New York, NY (PRWEB) April 03, 2014

The Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) today unveiled its futurist theme - Fast Forward - for its 8th annual event, taking place September 10-12th at the Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, Morocco. The event, which is considered the worlds most prestigious gathering of business, government and academic leaders in the wellness, travel and spa industries, is expected to attract a record number of attendees. The 2nd annual Global Wellness Tourism Congress (GWTC) will take place concurrently on September 10th.

This year, the Summit is hitting the Fast Forward button, said Susie Ellis, GSWS Chairman and CEO. Our agenda and keynote speakers will be focused on looking closely and creatively at the future of spa and wellness, from new technologies that will transform our businesses and the way wellness gets delivered; to the future of design; to exploring the latest in brain science and its implications; to the next wave in retailing; to presenting crucial, new research that will illuminate and shape our industrys future path.

Dr. Kjell A. Nordstrm, a Swedish economist, futurist thought-leader and renowned co-author of Funky Business, is the Summits first announced keynote speaker, in what will be a prestigious, high-profile line up of future-focused thinkers. His provocative presentation will analyze a coming, new world marked by seismic demographic and consumer shifts: The future is urban and female. The influence of countries and men is fading away - prepare yourselves for Amazonia, says Nordstrm.

About Dr. Kjell A. Nordstrm

Dr. Kjell A. Nordstrm holds a doctoral degree in International Business from the Stockholm School of Economics. His research and consulting focus is in the areas of corporate strategy, multinational corporations and globalization.

He has published three books (co-authored with Jonas Ridderstrle) and numerous articles on the internationalization process of firms. His books (Funky Business, Karaoke Capitalism, Funky Business Forever) have been featured on CNN and CNBC and appeared in Fortune, Fast Company, Time Magazine, Financial Times, Paris Match, etc. Funky Business was an international bestseller and was translated into 32 languages. Funky Business Forever (2008), his long awaited update, takes a look back on the later half of the millenniums first decade, and provides evolved thinking and commentary in a way that is truly funky and down to business.

Titanium Sponsor - Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development

The host country sponsor of the 2014 event, the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), has also committed to the Summits highest level of sponsorship Titanium. This generous support is in addition to SMITs responsibilities as the co-organizer of the Global Wellness Tourism Congress.

Interestingly, Morocco ranks among the top 10 nations worldwide for wellness tourism growth through 2017 and is expected to have an annual growth rate of 14.7 percent, 60-plus percent faster than the global average, said Ellis. SMIT has proven itself incredibly forward thinking when it comes to realizing the potential of wellness tourism and attracting investment, making them a perfect partner for the 2nd annual GWTC.

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Global Spa & Wellness Summit Unveils 2014 Theme Fast Forward