Spafinder Wellness has announced the winners of the 2016 Wellness Travel Awards at an event at the World Travel Market in London.

Spafinder Wellness CEO John Bevan presented WTA Crystal Awards to the top properties on six continents and Country Awards to the top properties in 41 countries and regions. Category Awards were given to the top 10 properties that offer exceptional wellness experiences in each of 20 categories. New categories in 2016 include “Hidden Gems” and “Ahead-of-the-Curve.”

North America, Asia and Europe had the largest increase in category winners (51, 44 and 41 per cent, respectively) and the Caribbean, Nordic Countries and Central America all had more than 30 per cent growth.

“The growth in wellness travel and the vast range of healthy travel options offered by these exceptional properties is remarkable,” said Spafinder CEO John Bevan. “We are honored that the Awards are supported by World Travel Market London and curated by an outstanding panel of travel editors and experts, along with travelers around the globe. Without question, they are the most objective awards in the industry and every nominee, finalist and winner deserves recognition for their accomplishments.”

The Crystal Awards were awarded to top properties on six continents, including:

Best in Africa: Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat, South Africa
Best in Asia: Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, Thailand
Best in Australia, New Zealand & Oceania: Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Australia
Best in Europe: SHA Wellness Clinic, Spain
Best in North America: Rancho La Puerta, Mexico
Best in South & Central America: Lapinha SPA, Brazil

Country awards for the leading countries for wellness travel include:
United States: Canyon Ranch in Tucson
Germany: Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa / Villa Stéphanie
France: SPA THE PENINSULA PARIS
Japan: Amanemu
Austria: Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt
Canada: Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat & Health Spa
Italy: Verdura Resort
Switzerland: Clinique La Prairie
China: Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
UK: Ragdale Hall Health Hydro & Thermal Spa

Top category winners include:
Rancho La Puerta, Mexico: nine awards
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, Thailand: nine awards
Canyon Ranch in Tucson, United States: six awards
COMO Shambhala Estate, Indonesia: six awards
New Life Hiking Spa, United States: six awards
SHA Wellness Clinic, Spain: six awards
Ananda in the Himalayas, India: five awards
Chiva-Som Health Resort, Thailand: five awards
Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat & Health Spa, Canada: five awards

Four Seasons was the brand standout, with nine awards.

Inaugurated in 2014, the Awards recognize hotels, resorts, destination spas and retreats offering the best wellness vacations and experiences on six continents and in 41 countries, along with the top 10 properties in each of 20 categories. This year, 388 finalists competed for top honors, and consumers cast over 130,000 ballots for their favorite properties, more than twice as many as were cast in 2015. All Wellness Travel Award nominees, finalists and winners can be seen at www.wellnesstravelawards.com.

Wellness Travel Award finalists were selected by a panel of 39 travel and wellness industry editors and experts – which included Spa Business editor in chief Liz Terry and Spa Business editor Katie Barnes – who first nominated 605 properties for consideration before narrowing the field. Consumers around the globe then voted for their favorite locations across 20 categories. A combination of nominations and scores by the panelists and consumer ballots was used to select winners.