Spafinder Wellness 365 recently announced the winners of the 2015 Wellness Travel Awards, which recognize the demand for healthier travel options and honor hotels, resorts, destination spas, and retreats worldwide that offer the best wellness vacations and experiences. Winners were selected by a panel of 33 travel and wellness industry editors and experts, including American Spa’s editor-in-chief and publisher Julie Keller Callaghan, who nominated 504 properties for consideration before narrowing the field to finalists in 53 countries and regions, and by consumers who voted for their favorite locations across 20 categories. Reflecting the rapid growth and diversity of the wellness travel landscape, of the 43 properties winning Country/Region Awards, only six were winners in 2014. Also, properties in Asia garnered 35 of the 200 top accolades across the 20 Category Awards. “We are honored to recognize the best in wellness travel from all corners of the globe,” says Mia Kyricos, chief brand officer of Spafinder Wellness. “Our objective is to help travelers identify options for their ideal wellness vacations while also recognizing the excellence and innovation that exists in this rapidly growing sector of the travel industry."
Crystal Awards Winners:
Africa: Thalaspa Henri Chenot at Lion in the Sun (Malindi, Kenya)
Asia: COMO Shambhala Estate at COMO Hotels and Resorts (Bali, Indonesia)
Australia: Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat (Tallebudgera, Queensland, Australia)
Europe: SHA Wellness Clinic (L’Albir, Alicante, Spain)
North America: Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa (Tucson, Arizona)
South America: Kurotel Longevity Medical Center and Spa (Bavária, Gramado, Brazil)
Country/Region Awards: Winners in the leading countries for wellness travel are:
U.S. Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa (Tucson, Arizona)
Germany: Lanserof Tegernsee (Marienstein, Waakirchen, Germany)
France: Four Seasons Hotel George V (Paris, France)
Japan: Gora Kadan (Kanagawa, Japan)
Austria: Rogner Bad Blumau (Bad Blumau, Austria)
Canada: Spa Eastman (Eastman, QC, Canada)
Italy: Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda (Gargnano BS, Italy)
Switzerland: Grand Resort Bad Ragaz (Bad Ragaz, Switzerland)
China: Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai at Pudong (Shanghai, China)
UK: ESPA Life at Corinthia London (London, England)
Category Awards: Voters also recognized the top 10 destinations in 20 “Best for” categories, with eight spas garnering the most honors. Canyon Ranch in Tucson (U.S.), Mii amo (U.S.), and COMO Shambhala Estate (Indonesia) were winners in 10 categories, while Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat (Australia), Kurotel Longevity Medical Center and Spa (Brazil), and SHA Wellness Clinic (Spain) won in eight. Lanserhof Tegernsee (Germany) and Spa Eastman (Canada) won in seven categories.
“Spafinder Wellness 365 would like to thank the panelists who contributed their time and expertise to ensure that the top wellness travel locations around the world were nominated for these awards, along with the 10,000-plus consumers who cast votes,” says John Bevan, chief operating officer at Spafinder Wellness. “I would also like to congratulate every one of the nominees and finalists. Each of these properties is a global standout in the wide world of wellness travel.”