The world’s finest spa and wellness brands have been unveiled at a star-studded gala ceremony in the Maldives.
Pioneers, influencers and leading figureheads of the global spa and wellness industry attended the 2018 World Spa Awards at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, an ultra-luxury private island escape in the southern Dhaalu Atoll.
Winners at the red-carpet reception included Anantara Spa (World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand), Armani Hotel Dubai (World’s Best Hotel Spa), while the cutting-edge holistic health treatments of Lanserhof Tegernsee led to it being voted World’s Best Medical Spa.
A breath-taking location between the Alps and Lake Lucerne helped Alpine Spa at Switzerland’s Bürgenstock Hotel gain recognition as World’s Best New Hotel Spa.
Meanwhile, another awe-inspiring vista – the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona – helped the Mii amo to lift the title of North America’s Best Wellness Retreat.
In a special category to acknowledge an outstanding contribution to the industry, Erich Schulte, founder of QMS Medicosmetics, was awarded 2018 World Spa Awards Spa Pioneer for his work advancing the science of skincare.
Rebecca Cohen, managing director, World Spa Awards, said: “The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort 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.”
Other highlights included awards for Australia’s Gaia Retreat & Spa (World’s Best Day Spa); Natura Bissé (World’s Best Spa Brand); Santa Maris Oia Luxury Spa (Europe’s Best Resort Spa); Waldorf Astoria Park City Spa (Utah’s Best Hotel Spa); The Lanesborough Club & Spa (England’s Best Hotel Spa); Aromatherapy Associates (World’s Best Aromatherapy Brand); PEDI:MANI:CURE Studio by Bastien Gonzalez (World’s Best Nail Studio Brand) and The Temple House, Chengdu, China (Asia’s Best Wellness Retreat).
The weekend also proved an excellent showcase for host the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.
The resort’s eco-conscious design draws on island-inspired style and contemporary architectural elements, and its villas come with private plunge pools.
The unique, lobster-shaped Iridium Spa is the largest overwater spa in the Maldives at 20,000 square foot, making it the perfect venue to showcase the brilliance of the global spa industry.
World Spa Awards is the sister event to World Travel Awards, currently celebrating its 25th anniversary.
For more information about the 2018 World Spa Awards, visit the official website and for a full list of winners click here.
More Information
World Spa Awards was developed in reaction to overwhelming demand from the spa industry for a programme that was fair and transparent; a programme with a mission to serve as the definitive benchmark of excellence, and to help to foster a new era of growth in spa tourism.