Mayor's spa mission to Morocco

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said that internationally one of the biggest tourism growth areas was health and wellness. Photo / File

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick has been invited to address the 2014 Global Spa and Wellness Summit in Morocco later this month.

The summit provides an opportunity for Mrs Chadwick to talk directly to 350 of the world's top spa investors, developers and operators about Rotorua's aspirations to become the South Pacific's premier spa destination. She will also be part of an international panel during a conference business session.

Mrs Chadwick will be accompanied by her husband John and Grow Rotorua chief executive Francis Pauwels.

The summit is an invitation only event, being held at the Four Seasons Marrakech hotel in Morocco. Mrs Chadwick will spend six nights in Marrakech from September 8-14.

The estimated cost of air travel, accommodation, taxes and transfers is $8200, her husband is paying his own way, and travel costs for Mr Pauwels are being paid by Grow Rotorua Ltd, a council-controlled organisation that receives funding from the Rotorua District Council.

Global Spa and Wellness Summit president, New York-based Susie Ellis, said she had been taken by the Rotorua story and the city's vision.

Ms Ellis said she had never seen such a combination of beautiful landscapes, lakes, natural reserves, indigenous culture and geothermal resources in such an exotic location, all within close proximity.

Mrs Chadwick said the international spa and wellness summit was a perfect opportunity to talk one-on-one to potential investors, with the aim of getting them interested in Rotorua.

"I also intend exploring the possibility of Rotorua hosting a future Global Spa and Wellness Summit or international spa tourism conference.

"That would give some real momentum to our Rotorua 2030 business innovation and prosperity goal around economic sustainability and use of our natural resources."

Mrs Chadwick said that internationally one of the biggest tourism growth areas was health and wellness, and Rotorua was well positioned to take advantage of the global trend.

"But we need to build an international profile and get to the people who can help make it happen here," she said.

Mrs Chadwick's invitation followed attendance at last year's spa and wellness summit in New Delhi by Mr Pauwels.

Mrs Chadwick said the spa, health and wellness sector had been identified as a key driver for developing Rotorua's tourism economy, along with mountain biking and the district's unique Maori culture.

"Rotorua used to be a world leader in the spa industry and, given our abundance of natural geothermal resources, we want to regain that position.

"With substantial iwi ownership of land providing access to geothermal resources, there are real opportunities for Te Arawa investment and joint ventures that have the potential to create jobs," she said.

The trip comes after Mrs Chadwick, her husband John, council cultural ambassador Trevor Maxwell and a Rotorua-based Japanese interpreter and businesswoman were invited to Rotorua's sister city of Beppu to participate in the city's 90th anniversary celebrations and explore geothermal and hot springs investment opportunities in April.

The Beppu trip cost Rotorua ratepayers a total of $18,437.