Mala McAlpin The 5th annual World Spa Awards came to a close last week, with spa and wellness industry leaders attending the Armani Hotel Dubai from around the globe.
Launching in 2015 by the World Travel Awards, the World Spa Awards were designed to continue improving the standards within spa tourism by rewarding the organisations that are the leaders in the field. Votes are cast by professionals working within the spa industry as well as members of the public via the WSA website. This year’s event partners included Bastien Gonzalez, Natura Bissé and Aromatherapy Associates, while the official proceedings were hosted by broadcaster and news anchor Katie Fielder, and Dutch jazz pianist Joja Wendt headlined the award night’s entertainment.
Melbourne’s MISS FOX once again took home the outstanding accolade of World’s Best Beauty Salon. “We are deeply thankful for your gracious support, and proud to announce that MISS FOX has won the prestigious title of World’s Best Beauty Salon at the World Spa Awards 2019,” says Founder & Director Victoria Fox. “We could not have done this without you. Coming to almost a decade of service, our mission at MISS FOX is to uplift and inspire through luxury self care, with our services and events now spanning grooming, spa, skin, naturopathy, life coaching, energy healing, movement, mindfulness, women’s health and emotional wellbeing. It fills our hearts to once again be recognised for doing what we love. Thank you, thank you and thank you!”
Olivia Newton-John was also honoured on the night with the ‘Wellness Pioneer Award’ (as co-owner of Gaia Retreat) for her outstanding contribution to the wellness industry and for serving as a leading voice for complementary therapies.
Additional Australian winners included:
World’s Best Day Spa – Gaia Retreat & Spa
Oceania’s Best Hotel Spa – Spa Retreat at Palazzo Versace
Oceania’s Best Resort Spa – The Spa at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
Oceania’s Best Wellness Retreat – Eden Health Retreat
On a global scale, some top accolades included:
World’s Best Resort Spa – HARNN Heritage Spa at InterContinental® Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (Vietnam)
World’s Best Wellness Retreat – Mriya Resort & Spa (Russia)
World’s Best Eco Spa – Joyas del Ecuador Wellness Spa (Ecuador)
World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand – Anantara Spa
World’s Best Medical Spa – Lanserhof Tegernsee (Germany)
World’s Best Wellness Clinic – Mriya Resort & Spa (Russia)
Rebecca Cohen, Managing Director of the World Spa Awards, said “This year is our most ambitious programme yet, as World Spa Awards cements its reputation as the industry’s most trusted benchmark of excellence. Armani Hotel Dubai has proven a world-class host on what has been a magnificent evening of triumph for the spa and wellness industry. We have had the privilege of recognising the leading organisations from across the world and my congratulations to each of them.”
