Session #4:
Defining & Creating A New Thermal Destination: Thermal Assets, but no products - what is your take on that?
Markos Danas 
Secretary General, Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs (Greece)
Markos Danas is a manager with great experience in the private and public sectors, specializing in marketing strategies and business administration on Health tourism.
Since 2013 he has been the Secretary-General of the Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs (HAMTS). He is also a member of the Committee for the Protection of Thermal Natural Resources of the Greek Ministry of Tourism and Vice–President of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA). From 2007 to 2009, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the municipal company of the thermal springs of Lagkadas and in 2010 he served as President.
He graduated from the Technological Institute of Thessaloniki, School of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Marketing and holds a Master in Business Administration from the Hellenic Management Association. He also holds a diploma in e-tourism (m-commerce and e-marketing in tourism) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He is also qualified as a trainer for adults from EOPPEP and he is a member of the think tank for political and social issues “INTERVENTION”.
Ahmed Aloraij 
President, Saudi Health Tourism Association (Saudi Arabia)
Ahmed Aloraij is the founder and chairman of the Health Tourism Association, dedicated to promoting global health tourism. He leads efforts to connect healthcare with travel, focusing on wellness and medical tourism while fostering international collaborations to provide access to top-tier healthcare and wellness services worldwide.
Dr. Ngamnid Saennampol 
University of Chiang Mai (Thailand)
Ngamnid Saennampol is an experienced lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, with a strong background in hospitality and tourism. She has eight years of experience in the hospitality industry, including training and work at Anantara Rasananda Resort, designated trainer in the Front Office at Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai and three years (pre-opening experience) as Executive Secretary to the GM & Marketing Communication at The Senses Resort, Phuket. She also served as a Spa Manager at Apsorn Spa, a training centre under the tourism curriculum, where she gained hands-on experience in spa operations and wellness management.
Ngamnid holds a first-class honour degree in French-English and a master’s in hospitality and tourism management. She has also earned a Ph.D. in tourism management from the University of Phayao, with her dissertation focusing on business models integrating thermal springs in upper Northern Thailand.
In addition to her expertise in health tourism, she is also studying Thai traditional medicine, specializing in Thai pharmacy and Thai medical practice. She has received multiple certifications in Thai massage, aromatherapy, massage teacher training, and holds a spa manager/service provider national certificate from the Ministry of Health. Ngamnid is also a guest lecturer for the Department of Skill Development (DSD wellness academy), Chiang Mai, where she contributes to spa curriculum development and professional training.
Her research and practical experience bridge thermal spring tourism, wellness, and sustainable business models, making her a valuable contributor to discussions on developing hot spring destinations in upper Northern Thailand.
