Mary Tabacchi has been recognised with the Global Wellness Summit’s (GWS) coveted annual Leading woman in wellness award in Dubai, UAE.

Tabacchi is a spa industry pioneer and professor emirata of the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration. She’s known for having specialised in nutritional sciences and plant sciences and has a PhD in biochemical nutrition, biostatistics and is an author and researcher.

She has also provided consultancy for destination health resort developments and has served on the boards of GWS and ISPA, as well as the New York Spa Alliance.

The award was presented by the 2024 award winner Amy McDonald of Under a Tree and Hannah Messerli of the advisory board of the GWI.

Messerli said of Tabacchi: “She is a true pioneer, one of the first academics to recognise wellness as a legitimate field of study and a vital force for human flourishing.

“She has lifted countless others with her encouragement, her wisdom and her contagious enthusiasm for lifelong learning.”

“Today we honour her not only for her professional legacy, which will continue to shape this industry for decades to come, but also for her longevity.”

Tabacchi said: “It seems like I’ve been in this organisation a while. I’ve enjoyed it every year. I’m so proud of you people and I’m totally shocked.”

Previous recipients of the award include Amy McDonald, founder of consultancy Under A Tree; Sue Harmsworth, ESPA founder and industry luminary; and Julie Bach, respected spa training specialist.