The rooftop lap pool at Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, Miami Beach, FL, a wellness resort that puts equal emphasis on “resort,”, is a nominee for the first ever Wellness Travel Awards © 2014 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
by Karen Rubin
Travel Features Syndicate
Spafinder Wellness 365™ today announced the nominees for the first-ever Wellness Travel Awards, the only awards that recognize the spas, hotels, resorts and retreats worldwide dedicated to offering experiences and environments that leave visitors healthier when they check out than when they checked in. Nearly 300 nominees were named on six continents, in over 40 countries and in 18 categories.
Wellness enthusiasts can vote for their favorite nominees at spafinder.com today through September 19, 2104. Wellness Travel Award winners will be announced during the World Travel Market, which will take place in London, November 3-6.
An independent global panel comprised of 26 spa, wellness and travel journalists and industry experts selected the official nominees.
“We are honored members of this prestigious panel devoted so much of their time to ensure the most deserving locations from around the world were nominated,” said Spafinder Chief Brand Officer Mia Kyricos. “The Wellness Travel Awards recognize a rapidly growing demand for healthier travel options and make it easier for people to live well when they are on the road, whether they are in Chile on vacation or traveling in Japan for business.”
Spafinder defines wellness travel “as vacations, getaways and business trips that help travelers stay (or get) well when traveling” by offering distinct wellness-related programs and facilities. From nutrition, healing and mindset to state-of-the-art spas, fitness and wellness centers, these travel destinations make the wellbeing of travelers a top priority.
Category Awards for “Best of”
Among the various categories, the “Best of” are the most helpful for trip planning:
Category Awards are given to the spas, hotels, resorts and retreats around the world that offer the best wellness experiences in the 18 categories below. Three locations in each category will receive awards.
Best “Healthy Stay” (that is the best “total” wellness experience)
Ananda in the Himalayas – Uttarakhand, India
Chiva-Som – Hua Hin, Thailand
Golden Door – San Marcos, CA USA
Kamalaya Koh Samui – Samui, Thailand
Miraval– Tucson, AZ USA
Rancho la Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
Rancho Valencia – Santa Fe, CA USA
SHA Wellness Clinic– Alicante, Spain
Vana Retreat, Malsi Estate – Dehradun, India
Best for Mineral or Hot Springs
Blue Lagoon – Grindavík, Iceland
Evason Ma’in Hot Springs – Jordan
Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort – Siena, Italy
Mission Hills – Haikou, China
Nishimuraya Honkan – Toyooka, Japan
Ojo Caliente Mineral Spring Resort & Spa – Ojo Caliente, New Mexico USA
Tabacon grand Spa Thermal Resort – Costa Rica
Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort – Saturnia, Italy
Best for Weight Loss and Nutrition
Canyon Ranch – Tucson, AZ USA
Espace Henri Chenot – Merano Palace, ITALY
Pritikin Longevity Center – Miami, FL USA
Ranch at Live Oak – Malibu, CA USA
Rancho La Puerta– Tecate, Mexico
SHA Wellness Clinic – Alicante, Spain
The Farm at San Benito – Lipa, Philippines
Best for the Mind
Vana Retreat – Dehradun, India
Ananda in the Himalayas – Uttarakhand, India
Chiva-Som – Hua Hin, Thailand
COMO Shambhala Estate – Bali, Indonesia
Five Elements, Puri Ahimsa – Bali, Indonesia
Miraval – Tuscon, AZ USA
Rancho La Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
Best for Medical Services
Canyon Ranch – Tucson, AZ USA
Chiva-Som Hua Hin, Thailand
Clinique La Prairie – Clarens, Switzerland
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz – Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
SHA Wellness Clinic – Alicante, Spain
Best for Outdoor Adventure & Activities
Red Mountain Resort & Spa – Ivins, UT
Miraval – Tucson, AZ USA
Rancho la Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
Best for Groups, Meetings & Special Events
Canyon Ranch – Tucson, AZ & Lenox, MA USA
Miraval – Tucson, AZ USA
Best for Romance
Sandalwood Luxury Villas Resort & Spa – Samui, Thailand
Banyan Tree Ungasan – Bali, Indonesia
Chiva-Som – Hua Hin, Thailand
Como Shambhala Estate – Bali, Indonesia
Fusion Maia Da Nang – Da Nang, Vietnam
Mii amo Spa – Sedona, AZ USA
Best for Culinary and (Healthy) Cuisine
Chiva Som – Hua Hin, Thailand
Lake Austin Spa Resort – Austin, TX USA
Loisium Wine Spa Resort Langenlois – Langenlois, Austria
Miraval Resort – Tucson, AZ USA
Rancho la Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
SHA Wellness – Alicante, Spain
The Farm at San Benito – Lipa, Philippines
Vana Retreat, Malsi Estate – Dehradun, India
Best for Going Solo
Lake Austin Resort & Spa – Austin, TX USA
Rancho La Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
Gwinganna – Queensland, Australia
Best for on a Budget
Hills Health Ranch – British Columbia, Canada
The Oaks at Ojai Spa – Ojai, CA Sofitel Hotel & Spa –Queenstown
Rancho La Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
Red Mountain Resort & Spa – Ivins, UT USA
Sofitel Hotel & Spa –Queenstown
The Lifehouse Spa & Hotel – Essex, UK
Best for Girlfriend Getaways
Cal-A-Vie Health Spa – Vista, CA USA
Golden Door – San Marcos, CA USA
Miraval – Tucson, AZ USA
Rancho la Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
The Lifehouse Spa & Hotel – Essex, UK
Best for Men
Canyon Ranch – Tucson, AZ USA
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz – Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay Bodrum – Bodrum, Turkey
Miraval – Tucson, AZ USA
Best for Families
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa Hawaii, USA
Grand Wailea – Spa Grande – Hawaii, USA
Mission Hills – Haikou, China
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort – Farmington, PA USA
Omni Homestead Resort – VA, USA
Best for Getting Fit
Canyon Ranch – Tucson, AZ USA
Golden Door – San Marcos, CA USA
Miraval – Tuscon, Arizona USA
Rancho La Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
Red Mountain Resort & Spa – Ivins, UT USA
Best for Yoga/Yoga Retreats
Vana Retreat, Malsi Estate – Dehradun, India
Ananda in the Himalayas –Uttarakhand, India
Como Shambhala Estate – Bali, Indonesia
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary– Koh Samui, Thailand
Parrot Cay by Como – Turks and Caicos
Rancho La Puerta – Tecate, Mexico
Six Senses Zighy Bay – Oman
Swaswara, A CGH Earth Experience – Karnataka, India
Best for Beautifying
Chiva-Som – Hua Hin, Thailand
Cal-A-Vie Health Spa – Vista, CA USA
Golden Door – San Marcos, CA USA
Best New Wellness Travel Properties (opened in the last 12 months)
Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa – Dubai, UAE
Salamander Resort & Spa – Middleburg, VA USA
Vana Retreat, Malsi Estate – Dehradun, India
According to research conducted for the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism is one of the fastest-growing travel categories, already representing one in seven tourism dollars and experiencing nearly 50 percent more growth than global tourism overall.
Spafinder.com is the only website that offers consumers over 20,000 curated wellness options, including five-star resorts, yoga and fitness programs and spa locations.
Learn more at spafinder.com, spafinder.co.uk and spafinder.ca.
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