationship with the event dates back several editions, where he has leveraged his experience for the business meeting involving America, Europe, and the Middle East. The meeting remains an essential appointment, bringing together knowledge, supply and demand from markets with the highest growth potential, with influential decision-makers explaining their main wellness projects, needs, and future challenges to exhibitors.
- Can you explain what the meeting consists of and what it will bring to attendees, as well as how it contributes to strengthening ties between countries?
In the business meeting, we create a transversal meeting space for different decision-makers, influencers, and operators in the wellness market, where a connection is established to discuss, share knowledge, experiences, inspire, and generate new avenues for collaboration and business opportunities. Above all, it is a space for empathetic dialogue to understand the different realities of the markets and the various business profiles participating. This dialogue should help gain perspective, discussing the keys, challenges, and opportunities ahead. In essence, it facilitates business action.
- What international profiles will participate?
As in previous years, we will have profiles covering different angles of wellness projects. If we look from the hotel perspective, although it won’t only be hotel projects present, participants will include hotel developers, operators, architects, designers, specialized consultants, solution-focused companies, etc. The perspective from Spain and Europe is also important, with prominent decision-makers, architects, and designers of wellness projects with international presence.
- Is there any country or region that has experienced significant evolution since the last edition?
Wellness is a global trend that is fortunately becoming more integrated into projects, and we can observe its development and specialization in different markets and segments. However, Latin America/Caribbean and the Middle East markets are experiencing significant growth and sophistication, especially in luxury and ultra-luxury segments, where European companies linked to wellness are highly valued. Wellness is innovation, design, sustainability, and in many cases, also cultural heritage.
- What differentiating elements would you highlight for the upcoming edition compared to previous ones?
The business meeting, since its inception in 2015, was conceptualized with a different and unique focus, centered on business value, positioning us as an international reference in its segment. Market-wise, we are expanding the meeting from the Latin America-Europe connection to include the Middle East. This is a natural evolution due to market dynamics and the link between regions investing in wellness-related resort development, such as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Arabian Gulf. The common thread among these markets, through the seas, is a shared history, tradition, culture that serves as inspiration for many wellness projects and significantly impacts sustainability. There is no well-being without sustainability, and vice versa. The seas initiate the life cycle of water, a fundamental element in our development and sustainability. Another novelty is the deepening of Latin America/Caribbean markets and their major tourist destinations where wellness is a differentiating element.
- Can you share some of the novelties in advance?
We will discuss projects that will be international references still in their early stages, and we will get to know them through their promoters and creatives during the meeting. They also come to learn about innovations, alternatives, etc. needed for their projects.
- Can we talk about trends in the projects to be presented at the meeting or, by extension, in the sector?
There are clearly trends in the sector, and the key is to have the ability to lead them creatively in projects that, in turn, serve as inspiration for the development of those trends and the sector as a whole. This will be seen at the meeting through the professionals accompanying us.
- Do the Latin American or Middle Eastern markets have any peculiarities to consider for companies interested in investing in the area?
Certainly, they are different markets, even within Latin America/Caribbean, there are many differences, and the same applies to the Middle East. It is important to have a global, regional, and local perspective that allows understanding how each market works, how business can contribute a differential value, how to position correctly among the key decision-makers of each prioritized market, and how to develop binding strategies that help business development.
- From your perspective as an industry expert, if you had to list three future challenges, what would they be?
First, generate greater knowledge and dialogue among the different actors and decision-makers linked to wellness projects, but a dialogue that provides perspective and stimulates creative collaboration. A dialogue that helps transform creatively. Second, genuinely delve into sustainability, linked to the social aspect. For this, the first point of collaborative, transformative, and creative dialogue is also important. And, finally, continue to enrich, develop the wellness sector and concept, as well as its social and economic impact, under a systemic view that allows enhancing new content and approaches that help generate a society with greater well-being.
Cristina Benavides Contributor to Piscina & Wellness Barcelona
