Mike Hinkle and Cindy Michaels started the World Massage Festival in 2006 when AMTA asked members to come up with some ideas to help bring attention about massage to the general public for Massage Therapy Awareness Week. Mike studied the profession and realized we were not recognizing our own, we were charging a wide range of prices to get the same education and he decided to create some options. To recognize our own, he created, "The Massage Therapy Hall of Fame".

To draw people to such an event, he created "The World Massage Festival". It is an annual event that travels around the country. Mike set the following Mission Statement for the Festival: To honor those who built the bridges for our profession, to educate the general public about massage, to educate therapists about different types of massage and to have fun.

"We are not an association...it's just the two of us (and fabulous volunteers) ... and we don't have deep pockets and professional staff to execute the Festival each year. When we sign a contract for a location, we go into that contract knowing, on faith, that we will register enough therapists to pay for the event....taking it on, as the saying goes, "a wing and a prayer". Our wonderful friends and supporters who generously volunteer their time and talent each year make it all possible. They arrive on location early, on their own nickel, to help with whatever we need them to do and without them, our task would be truly daunting."

Our goal is to provide all therapists with an opportunity to study with the leaders of the massage industry at a cost that is affordable. We believe every massage therapist should be able to learn from the masters and we do our best to make it happen. The World Massage Festival tries our best to steer clear of politics. In fact, Festival, for some, is a retreat FROM the politics of the profession. Therapists find it refreshing that we are the only massage convention that avoids politics. A chance for them to learn from the best in a pleasant, casual environment with no judgments being made about anything.

2016 began our affiliation with Caesar's Entertainment! In 2013, Caesar's approached us with a 5-year package to host the Festival. As we learned in 2012 when we first held Festival at the Tuscany Suites Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, no one does a convention like the casinos! Not only were we able to lock in great room rates, but we no sooner think about something we need.....and it's done!

Our 10th anniversary of the World Massage Festival was celebrated at the Blue Chip Casino Hotel in Michigan City, IN. In 2020 and 2021, we missed hosting Festival so that we all could protect our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be celebrating and hugging all the way through 2022 and 2023 at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC!

Last, but certainly not least, we just want to say thank you to all our sponsors, supporters, old friends and the new friends we make each year. YOU make all that we do worthwhile. Your patience when we make a mistake, forget something or have a glitch that is beyond our control is amazing and heartwarming! Check-in day is always very hectic and confusing, but you just smile and tell us to "take a breath" as you wait your turn in line. WMF therapists, instructors and vendors are awesome!