With an increasing number of tourists and residents looking to relax, unwind and lead healthier lifestyles, the requirement to promote a hotel’s leisure facilities is paramount, but there are also a number of independent spas proving increasingly popular.

Industry analysts estimate that the spa industry in the Middle East and North Africa generates more than US$630 million annually from over 824 facilities, 60% of which are in or around hotels.

“With the regional spa sector growing substantially, we felt it important to recognise this achievement by hosting the first Middle East Spa Awards. The number of high class nominations we received is testament to the calibre in this part of the world, so choosing the shortlist, let alone the overall winner, is not easy,” said Ray Tinston, sales director, The Hotel Show.

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With just a week to go until the ceremony, the finalists in the inaugural Middle East Spa Awards have been announced by The Hotel Show 2010, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from May18-20.

The Middle East Spa Awards aims to recognise the outstanding quality of services and amenities provided by spas in the region while also providing a platform from which they can promote themselves as an award winning spa to their clients.

Bliss Spa, Doha leads the shortlist with nominations in three categories (Spa Marketing; Spa Design and Best Spa). Meanwhile, Amara at The Park Hyatt Hotel Dubai has two nominations (Signature Body Treatment and Best Spa) as does Thai Privilege Spa (Spa Marketing and Spa Personality). Other spas in the running for top honours include; SensAsia, Six Senses and Cleopatra’s.

The winners in the five categories will be unveiled during the Business Breakfast Ceremony at 9am on Wednesday 19 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The judging panel is made up of top industry figures including media, spa and hospitality professionals. The five judges are: editorial consultant Kathi Everden, who specialises in the hospitality sector; Ebi Malekzadeh, owner of ESADORE in Dubai, which offers full services in consultantancy, design and management in spa and medi-spa; Sonette van Rensburg, who has been in the beauty industry for 22 years as a technician and assessor; spa and hotel architect Theodora Kioussis; and Tiina-Maija Bergmanpart of the business development team at RMAL Hospitality.

The full Middle East Spa Awards shortlist includes:

Spa Marketing
Bliss Spa, W Hotel, Doha
SensAsia Urban Spa
Thai Privilege Spa

Spa Personality
Cleopatra’s Wellness & Spa
Intercontinental Regency Bahrain
Thai Privilege Spa

Spa Design
Bliss Spa, W Hotel, Doha
Six Senses Hideaway, Zighy Bay, Oman
Anantara Spa, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

Signature Body Treatment
Amara, Park Hyatt
Spa Dunya
The Spa, The Palace – The Old Town

Best Spa
Amara, Park Hyatt
Bliss Spa, W Hotel, Doha
Six Senses Hideaway, Zighy Bay, Oman


For more information about The Hotel Show visit www.thehotelshow.com