The countdown is on for the 2026 Hot Spring Experience Dealer Meeting and Sales Training in beautiful Lisbon, Portugal!
The 2026 Hot Spring Experience Dealer Meeting has something for everyone! Our informative and interactive content will focus on the following areas
Learn about the hottest new innovations in the industry and how you can apply them to give your customers the Absolute Best Hot Tub Ownership Experience®!
The Watkins Wellness leadership team will be giving their perspective on the changing landscape and what it means for you and our industry.
The Hot Spring Experience wouldn’t be complete without the annual Dealer Awards! We’ll be recognizing and celebrating the top dealers in the network with an exciting awards presentation that you won’t want to miss.
Join us for the event of the year for International Hot Spring dealers, where we’ll celebrate our achievements and plan for a successful year ahead together.
Come ready to learn from and with the best in the industry through practical and engaging sessions focused on sales, marketing, customer experience, and leadership. You’ll hear from experienced speakers who will share practical strategies and insights to help you, and your team improve performance and drive results. Plus, enjoy plenty of networking and peer-learning opportunities with fellow dealers from around the world.
We kick things off on Tuesday, January 27 with a full day of company and product updates. That evening, reconnect with old friends and meet new dealers while enjoying authentic Portuguese food and entertainment. The excitement continues with two full days of sales training.
Agenda subject to change
Leading Watkins International Specialty Retail Teams with passion, I oversee the company’s international business operations. I am grateful for the business and personal relationships I have built with customers and teammates in more than 70 countries worldwide.
Growing up in Germany in a German/French household and now also a U.S. citizen, I graduated with a degree from San Diego State University. I am enthusiastic about wellness and technology. Proudly balancing life as both a dad and a devoted husband, family remains at the heart of my journey.Watkins has been a second home for me, marking 25 years with the company. My career began in after-sales support before transitioning into sales and marketing, and for the past 15 years, I am proud to contribute as part of the Senior Leadership Team. Moves between the USA and Europe have enriched my perspective, with this past summer marking a return to Europe after 18 years in the United States.
I grew up in Normandy, France. I hold a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Leeds Beckett University in England and a master’s degree in marketing from the EM Normandy Business School in France. Prior to Watkins I spent most of my career in the software, high-tech, cyber-security and digital marketing consulting industries.
I joined Watkins in 2019 because of its unparalleled culture of transparency, integrity, and its people’s first philosophy. As Vice President, Customer Experience, I oversee business analytics, business operations, shared marketing services and the teams that interface with our dealers and end-user customers in North America, such as warranty, technical support, and customer service.
On a personal note, I stay very active in San Diego with my wife and two children. We enjoy traveling the world and both of our children are very involved in music and sports.
I lead Retail Performance Optimization at Watkins Wellness, focused on helping dealers turn strategy into real world results. My work centers on improving sales effectiveness, training systems, and execution across diverse retail environments.
My background spans retail sales, performance coaching, and behavioral psychology, with a strong emphasis on practical, data driven decision making. I am especially passionate about modernizing dealer training by blending proven sales fundamentals with emerging technology and AI.
What motivates me most is helping people gain clarity and confidence in how they sell, lead, and grow their businesses.
The 2025 Hot Spring Experience Dealer Meeting is taking place at the Myriad by SANA Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal, January 27-29, 2026. Ideally located close to many popular attractions, such as Vasco de Gama Tower and Lisbon Aquarium, just 10 minutes from the airport, 4 minutes from the main train station in Lisbon, Gare do Oriente, and only 15 minutes from downtown Lisbon.
Arrive early or stay late; either way, you’ll benefit from the preferred hotel rate we’ve secured exclusively for 2026 Hot Spring Experience Dealer Meeting attendees.
Rates (breakfast and VAT included)
Single room: 195 € room/night.
Double room: 225 € room/night.
Click the links below for details regarding taxis, rental cars, and ride share services :
If you plan to rent a car, self-parking is available at the hotel for $39.00 per day or $49.00 for valet parking.
Find answers to common questions about the event, including who can attend, guest policies, registration fees, deadlines, hotel booking, and travel guidance—helping you plan your conference experience with ease.
The Dealer meeting is open to owners and sales managers. The Sales Training is open to everyone involved in daily sales. Please note that registration is required for both events.
Attendance is reserved for individuals directly involved in the spa business. Please note that the event is open only to participants aged 18 and over.
Yes, everyone attending the Dealer Meeting (not the sales training) may bring one guest to the evening event. Please include your guest’s name in the registration form. If your guest is also registered for the Dealer Meeting, you do not need to register them separately for the evening event. Additional attendees may be accommodated upon request, subject to a €110 participation fee.
There is no registration fee to attend the Dealer Meeting. The registration fee for the Sales Training is €220. You can benefit from Early Bird discounts if you subscribe in a timely fashion.
The Registration fee covers lunches for both days, dinner the first evening and training materials.
Registration closes January 5th, 2026. We recommend securing your spot early as places are limited. Please note that as of December 27, 2025, registrations can no longer be cancelled. All cancellations received after this date will be billed at full registration fee of €220 including the registrations made at the early bird rate.
Please book your hotel by December 27 to ensure availability and preferential rates. After this date, rooms and pricing cannot be guaranteed.
Interpretation will be provided based on attendance for each language. We encourage early registration so we can plan accordingly. A minimum of 8 attendees per language will be necessary for translation to be feasible.
Business casual.
We advise you to arrive 1 day prior to the event as registration desk open at 8h30 the day of the events.
Dealer Meeting – Tuesday, January 27th
Registration desk opens at 08:30, and the meeting starts at 09:00. It will conclude around 18:00, followed by an evening soirée.
Sales Training – Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th, January.
The event will be held at Myriad by SANA Hotel, located about 10 minutes from the airport. We recommend taking a taxi or Uber for the most convenient transfer.
Our team is happy to help. Please reach out to your Regional Sales Manager for any questions or send an email to hotspringevents@watkinsmfg.com
