Spa Finder announces 2007 Readers' Choice winners for spas all over the world. Awards Reveal Spa-Goers' Favorite Spas on Six Continents and 23 Nations/Regions Worldwide; Spa-Goers' Also Name Their Top Spas for a Range of Specific Features and Offerings
New York, NY (PRWEB) September 18, 2007 -- Spa Finder, Inc., the global spa resource, today announced the winners of its 2007 Readers' Choice Awards, revealing spa-goers' favorite spas in the world - by continent and region - as well as their top picks for the best spas in 23 specific categories. Based on thousands of votes submitted by Spafinder.com visitors and readers of Luxury SpaFinder Magazine, the awards represent the most complete consumer assessment of the global spa market.
Now in its fifth year, the Spa Finder Readers' Choice Awards has elicited more reader votes with each passing year, and 2007 saw the most dramatic increase to date, with a major upsurge in international votes and more than twice as many votes overall compared to a year ago. In all, ballots were cast for 1,500+ different spa properties worldwide (a number made all the more impressive given that voters were asked to only cast ballots for stay spas they've personally visited within the past three years).
"Our Readers' Choice Awards have become the industry's premier awards program - a sort of 'Academy Awards' for spas," said Spa Finder, Inc. President Susie Ellis. "Given how many people voted this year and how many different spas were considered, this is a huge honor for all of our 2007 winners."
Following are Spa Finder readers' and web visitors' favorite spas in the world, by continent and country/region, according to this year's vote tallies. Reflecting the growth of spa participation worldwide, 23 nations/regions and every habitable continent on the globe are now represented.
Crystal Award Winners - Favorite Spas in the World (by Continent)
Africa: Four Seasons Resort Sharm el Sheikh, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
Asia: Chiva-Som, Hua Hin, Thailand
Australia: Spa Chakra Hayman, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Europe: Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort, San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy
North America: Miraval, Life in Balance, Tucson (Arizona), United States
South America: Kurotel Longevity Center and Spa, Gramado, Brazil
Favorite Spas by Country/Region
Austria: Rogner-Bad Blumau Hotel & Spa, Bad Blumau
Brazil: Kurotel Longevity Center and Spa, Gramado
Canada: Ste. Anne's Country Inn & Spa, Grafton, Ontario
Caribbean: The BodyHoliday at LeSport, St. Lucia
Central America: Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
China: The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Czech Republic: Mandarin Oriental, Prague
France: Evian Royal Resort, Evian
Germany: Brenner's Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden
Greece: Blue Palace Resort & Spa, Elounda, Crete
India: Ananda in the Himalayas, Tehri Garhwai, Uttaranchai
Indonesia: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Bali
Ireland: ESPA at the g hotel, Galway
Japan: Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo
The Maldives: One&Only at Reethi Rah, North Malé Atoll
Mexico: Rancho La Puerta, Tecate
Middle East: Talise Spa at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
S. Pacific Islands: InterContinental Resort and Spa Moorea, Moorea, French Polynesia
Southeast Asia: Banyan Tree Phuket, Phuket, Thailand
Switzerland: Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken
Thailand: Chiva-Som, Hua Hin
United Kingdom: Champneys at Tring Health Resort, Wigginton, Tring, Hertfordshire
United States: Miraval Life in Balance, Tucson, Arizona
Readers Also Name "Best" Spas for 23 Specific Spa Offerings
To help spa consumers identify the best spas for their unique goals, Spa Finder also asked its readers and web visitors to name their picks for the best spas in 23 specific categories - from "best accommodations" and "best cuisine," to "best for men" and "best urban hotel spa." One of the new categories for '07 is "best spa brand," reflecting a sharpening industry focus on branding and how important spa brands (as opposed to individual spa properties) have become for consumers.
A complete listing of Readers' Choice Award winners is featured in Spa Finder's 2008 Global Spa Finder, the definitive worldwide spa directory, and can be viewed at: http://www.spafinder.com/spaguide/readerschoice/2007.jsp
Awards Ceremonies to Take Place November 1st
2007 Spa Finder Readers' Choice Awards will be formally presented during an invitation-only gathering at New York's Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal on November 1st, 2007, as part of Spa Finder's "The Spa Experience 2007," a public sampling of 60+ elite spas from around the globe.
Learn More
To learn more about the awards ceremony or to speak with Spa Finder Inc. President Susie Ellis about awards trends and analysis, contact:
RBI Communications
Betsy Isroelit - (213) 300-0108, betsy(at)rbicom.com
About Spa Finder, Inc.
The world's largest spa marketing and media company, Spa Finder reaches millions of wellness-focused consumers via Spafinder.com, its award-winning website, and Luxury SpaFinder magazine, the trusted authority on the luxury spa lifestyle. Redeemable at 3,600+ spas worldwide and available at thousands of retail outlets across North America, Spa Finder Gift Certificates and Gift Cards represent the world's largest spa gift certificate/card program. Spa Finder, the global spa resource, also publishes the annual Global Spa Finder and operates Spa Finder Europe and Spa Finder Japan, two native-language websites showcasing relationships with local day spas, salons, and onsens. Founded in 1986, the privately held company is headquartered in Manhattan.
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