The 10th annual Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Awards – hosted by Les Nouvelles Esthetiques South Africa in association with Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Paris – announced the winning South African spas and spa industry professionals worth recognition.

Held at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, the 2014 awards consisted of six different categories: day spa; hotel spa; boutique hotel spa; unique spa concept; safari spa; and aesthetic/med-spa categories.

The day spa finalists were Senses Day Spa, Shambala Wellness Centre Spa, Urban Glow Day Spa and the winner was the Langaro Lifestyle Centre in Camps Bay in Cape Town.

Hotel spa finalists included Mount Grace country House and Spa, Fancourt Spa, The Saxton Hotel & Spa and the winner was the Arabella Hotel & Spa – which features a two-hour sensory water and steam treatment inspired by African rains.

Finalists for the boutique hotel spa category were the Pevonia Spa at Banskia Boutique, Georgiou Boutique Hotel & Spa and the winner was Fourdoun Boutique Hotel & Spa.

The winner of the unique spa concept was the expanded 24-guestroom Brookdale Health Hydro in the Natal Midlands. Finalists included Mowana Spa, Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa, plus Jiva Spa at the Taj Hotel.

The Tswalu Kalahari Spa in Green Kalahari won the safari spa category, with its philosophy of “nature above man”. Finalists in this category included Ikelta Spa at Sondela Nature Reserve and Emoya Luxury Hotel and Spa Bloemfontein.

Pure Esthetics, Pure Esthetics on 11th and Umhlanga Laser & Aesthetic Clinic were the finalists for the aesthetic/medi-spa category. The winner was Nanita Dalton – Laser, Skin & Body Institute.

The 2014 Spa Recognition Awards were presented to people whose presence in the industry is noted internationally. These people were nominated by their peers and colleagues in the spa industry, for example, The Spa Ambassador was awarded to Alison Yammin of Marine Spa Distributors.

The Spa Humanitarian Award went to Ian Macfarlane from Cape Town Medi-Spa and Ubuntu Touch project, which is a project to provide training opportunities to women from disadvantaged communities – linked directly to employment opportunities.

The Spa Visionary Award was awarded to Lisa Smit from LS Enterprises for her collaboration with top international development chemists, viticulturists and botanists from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa to create the TheraVine skin and bodycare range.

The winner of the Spa Management Excellence Award was Jackie Armitage from The Oyster Box Spa for being a dynamic spa manager, able to efficiently balance a good working environment with a superb guest experience.