The best in wellness named at 2023 World Spa Awards

The spas at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, The Langham, Gold Coast, and Gaia Retreat were among the Australian winners at this year’s World Spa Awards

World Spa Awards, the program celebrating and rewarding excellence in the global wellness tourism space, has announced its 2023 winners.

The awards continue to grow in entrants and calibre, in line with the increasing demand for spa and wellness experiences, according to Rebecca Cohen, World Spa Awards Managing Director, who commented: “the spa and wellness industry is experiencing sustained growth, evident in the calibre of nominees in our 2023 programme. We have seen a notable increase in first-time World Spa Awards recipients, whilst previous winners also continue to push the boundaries of excellence by retaining their titles.”

Votes were cast by industry professionals, the media, and the general public, according to World Spa Awards.

Europe was a standout destination of the awards, with Switzerland’s Bürgenstock Alpine Spa on Lake Lucerne collecting the accolade for World’s Best Hotel Spa, while Palazzo Fiuggi, set in an eight-hectare park near Rome in Italy, was named World’s Best Wellness Retreat. In Germany, Lanserhof Sylt, on a secluded island in the Wadden Sea was awarded ‘World’s Best New Wellness Retreat’ and ‘World’s Best Spa Design’.

Closer to home, Australia was named the Best Spa Destination in Oceania. Accolades were awarded to Chuan Spa at The Langham, Gold Coast (Oceania’s Best Hotel Spa); The Spa at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley (Oceania’s Best Resort Spa); and Gaia Retreat & Spa (Oceania’s Best Wellness Retreat)

Mandarin Oriental continued its winning streak for the second consecutive year with the award for World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand, while Bali won the title of World’s Best Wellness Destination.

In the Middle East, Dubai was crowned World’s Best Spa Destination for its opulently appointed spas administering innovative and luxurious treatments. The Awaken Spa at the Emirate’s new ultra-luxury resort Atlantis The Royal cinched the award for World’s Best New Resort Spa, and World’s Best New Hotel Spa went to Clinique La Prairie Longevity Hub at Qatar’s The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl. Morocco took home the Best Spa Destination award for the Africa region.

In the Americas, Mexico won the award for Latin America’s Best Spa Destination, while in Cabo San Lucas, The Spa at Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, was awarded World’s Best Spa Signature Treatment for its Holistic Twilight Ceremony.

British brand Aromatherapy Associates held onto the title of World’s Best Aromatherapy Brand, while L’Occitane en Provence took home the award for World’s Best Spa Brand.

“All winners have shown dedication to delivering exceptional spa and wellness experiences and we are excited to share these achievements with the world”, said Cohen.

A full list of winners is available here.