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Spa Finder Announces 2008 Spa Finder Readers’ Choice Awards Winners

New York, NY – September 18th, 2008 - SpaFinder, Inc., the global spa resource, today announced the winners of its prestigious 2008 Readers' Choice Awards, revealing spa-goers' favorite spas across the globe - by continent and country/region - as well as their top picks for the best spas in 25 specific categories. In addition to the diverse geographic regions traditionally recognized in the awards program, new favorites in remote locations such as Kynsa, South Africa and Queensland, Australia demonstrate how a fresh generation of spas are enticing global travelers.

"We're proud to carry our Readers' Choice Awards into their sixth year, reflecting the unvarnished opinions of actual spa goers from every part of the world," said SpaFinder, Inc. President Susie Ellis. "As our industry's version of the 'Academy Awards,' our goal is to shine a global spotlight on those deserving spas that offer truly exceptional experiences to their guests."

The 2008 awards are based on over 250,000 votes submitted worldwide by SpaFinder.com visitors and readers of SpaFinder publications, representing the most complete consumer assessment of the global spa market available today. In all, ballots were cast for over 1,500 different spas around the world by visitors who have used these properties personally in the past three years.

Notably, this year marks the first time that a non-US spa took home the North America award. And several of these Crystal Award winners have leapt to the forefront virtually overnight: Gwinganna has been open only two years, while Pezula has been open only three.

SpaFinder Country/Region Winners for 2008
Awards are given for the top spa in each of 27 countries and regions. Four new countries have been added this year, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, and Singapore, reflecting significant growth in these spa markets.

In the United States, Arizona retains its leadership as the favorite spa state with Canyon Ranch Tucson taking the top US spa spot this year. Elsewhere, repeat winners include the Peninsula Spa in Hong Kong, Brenner's Park Hotel & Spa of Germany, Rancho La Puerta of Mexico, Kurotel Longevity Center of Brazil, St. Anne's Country Inn of Canada, The BodyHoliday of St. Lucia, Ananda in the Himalayas of India, Four Seasons Resort Bali of Indonesia, and Chiva-Som of Thailand.

• Austria
  Schloss Velden, a Capella Hotel
  
• 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
  Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
  
• China
  The Peninsula Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  
• Czech Republic
  Mandarin Oriental, Prague
  
• France
  Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, Paris, France
  
• Germany
  Brenner’s Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden
  
• Greece
  The Six Senses Spa at porto elounda De Luxe Resort & Spa, Elounda, Crete, Greece
  
• India
  Ananda in the Himalayas, Tehri Garhwai, Uttaranchai
  
• Indonesia
  Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Bali
  
• Ireland
  Sámas at the Park Hotel Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland
• Italy
  Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort, Siena, Tuscany, Italy
  
• Japan
  The Peninsula Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  
• Malaysia
  Pangkor Laut Resort, Pangkor, Malaysia
  
• Mexico
  Rancho La Puerta, Tecate
  
• Middle East
  Carmel Forest Spa Resort, Haifa, Israel
• Philippines
  Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu, the Philippines
• Russia
  The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, Moscow, Russia
• Singapore
  The Sentosa Resort & Spa, Sentosa, Singapore
• S. Pacific Islands
  The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
  
• Switzerland
  Clinique La Prairie, Clarens-Montreux, Switzerland
  
• Thailand
  Chiva-Som, Hua Hin
  
• United Kingdom
  Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Thermal Spa, Leicestershire, England
  
• United States
  Canyon Ranch Tucson, Tucson, Arizona

SpaFinder Category Award Winners for 2008
To help spa consumers identify the best spas for their unique goals, SpaFinder asks its readers and web visitors to name their picks for the best spas across 25 specific categories - from "best accommodations" and "best cuisine," to "best for men" and "best urban hotel spa." New categories this year include "favorite spa manager" and "favorite spa therapist."

Details of Reader's Choice Award winners can be found in SpaFinder's 2008 Global SpaFinder, the definitive worldwide spa directory, and can be viewed at: http://www.spafinder.com/spaguide/readerschoice/2008.jsp

Awards Ceremonies to Take Place October 14th, 2008
The SpaFinder Readers' Choice Awards will be formally presented during an invitation-only gala at the brand new Spa by Guerlain® in the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel of New York on October 14th, 2008.

Spa Finder (Inc.) is the publisher and source of the above information.

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