Desenzano Summer School OTG Targets Luxury Tourism, Wellness and Spa Culture

The third edition of the OTG Summer School on luxury tourism, health, beauty, thermalism and regenerative hospitality took place in Desenzano del Garda from June 14 to 17, 2026, at Hotel Acquaviva, with additional training sessions across other local locations. The programme, promoted by the Tourism Observatory on Lake Garda, involved 16 trainees from different Italian regions.

Coordinated scientifically by Università Cattolica di Brescia, the course focused on how luxury tourism is evolving and its links with physical and mental regeneration, thermalism and sustainability. OTG director Giovanni Gregorini highlighted the need for scientific research into tourism demand and the qualitative aspects of recent years, including public policy, the labour market and the expectations of industry operators. Other speakers covered forms of “accessible” luxury and the role of verifiable sustainability, the historical development of luxury hospitality on Lake Garda, and how luxury is portrayed in media such as cinema, documentaries and TV series. The session also included a discussion of luxury beyond high prices or five-star facilities, including authenticity, credibility, active regeneration and empathy with the destination.

The programme further addressed golf tourism at the historic Golf Bogliaco, and thermalism through a talk by chef Roberto Federico Stefani on menus aligned with spa wellness, focusing on balance, seasonality, kitchen organisation and waste reduction. Doctor Antonio Morandi examined the relationship between traditional Indian Ayurveda, spas, health and psychophysical wellbeing, describing the spa as a potential therapeutic ecosystem spanning prevention, care, recovery and longevity. A lesson on board a Navigarda boat was also included, connecting thermal tourism to “soft mobility” as an alternative to dependence on road transport.
Italian Version