The International SPA Association (ISPA) will present the 2017 ISPA visionary award to ESPA International chair and founder Sue Harmsworth at the 27th annual ISPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, from 16-18 October, 2017.

The award is presented each year to someone in the spa industry who has made significant contributions to both the definition and positive movement of health and wellness over the lifetime of their career.

“Sue is recognised as one of the world’s leading spa experts,” said ISPA President Lynne McNees. “Her innovative, inspirational and forward-thinking approach combined with her passion and vision helped shape the spa industry into what it is today. We are thrilled to be able to honour her achievements with this award.”

Harmsworth has devoted her life to spa and wellness, leading the industry by creating spas and helping to educate the industry on the impact of health and wellbeing on beauty. Her early career began in health and beauty journalism before she opened a salon in Toronto, a thalassotherapy resort in France, and a health farm in the UK. She has been responsible for the design, development and management of more than 200 spas in 60 countries.

Harmsworth founded ESPA in 1993 and worked with experts in natural science, to create ESPA’s product range, which is powered by combinations of plant actives, marine actives and essential oils. In 2010, Harmsworth was honoured with an MBE from the Queen of England in recognition of her services to the spa and beauty industry.

“I am thrilled to be receiving the award for what has been for me, simply my life passion,” said Harmsworth. “Right from the start, I was driven by an ambition to help people to understand the impact of health and wellness on beauty and to learn how to look and feel their very best. It is this passion that still inspires me today to keep pushing the boundaries of the spa industry and I am thrilled to be receiving the Visionary Award from ISPA who are such an iconic organisation in the industry.”

Harmsworth was co-chair of this year's Global Wellness Summit in Austria.