The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Five Bahamas-based spas are battling for the top spot in the fifth annual World Spa Awards 2019.

The nominees for the best spa include Mandara Spa at Atlantis; Red Lane Spa at Sandals Emerald Bay, Exuma; Red Lane Spa Resort and Offshore Island, New Providence; Seaspa at Grand Isle Resort and Spa, Exuma; and The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort, on Paradise Island.

Joy Jibrilu, the Ministry of Tourism’s director general, said: “The fact that five local spas are nominated for the World Spa Awards bodes well for the islands of The Bahamas and demonstrates that we are on par with countries around the world for revitalisation and relaxation.

“Everyone in The Bahamas should be proud of this and vote to ensure that the world knows that it is better in The Bahamas.”

Launched by the World Travel Awards as a sister programme to the World Ski Awards and World Golf Awards, the World Spa Awards is focused on the rapidly-evolving spa and wellness sector.

According to officials, World Spa Awards was established “in response to overwhelming demand from the spa industry for a programme that was fair and transparent; a programme with a mission to serve as the definitive benchmark of excellence, and to help to foster a new era of growth in spa tourism”.

The World Spa Awards programme has categories for the Best Hotel Spa; Best Resort Spa; Best Wellness Retreat; and Best Spa Destination, each awarded on a national level.

The individual country level winner with the most votes not only takes the national award but also the world-level award in each of the respective categories.

A number of categories exist on a world-level only, such as Best Airline Lounge Spa; Best Cruise Line Spa; Best Spa Brand; Best Medical Spa; and Best Desert Spa.

Votes are cast by professionals working within the spa industry - senior executives, travel buyers, tour operators, agents and media - and by the public.

The voting opens today and ends on August 19. To cast a vote, visit worldspaawards.com.