2015 Wellness Travel Awards winners announced
Above: The Sha Wellness Clinic in Spain
The Sha Wellness Clinic in Spain, the Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in Australia and Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona are among the winners of the 2015 Wellness Travel Awards.
The three properties won the Crystal Award for Europe, Australia/New Zealand and North America respectively at the awards, announced at the World Travel Market in London on Wednesday.
The Crystal Awards are given to the top spas, hotels, resorts and retreats on six continents as part of the Wellness Travel Awards, now in their second year and operated by Spafinder Wellness.
The awards, judged by a panel of 33 travel and wellness industry judges, including Professional Spa & Wellness magazine editor Nora Elias, also honour the leading wellness property in 53 countries and regions around the world, and across a wide range of categories.
Country and region awards winners included Vana Malsi Estate in India, Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di GardaLake Garda in Italy, The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines, Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa at The Yeatman in Portugal, Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in Switzerland, Espa Life at Corinthia London and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, to name just a few.
The awards, launched to honour the leading providers of wellness services, programmes and solutions around the world, also crown 10 winners across 20 different wellness categories.
Categories include Best for Fitness, where Kamalaya Koh Samui in Thailand were among the winners; Best for Nutrition, with winners including Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts; Best for Weight Loss, with winners including Lanserhof Tegernsee; and Best Overall Healthy Living Programme – with Villa Stephanie at Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Germany among the winners.
The 2015 Wellness Travel Awards winners were whittled down from 504 shortlisted properties, voted for by the 33 industry judges, and by more than 10,000 consumers.
The awards were announced by Mia Kyricos, chief brand officer of Spafinder Wellness, and Spafinder Wellness chief operating officer John Bevan. Kyricos said: "We are honoured to recognise the best in wellness travel from all corners of the globe.
“Our objective is to help travellers identify options for their ideal wellness vacations, while also recognising the excellence and innovation that exists in this rapidly growing sector of the travel industry."
For the complete list of the 2015 Wellness Travel Awards winners, click here