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.comspafinder.co.uk and spafinder.ca.

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

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