European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA)
Historic Thermal Towns
More than 60 representatives from 16 countries celebrated the Spring General Assembly of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) from 6–8 May in Caldas da Rainha (Portugal) with impressive visibility from the first moment: the network united with Mayor Vitor Marques and EHTTA President Riccardo Mortandello to kick off the three days with a walk of the “Bathrobe Addicts” through the town centre.
During its General Assembly held in Caldas da Rainha on 7th May 2026, the members of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association elected their Executive Council for a new four-year mandate.
The newly appointed Council confirmed the current leadership team, including President Riccardo Mortandello, alongside Vice Presidents Isidre Pineda, Eric Brut, Markos Danas, Victor Leal, and Isabelle Grégoire.
ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair, was taking place in Germany’s capital from March 3rd to 5th, 2026. The European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) had once again the opportunity to present and discuss topics related to their thermal destinations in the Medical & Health Pavilion. Several member towns and regions from the Association have taken the opportunity to be present in person with EHTTA: first time participants were Baden (Switzerland), Spa (Belgium) and Viterbo (Italy), joined by repeating participant Montegrotto Terme (Italy) as exhibitors in the dedicated segment.
Good news from the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA): the organisation, certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, has grown to 53 members across 20 European countries, along with two international partners.
At its Executive Council meeting held this week, two new membership applications were approved. Baden (Switzerland) joins the network as an active member, while Balıkesir (Türkiye) becomes a new associate member, further strengthening Europe’s network of historic thermal destinations.
The European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) is proud to announce that it has been selected for a distinguished recognition by the UN Tourism Affiliate Members Department for Innovative Knowledge and Product Development.
On the occasion of the Plenary Session of UN Tourism Affiliate Members held in the context of the General Assembly of UN Tourism in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) from 7-11 November, EHTTA representative and Executive Director Simone Zagrodnik received the recognition during a recognition ceremony from the Director of Affiliate Members and Public-Private Collaboration Department Ion Vilcu.
Good news from the European Historic Thermal Towns Association: the organization, certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, has grown to 51 members across 19 European countries. Including its international partners in the USA and Brazil, the network now comprises a total of 53 thermal towns and regions in 21 countries.
On its recent General Assembly in Montegrotto Terme (Italy) EHTTA welcomed the historic thermal town of Hisarya in Bulgaria following the recommendation of its Scientific Committee and decision of the EHTTA Executive Council. The small historic thermal town and major spa resort Hisarya extends the list of member towns and even adds Bulgaria as new country in Europe to the map.
From June 4–6, 2025, Budapest hosted the International Thermal Tourism Congress, bringing together over 140 delegates from 30 countries to explore the future of thermal and wellness tourism.
Organised by the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) with the support of UN Tourism, the event featured keynotes, panel discussions, and networking sessions focused on innovation, heritage, sustainability, and well-being.
Held at the iconic Thermal Margaret Island Health Spa Hotel, the Congress welcomed municipal leaders, tourism professionals, researchers, and wellness operators who discussed the evolving needs of modern travellers and the role of historic thermal towns in today’s tourism landscape.
From 7 to 9 May 2025, the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) gathered its members, observers, and partners in the iconic spa town of Băile Herculane, Romania, for its Spring General Assembly. Set against the backdrop of one of Europe’s oldest spa destinations, the event was a powerful demonstration of EHTTA’s mission to promote cooperation, protect thermal heritage, and strengthen its growing network across Europe.
Organised in close collaboration with Mayor Gheorghe Orza and the Municipality of Băile Herculane, the event offered delegates from 11 countries a rich programme of institutional meetings, site visits, and cultural discovery. From Roman origins to Austro-Hungarian grandeur and socialist-era influences, the town’s layered history served as a powerful reminder of the resilience and cultural value of Europe’s thermal towns.
The General Assembly opened with reflections by EHTTA President Riccardo Mortandello, who highlighted the Association’s growing visibility and the importance of political and civic cooperation in preserving thermal heritage. Several new observers were welcomed, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Hisarya (Bulgaria) and representatives of other Romanian spa towns, further underlining the expanding reach and relevance of the network.
A highlight of the Assembly was the Café of Europe event held on Europe Day (9 May), under the theme “Restoring Thermal Heritage”. Moderated by Hans Hornyik, Chair of EHTTA’s Scientific Committee, the session brought together experts from the public sector, cultural heritage, and civil society.
Speakers included: Adrian Miulescu (National Institute of Medical Recovery, Physiotherapy and Balneology), Oana Zaharia (National Institute of Patrimony), Alina Chiciudean (ARCHÉ, Europa Nostra, Blue Shield Romania), who addressed the importance of youth leadership and cross-sectoral cooperation in heritage preservation.
President Mortandello described Europe’s thermal towns as “crossroads of cultures, places of dialogue and exchange,” emphasising that “preserving this legacy means preserving a deeply European way of life, where beauty, well-being, and culture converge.”
Embracing the joyful side of thermal life, the Assembly also hosted the Bathrobe Addicts Parade, a signature event of the EHTTA network that promotes accessibility, wellness, and cultural unity. Led by Éric Brut, General Director of La Route des Villes d’Eaux du Massif Central, the parade took place during Băile Herculane’s Festival of Minorities, drawing smiles from participants and onlookers alike.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PRESS RELEASE
As part of the International Spa Heritage Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY (USA), the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), in cooperation with the European Travel Commission (ETC), hosted a Business-to-Business Workshop for American travel advisors last week. This event marked the first of its kind held outside of Europe, with the goal of introducing the unique tourism offerings of thermal destinations to the overseas market.
EHTTA Executive Director Simone Zagrodnik expressed satisfaction, stating: “For many of our members, this was a great opportunity to engage directly with the travel trade, share insights, and receive valuable feedback on how to tailor their products for the American market. The quality of the contacts and the level of interaction were exceptionally high.”
Representatives from Baden bei Wien (Austria), Caldes de Montbui (Catalonia/Spain), Caldas da Rainha (Portugal), Daruvar (Croatia), Galicia (Spain), the Resort Development Agency of Georgia, Montegrotto Terme (Italy), La Route des Villes d’Eaux du Massif Central (France), and Spa (Belgium) participated, delivering destination presentations and engaging in face-to-face meetings. In the afternoon, a public tourism expo was held, allowing Saratogians to meet the European delegation and gather information for future travel.
“Thermal tourism is a key niche in Europe, promoting well-being, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering sustainable development. This segment holds great potential for American travelers exploring Europe,” said Miguel Gallego, Head of Marketing at the European Travel Commission. “We were delighted to partner with EHTTA to introduce European spa culture to the U.S. market and share best practices on the sustainable management of these unique destinations.”
As ETC members, national tourist boards were invited to participate. In addition to VisitEstonia, the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) seized the opportunity to highlight thermal destinations and health tourism as a premium partner of the event. CNTB was represented by Leila Kresic-Juric, Director for North America, who remarked: “Congratulations to EHTTA and Saratoga Spa State Park for organizing such a valuable gathering of health travel professionals. It provided an excellent business networking platform, not only showcasing the thermal and wellness offerings of European countries but also fostering connections between American and European partners, which are already leading to new U.S. clients visiting Croatian wellness destinations and spas. A big thanks to EHTTA for this initiative and to ETC for supporting the event!”
Participating European partners included RailEurope, which highlighted the mutual connection of rail travel and spa towns since the early days of tourism. With Croatia Open Land, a Destination Management Company, and ZagrebMed, both from Croatia, stakeholders collaborating with the thermal towns added to the group of suppliers during this important day dedicated to tourism.
The day before, EHTTA, in collaboration with its International Partner, Saratoga Spa State Park, hosted the “European Spa Heritage Conference.” At the conference, EHTTA Scientific Committee President Mario Crecente provided a compelling overview of the development of the original European Thermal Heritage Day and the thematic link of “Therapeutic Landscapes” between Europe and Saratoga Springs. Dr. Oliver Sukrow from the University of Darmstadt (Germany) shared his research findings on the influence of European spas on Saratoga Springs and its heritage. Additional presentations on the history and park system of Saratoga Spa State Park rounded out the conference, which attracted around 300 attendees.
Through the conference and the tourism workshop, American travel trade representatives and hosted media gained valuable and unexpected insights, equipping them to create compelling itineraries and product packages featuring cultural and wellness elements for their clients in the future.
