January 25, 2004 (New Jersey) - Hannelore Leavy, Founder and Executive Director of The Day Spa Association has been asked to join an international panel of spa experts from England, Germany and Asia (Singapore/Thailand).

Lifetime is an international trade congress for the integration of the future-oriented spa, wellness and health markets and attracts about 400 congress participants and about 2,000 to 3,000 visitors to the Lifetime exhibition from around the world,

The Congress now in its .fourth year is being held from March 17-19 parallel to the ISH, the world's leading trade fair for the sanitation and bathroom industry which counts 180,000 visitors with international 44,000 visitors.

"It is indeed an honor to have been asked to participate in this event", says Hannelore Leavy. "The theme of my discussion on March 18th will be the blending of the different spa modalities, old (traditional) and new (rapidly developing technology) and the integration of the many cultures in the US, especially the influence of Eastern philosophies, the European spa treatments combined with the ever growing desire to stay young, healthy and full of vitality".

In addition to the four segments: lectures and workshops examining the latest trends and developments of the health and wellness industries integrated with SPA around the globe, there will be a "Workout of Managers" session led by Dr. Dieter Lagerstroem of the German Sports University; Christ Stewens, Minister of State and an expert for new health concepts will address the congress to point out new health concepts and opportunities that present themselves through wellness. The tracks "Future Spa - Spa Future" and "Health Future - Future Health" will be led by international experts.

Upon Ms. Leavy's suggestion a post-conference orientation tour will be offered that will enable visitors to this event to tour the well-known spa towns and spa facilities of Wiesbaden and Baden-Baden. Participants will be invited to tour the Nassauer Hof Therme with its own mineral spring spa, the Kaiser Friedrich Bad as well as the German Clinic for Diagnostic. Bad Homburg's traditional "Kur Royal" an innovative Day Spa and a stop at Ascara Health & Beauty Center at the Kempinksi Falkenstein are planned on the way to Baden-Baden, when the internationally famous Brenners; Park Hotel and Spa will host the group at the "Friedrichsbad" as well as the adjacent Caracalla Therme. There will be a Gala Dinner, with time allotted to enjoy some spa treatments

"This is a great educational tour especially for visitors to the congress who are not familiar with the European Spa concept, and/or who are interested to see how old traditional "Kur facilities" have successfully integrated modern and ancient modalities from around the world into their programs", states Hannelore Leavy.

This opportunity arose from Ms. Leavy's international speaking engagements at the Beauty & Spa Expo in Shanghai, China and at Cosmoprof, Bologna, Italy. "I am so excited to have these opportunities be able to share the growth of the U.S. spa industry and especially the day spa concept (an American Invention), with the rest of the world. The developments in the U.S. in the direction of healthy aging and growing older with vitality, being able to keep an active lifestyle at any age, is developing in the medical spa industry, with opportunities that is being embraced by many, including the medical profession".

The Day Spa Association is a professional membership based trade organization founded in 1991. It's purpose is to promote it's members businesses, to unify, enrich and support the spa industry through information exchange and networking, to increase consumer awareness of and demand for spa services and products and to protect the consumer by continuously elevating the standards and quality in the day spa industry.