The International SPA Association (ISPA) will present Boldijarre Koronczay, founder and president of Éminence Organic Skin Care, with the 2015 ISPA Visionary Award at the 25th annual ISPA Conference & Expo held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas October 19 - 21. The ISPA Visionary Award is presented each year to someone in the spa industry who has made significant contributions to both the definition and positive movement of health and wellness over the lifetime of their career.
Éminence Organic Skin Care embodies more than half a century of herbal craftsmanship and experience unique to Hungary. The inspiration of this world-renowned and award-winning premium organic skin care company is rooted in the belief that natural and organic heals. In 1980, Koronczay was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of five. His mother and grandmother, both estheticians, kept him on a strict organic diet, treated him with natural and organic remedies for the illness and used only the natural skin care products handcrafted by their family. His survival marked the beginning of his passion for organic living and desire to bring this awareness to the skin care industry.
After completing rigorous training in Hungary to become an esthetician, Koronczay was determined to spread the message of organic living and skin care in North America. In 1998, with little means, Koronczay and his brother Attila moved to Vancouver to expand the family’s business, starting from the ground up and self-financing it. Koronczay began travelling across Canada and the U.S., knocking on the doors of luxury spas with products that looked and smelled as though they were edible and packaged inside recycled cardboard boxes. The notion of organic skin care and eco-friendly products was unknown to the spa industry in North America at this time and Koronczay faced significant obstacles as he tried to pitch his new brand to prospective clients. With a strong belief in the values of organic skin care and environmentally-conscious practices, plus products that produced incredible results, Koronczay persevered and became a pioneer and leader in the organic skin care industry with Éminence Organic Skin Care. “I have dedicated my entire life to the spa industry and the organic movement – before organic was mainstream,” says Koronczay. “This is the moment where I can reflect and honestly say that all of the late nights, sacrifices, uphill battles and thousands of miles spent on the road each year have been truly worth every second.”
Through decades of hard work, Koronczay took Éminence from a locally grown family company and expanded it into over 40 countries, and ultimately millions worldwide, while still maintaining the importance of quality ingredients and products with the highest standards of organic and sustainable practices. Éminence now has nearly 200 products and consistently receives the highest accolades in the industry, including being voted Favorite Skin Care Line and Favorite Company for Product Education by spa professionals for 6 years in a row. With the headquarters based in Vancouver, Éminence has over 350 global employees and the company is expanding at a rapid pace with a focus on product innovation, along with an industry-leading commitment to education and training. Still on the road 10 months out of the year, Koronczay continues to visit and train customers personally and has educated over a quarter of a million estheticians and spa professionals in the past two decades. At industry tradeshows, he draws crowds across North America for his unique, entertainment driven teaching method, performing over 2,000 master classes throughout his career. Éminence has grown into a highly-regarded brand with a strong clientele of A-list celebrities who Koronczay works closely with to advise on skin care regimens and perform facials. “Hearing that I am granted this award, one that has been given to so many remarkable spa industry icons, is incredibly humbling,” says Koronczay. “I am grateful beyond words.”