Overall objectives:

1 - To characterize health and wellness tourism and to recognise its potential;
1.1 - General Wellness Tourism, Specific Wellness and Medical Tourism;
2 - Understand the relevance of Thalassotherapy as a health and wellness tourism product;
3 - Understand the importance of the Thermae in Portugal.
4 - Define the different concepts: SPAs, Gyms, Wellness Centres, among others;
5 - Develop a management plan for operations in a SPA;
6 - Plan the Financial Management of SPAs;
7 - Plan and program activities related to health and wellness tourism.

Syllabus:

1 - Health and Wellness Tourism in its 3 parts
2 - Thalassotherapy
3 - The spas and characterization of thermal activity
4 - The different types of offers under the Health and Wellness Tourism
5 - Classification of SPAs in hotel units
6 - Organization and management of SPAs
6.1 - Characterization and classification of SPAs
6.2 - SPA development opportunities
6.3 - SPA Creation, Design and Opening
6.4 - Strategies for physical implementation of a SPA
6.5 - Management of a SPA in a hotel
6.6 - SPA quality management and control
6.7 - Marketing and sales

Literature/Sources:

D?Angelo, J. M. , 2010 , SPA Business Strategies ? A Plan for Success. 2.ª ed. , Milady Cengage Learning
Fernandes, J. V. & Fernandes, F. , 2011 , Turismo de Saúde e Bem-Estar no Mundo: Ética, Excelência, Segurança e Sustentabilidade , Senac
Fraenkel, S. & Lunius, R. F. , 2012 , La Gestion des SPAs. Collection Tourisme Compétences et Métiers , De Boeck Supérieur
Johnson, E. M. & Redman B. M. , 2008 , SPA: A Comprehensive Introduction , American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
Mourelle, L. & Freire, A. , 2010 , El Universo del SPA , S.A. VideoCinco
Rawlinson, S. & HEAP, T. (Eds) , 2017 , International Spa Management: Principles and Practice , Goodfellow Pub
Schmidgall, R. , 2005 , Uniform system of financial reporting for Spas , American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
Schmidgall, R., Korpi, J. & ISPA , 2011 , Financial Management for Spas , American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
Wallace, M. & Smith, M. , 2020 , The Spa Manager's Essential Guide , Goodfellow Pub

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
Continuous / Periodic Evaluation: 1) Component 1: Analysis of a Case study: 40% of the final grade. Component 2: Research work written with presentation - 60% of the final grade. Mandatory minimum score of 9.50 in each of the evaluation components. In case of suspension of the face-to-face contact, due to higher determination, the evaluation components will be carried out in the online format. Assessment by Exam: 2) Component 1: Case study (40%) 3) Component 2: Research work written with presentation (60%) In case of suspension of the face-to-face contact, due to higher determination, the evaluation components will be carried out in the online format.