FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SpaFinder Announces 2010 Readers’ Choice Award
Winners, Identifying the Top Spas around the World
Most Votes Cast, across More Countries and
Categories, in Program’s Eight-Year History – with
Many New ‘Faces’ Taking Top Honors
NEW YORK, NY—October 22, 2010 - SpaFinder,
Inc., the global spa and wellness resource, today
unveiled the winners of its 2010 Readers’ Choice
Awards, honoring spa-goers’ favorite spas across the
globe on six continents and in 35 countries/regions,
along with their top ten picks in 31 unique
categories.
The 2010 Readers’ Choice program attracted an
unprecedented level of worldwide consumer
participation than ever before in the Awards’
eight-year history. More votes were cast, across
more countries/regions and categories — providing
the most comprehensive consumer assessment of the
global spa market available.
A complete list of Readers’ Choice Award winners
will be featured in the NewBeauty SpaFinder Guide
to Global Spa, Wellness & Beauty,
arriving on newsstands in November.
The significant number of new “faces” taking top
honors this year is a reflection of the spa
industry’s dynamism and diversity. The majority of
Crystal Award recipients (top spa on each continent)
and Country/Region winners changed from 2009 to
2010. Additionally, four out of six Crystal winners
took home this coveted award for the first time,
while 14 Country/Region recipients were first-time
winners.
“This year’s roster of winners clearly demonstrates
that a new generation of spas, and many ‘fresh
faces,’ are attracting and wowing global travelers
even while some of the tried and true continue to
inspire,” noted Susie Ellis, president of SpaFinder,
Inc. “Readers’ Choice is unique among awards
programs in that it reflects the real opinions of
real-world spa-goers. And now that there are more
than 15,000 hotel, resort and destination spas
worldwide, whether the spa is a repeat or first-time
winner, it’s an extraordinary honor.”
Award Recipients
In addition to nations traditionally recognized by
the Awards, ten new spa markets were added in 2010:
Bulgaria, Chile, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt,
Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, Turkey and the United
Arab Emirates. New 2010 Category Awards include
“Favorite Day Spa,” “Best New Getaway Spa,”
“Favorite Spa Treatment” and “Favorite Spa Product
Brand.”
The 2010 Awards were based on votes submitted
worldwide at SpaFinder, Inc.’s global consumer
websites (including SpaFinder.com) and by readers of
SpaFinder publications. Voters were asked to cast
ballots only for stay and day spas they’ve
personally visited within the past three years.
An asterisk (*) denotes a first-time winner in that
awards category.
2010 Crystal Award Winners (Top Spas by Continent)
The Crystal Award (the ultimate Readers’ Choice
honor) recognizes the number-one spa on each
(habitable) continent. The 2010
standard-bearers are:
Africa: One&Only Cape Town* (Cape Town, South
Africa)
Asia: Ananda in the Himalayas* (Narendra
Nagar, India)
Australia: Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
(Queensland, Australia)
Europe: Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin*
(Berlin, Germany)
North America: Golden Door* (California,
United States)
South America: Kurotel Longevity Center and
Spa (Gramado, Brazil)
2010 Country/Region Winners
Awards were given for the favorite spa in 35
countries/regions. In addition to the Crystal Award
(continent) winners named above (also taking top
honors in their country), here are spa-goers’ global
favorites:
Argentina: Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires
Austria: The Balance Resort*
Bulgaria: Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko
Canada: Ste. Anne’s Country Inn and Spa
Caribbean: Parrot Cay* (Turks and Caicos)
Central America: Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal
Resort (Costa Rica)
Chile: The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago
China (Hong Kong): Four Seasons Hotel*
China (Mainland): The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing*
Cyprus: Le Méridien Limassol Spa & Resort
The Czech Republic: Mandarin Oriental, Prague
Egypt: Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria
France: Guerlain Spa at Trianon Palace
Versailles
Greece: Porto Elounda De Luxe Resort
Hungary: Danubius Hotel Gellért
Indonesia: Conrad Bali*
Ireland: Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa*
Italy: Lefay Resort & Spa Lago Di Garda*
Japan: The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo*
Malaysia: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort &
Spa
Maldives: One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives
Mexico: Rancho La Puerta
Morocco: La Mamounia
The Philippines: The Farm at San Benito*
Portugal: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
Russia: The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow
Scandinavia: Blue Lagoon* (Iceland)
Singapore: Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont
Singapore
South Pacific Islands: Four Seasons Resort
and Spa Bora Bora*
Spain: SHA Wellness Clinic
Switzerland: VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel &
Spa
Thailand: Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and
Holistic Spa
Turkey: Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the
Bosphorus
United Arab Emirates: Burj Al Arab
United Kingdom: The Gleneagles Hotel*
(Scotland)
United States:
Golden Door
(California)
2010 Category Award Winners
Spas (and their specialties) have never been more diverse. To help consumers identify the best spa for their specific goals, SpaFinder readers also cast votes for their favorite spas across 31 unique categories, from “Best for Affordability” to “Best for Men” to “Best for Romance.”
Spas (and their specialties) have never been more diverse. To help consumers identify the best spa for their specific goals, SpaFinder readers also cast votes for their favorite spas across 31 unique categories, from “Best for Affordability” to “Best for Men” to “Best for Romance.”
About SpaFinder, Inc.
The world’s largest spa media, marketing, and
gifting company, SpaFinder, Inc., connects millions
of wellness-focused consumers with thousands of spas
worldwide. SpaFinder’s media properties include the
award-winning SpaFinder.com, the Club Spa
e-newsletter and blog, and the annual NewBeauty
SpaFinder Guide to Global Spa,
Wellness & Beauty. SpaFinder and its spa-beauty
gift division, SpaWish, offer gift certificates and
cards that are redeemable at a combined network of
over 9,000 spas and salons, and are available at
more than 90,000 unique retail outlets in 79
countries. SpaFinder Europe and SpaFinder Japan
offer regional spa marketing and gifting programs,
including localized, native-language websites.
Founded in 1986, the privately held company is
headquartered in Manhattan.
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