Spafinder Wellness 365 recently announced the winners of the 2016 Wellness Travel Awards (WTA), which recognize the demand for healthier travel options and honor hotels, resorts, destination spas, and retreats worldwide for excellence in wellness vacations and experiences. Winners were selected by a panel of 39 travel and wellness industry editors and experts, including American Spa’s editor-in-chief and publisher Julie Keller Callaghan. The panel of judges nominated 605 properties for consideration before narrowing the field to 388 finalists from 41 countries and regions on six continents. Then, consumers around the globe casted more than 130,000 votes for their top 10 favorite locations across 20 categories. Of the winning properties, 66 percent were new, which reflects growth in wellness travel.
Winners of the Crystal Awards, which is the crème de la crème of spas, are:
Africa: Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat (Clanwilliam, South Africa)
Asia: Kamalaya Koh Samui (Thailand)
Australia: Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat (Tallebudgera, Australia)
Europe: SHA Wellness Clinic (L’Albir, Spain)
North America: Rancho La Puerta (Tecate, Mexico)
South and Central America: Lapinha Spa (Lapa, Brazil)
Winners of the Country/Region Awards for wellness travel are:
U.S.: Canyon Ranch (Tucson, AZ)
Germany: Villa Stéphanie and Haus Julius at Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa (Baden-Baden)
France: The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula Paris
Japan: Aman Spa at Amanemu (Shima)
Austria: Stanglwirt-Spa at Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt (Going am Wilden Kaiser)
Canada: Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat and Health Spa (Ainsworth Hot Springs)
Italy: Verdura Spa at Verdura Resort (Sicily)
Switzerland: Clinique La Prairie (Clarens)
China: The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
UK: Ragdale Hall Health Hydro & Thermal Spa (Melton Mowbray)
“The growth in wellness travel and the vast range of healthy travel options offered by these exceptional properties is remarkable,” says CEO John Bevan. “We are honored that the Awards are supported by World Travel Market London and curated by an outstanding panel of travel editors and experts, along with travelers around the globe. Without question, they are the most objective awards in the industry and every nominee, finalist, and winner deserves recognition for their accomplishments.”