SpaFinder Unveils 2009 Readers’ Choice Award Winners, Honoring Spa-Goers’ Favorite Spas across the Globe
More Votes Cast–across More Countries, Regions, and Categories–Than in Program’s Seven-Year History
With 15,000 hotel, resort, and destination spas worldwide, the industry has never been more vast, diverse, or truly global, and our awards uniquely capture these realities
Readers’ Choice has become the industry’s premier awards program for reflecting the real, unvarnished opinions of global spa-goers. And for every spa singled out, it represents a tremendous honor.
SpaFinder, Inc., the global spa and wellness resource, today revealed the winners of its prestigious 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards, honoring spa-goers’ favorite spas across the world–by continent and country/region–as well as their top picks in 27 diverse categories.
The 2009 SpaFinder awards attracted an unprecedented level of consumer participation, while also providing the most comprehensive assessment of the global spa market to date: More votes were cast (360,000)–across more countries, regions, and categories–than in the program’s seven-year history.
In addition to regions/categories traditionally recognized by the awards, new destinations were added in ’09, including Argentina, Mainland China, Scandinavia, Spain, and South Africa, along with timely new categories like ‘Best for Environmental Practices.’
Several macro trends emerge: an exceptional showing for spas with an explicit wellness/health/fitness focus, a striking performance by globally branded spas (such as ESPA, Fairmont Willow Stream, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and Spa Chakra), along with an uptick in honors for spas with a water/hydrothermal focus, perhaps reflecting a renewed consumer enthusiasm for spa’s ancient roots.
“With 15,000 hotel, resort, and destination spas worldwide, the industry has never been more vast, diverse, or truly global, and our awards uniquely capture these realities,” noted SpaFinder’s president, Susie Ellis. “Readers’ Choice has become the industry’s premier awards program for reflecting the real, unvarnished opinions of global spa-goers. And for every spa singled out, it represents a tremendous honor.”
The 2009 awards are based on votes submitted worldwide at SpaFinder’s global consumer websites  and by readers of SpaFinder publications. Voters were asked to cast ballots only for stay spas they’ve personally visited within the past three years.
2009 Crystal Award Winners–Favorite Spas by Continent
The Crystal Award, the most coveted Readers’ Choice honor, recognizes the most extraordinary spa on each (habitable) continent. This year’s standard-bearers are:
Africa: Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa (Knysna, South Africa)
Asia: Kamalaya Koh Samui Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa (Suratthani, Thailand)
Australia: Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat (Queensland, Australia)
Europe: Mandarin Oriental, Prague (Prague, Czech Republic)
North America: Canyon Ranch Tucson (Arizona, USA)
South America: Kurotel Longevity Center and Spa (Gramado, Brazil)
2009 Country/Region Winners
Awards were given for the top spa in each of 33 countries and regions, from traditional destinations like Thailand or the Caribbean to emerging markets in Asia or South America. In addition to the Crystal Award continent winners named above (who also took top honors in their country/region), here’s the list of global favorites:
Argentina: Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires
Austria: Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol
Canada: Ste. Anne’s Country Inn and Spa
Caribbean: The BodyHoliday at LeSport
Central America: Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
China (Hong Kong): The Peninsula Hong Kong
China (Mainland): Chi, the Spa at Pudong Shangri-La
France: Guerlain Spa at Trianon Palace Versailles
Germany: Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa
Greece: GB Spa at Hotel Grande Bretagne
India: Ananda in the Himalayas
Indonesia: COMO Shambhala Estate
Ireland: Sámas, the Deluxe Destination Spa at Park Hotel Kenmare
Italy: Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort
Japan: Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
Malaysia: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa
Maldives: One & Only Maldives at Reethi Rah
Mexico: Rancho La Puerta
Middle East: Spa Chakra at the Alfardan Towers
Philippines: Mandala Spa & Villas
Russia: The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow
Scandinavia: Vann Spa Hotel and Conference Center
Singapore: Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Singapore
South Pacific Islands: The InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa
Spain: SHA Wellness Clinic
Switzerland: ESPA at the VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa
United Kingdom: Chewton Glen
2009 Category Award Winners
To help consumers identify the best spas for their specific goals, SpaFinder readers also named their picks for the best spas across 27 categories: from ‘Best for Affordability’ to ‘Best for Men’ to ‘Best Medical Program.’
In conjunction with its Readers’ Choice Awards, SpaFinder this week also named Dr. Andrew Weil the recipient of its seventh annual Visionary Award, presented to an outstanding contributor to the spa and wellness industries. Dr. Weil was honored as a trailblazer in integrative health and healing, and for his work bridging the worlds of medicine, complementary medicine, and spa.
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