What connects Baden-Baden with Budapest? What links Bad Neuenahr in Germany and Naantali in Finland? They are all Royal Spas of Europe, along with Sárvár in Hungary, Balneario de Archena in Spain, Bayreuth in Germany and Mariánské Lázne in the Czech Republic. For the first time these resorts will be jointly presenting their tourism programmes at Cologne International Travel Fair.

The Royal Spas of Europe are a small, select group of spas, each offering the highest standards of quality whilst also promoting the other members of the network.

The prerequisites for membership of the Royal Spas of Europe include a royal or noble tradition, prestigious restaurants and hotels in the four and five star category, high-quality, medical treatments and of course, natural therapeutic springs presented to an international clientele in accordance with WHO standards.

In other words, visitors to the Royal Spas of Europe are assured of a reliable, clearly distinguished set of premium-class services. This is a great benefit among the jungle of wellness breaks - Europe has no fewer than 1,000 spa and health resorts.

There are some very exciting developments in store for 2008 in the elegant surroundings of the Royal Spas of Europe. To mention just a few of these, Balneario de Archena, a wonderful spa in a wooded valley near Murcia, presents a new, state-of-the-art thermal pool complex. Bayreuth is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the town's redesign by Margravine Wilhelmine, the sister of Frederick the Great. As part of the celebrations, concerts will be performed at the Margravial Opera House, considered to be the finest baroque theatre in Europe.

Baden-Baden offers an abundance of riches for 2008. Claudio Abbado, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Nigel Kennedy, Thomas Quasthoff and Justus Frantz will all be performing here in the first half of 2008. This distinguished list is a reflection of the exceptional quality of a stay in Baden-Baden.

In 2008 Bad Neuenahr celebrates the 150th anniversary of the dedication of its springs by Princess (later Empress) Augusta. Bad Neuenahr will host the German Spas Conference in April and the Rhineland-Palatinate Festival in June. 300,000 visitors are expected to attend the latter event in this elegant spa resort. Bad Neuenahr also has a new medical fitness studio with all the latest innovations - the ultimate in exercise and keeping fit.

For more information and details of breaks in Budapest, Sárvár, Mariánské Lázne and Naantali Spa, please log on to www.royal-spas.net

This and other press releases (in German and English) are available to journalists in the members' digital press area at www.press.royal-spas.net