A Longevity Forum is taking place Wednesday on the final day of the European high-level meeting HEALTHXCHANGE 2026, dedicated to the future of sustainable health tourism. The event opened at the Ensana Aquahouse Hotel & SPA resort complex in Sts Constantine and Helena Resort. The meeting is organized by the European Spas Association (ESPA), the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), and HTI Conference & Expo – an international platform and event organization focused on the development of health, spa, wellness, and medical tourism. Hosts of the event are the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism and the Varna Municipality, while the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is the main media partner. Among the participants in the longevity discussion is Dr. Petra Bailey, Vice President of Ensana Health Spa, a Forbes-recognized leader, award-winning executive, and international speaker. The keynote speaker is Dr. Angela Mladenov, an international physician and longevity expert, who will discuss global longevity trends. Also participating will be Nikolina Angelkova, former Bulgarian Minister of Tourism (2014-2017), investment adviser, and lawyer. She will speak about opportunities for integrating the concept of longevity into the strategies of tourism management organizations and brands. The discussion will also feature Vesela Toncheva-Shenk, a certified longevity fitness coach working between Bulgaria and Germany, as well as Murad Benahmed, Michelin-starred chef at Ensana Sairme Resort in Georgia, who will present Ensana’s philosophy of healthy, functional, and flavorful cuisine. Participants in the European meeting will also visit the Roman Baths of Varna and the Regional Historical Museum Varna.
