Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace has over 25 years of experience in the health, wellness, and medical tourism sectors, focusing on thermal spas and hot springs. Additionally, he is an artist known for his oil paintings, which often portray urban scenes in Budapest and landscapes across Hungary.
Mike Wallace has worked in the health, wellness and medical tourism industries for over 25 years specializing in hot spring/thermal medical spas. A well known industry expert and international speaker & lecturer he also provides selective consultancy advice on thermal/hot spring and medical spas. Over the years Mike has contributed articles published in various spa and health publications and research papers and has co-written two books on health and wellness and spa management. Michael is also an artist, with oil paintings depicting city life in Budapest and Hungarian landscapes.
Public Speaking and Lecturing
An international public speaker, Mike presents regularly at key spa & wellness, and medical tourism events. He is a lecturer at the Budapest Metropolitan University Budapest and the International Wellness Institute where he teaches Spa & Health Destination Management, Project Management, Experience Design, Business Communication, Service Design, and Academic Writing.
Publications
Mike has co-authored 'Wellness and Egészség' (Wellness and Health) with Dr. Szilvia Boros (Springmed 2016) and ‘The Essential Spa Manager’s Guide’ (Goodfellows 2020) and ‘An analysis of key issues in spa management viewpoints from international industry professionals’ (Taylor Francis Online) with Dr Melanie Smith. He also contributes occasional articles for Spa Business Magazines.
"I have known Mike since I was Sales Manager and he was General Manager at Livingwell Health Clubs in 1994, he is the ultimate hospitality professional on all fronts. Having worked his way up through the ranks he is the epitome of professionalism, sensitivity and has an excellent sense of humour which made him a true joy to work with. Leading and motivating and mentoring colleagues is an area that Mike exceeds in. I have recently attended a Global Wellness seminar with Mike. He is a fantastic speaker at the top of his industry. He packs so much value into his presentation I would highly recommend him to any hospitality conference organiser."
Sarah Sullivan
“I have met Mike trough his involvement in the Wellness and Spa business Development and since then we met several times during International events in other countries. He is a very experienced professional of the Wellness and Spa sector as he had the ability to follow the step by step development of Spa centers sector in emerging destinations. As an international speaker of expertise he has proved to be a gifted speaker, easy to understand for his audience and with a clear perspective of what has to be done! “
Maria De Georga
“For the 10 years that I have known Mike, I admit that I have been very impressed by his professionalism as Brand Manager for Danubius Hotels Group, supervising about 20 medical/wellness spas serving 26 Spa Hotels, employing over 650 spa employees, 42 doctors, and delivering over 2 million treatments a year!!! Mike has also proven to be a very effective speaker at the World Spa & Wellness Convention London (February 2017), connecting very well with the audience & sharing very valuable tricks of the trade.Thank you & well done !!!”
Jean-Guy de Gabriac
"I've seen Mike speak at several conferences around the world, and he always hits that perfect note of being both engaging and informative. He's an expert in thermal and medical spas, and thoroughly understands the intricacies and complexities of the Eastern European spa market."
Jane Kitchen
March 2022 – Spa Education Academy http://www.spaeducationacademy.com/
(Wellness in a post pandemic world)
March 2022 – Serbian Wellness Cluster
(Wellness and mental wellness)
March 2021 – European Spa Association – ITB Conference
(Opportunities for Health Spa Resorts post Covid) https://www.europeanspas.eu/en/news-events/news/itbnow-2021
March 2021 World Spa & Wellness – Conversation on Wellness
(Treatment for post cancer patients in Thermal spas)
November 2019 Hungarian Spa Association Conference – Zalakaros, Hungary.
(The importance of being unique in Thermal Tourism) (Egyediség a cél a termálturizmusban) https://turizmus.com/desztinaciok/az-egyediseg-a-cel-a-termalturizmusban-is-1167497
November 2019 Spa & Wellness International Conference – Baku, Azerbaijan.
(Creating a unique spa from conception to startup) & (KPI’s for spas)
October 2019 – Serbia Wellness Cluster – Novhotel, Belgrade, Serbia
(Creating a unique spa product) & a workshop for spa managers and operators on “how to build a successful career in the spa industry”
September 2019 – Baia Herkulane Conference – Hotel Afrodite, Romania
(What makes a successful thermal destination)
May 2019 – Hotel & Spa Forum – Paris, France. https://www.forumhotspa.com/en/
(What makes a successful thermal spa)
May 2019 – Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade – Chongqing, China.
(Thermal Tourism in Hungary)
I was also extremely honoured to be a part of the ceremony for the founding of the statue of ‘Petőfi Sándor’ (Hungary’s most famous poet) in one of city’s most beautiful scenic parks. The commemoration was attended by top dignitaries from the city of Chongqing, Mr István Jakab, deputy speaker of the Hungarian Parliament and the Chongqing Hungarian consulate.
April 2019 – European Spa Association Annual Conference – Terme Tuhelj Croatia
(What makes a successful thermal destination)
February 2019 – Health and Spa Conference – Beregszáz Ukraine. Hungarian Beregszáz Consul and CEED
(Health Tourism in Hungary) on behalf of the Hungarian Tourism Agency
