MEDIA RELEASE
Irish Tatler announces winners of the 4th annual Irish Tatler Spa Awards
ESPA at The Ritz Carlton named Irish Tatler Spa of the Year and Failte Ireland Approved Spa of the Year
(June 12) Irish Tatler today announced the winners of the coveted Irish Tatler Spa Awards at a gala awards luncheon in Dublin’s Westin Hotel.
ESPA at The Ritz Carlton walked away with the highest honours of the day, not only picking up the much sought after Irish Tatler Spa of the Year Award but also the Fáilte Ireland Approved Spa of the Year Award.
The judging panel felt that the quality of service, treatments and absolute impeccable facilities gave ESPA at The Ritz Carlton a level of excellence that all Irish spas could aspire to. The Failte Ireland Approved Spa of the Year is a new category to the awards in 2012 and Irish Tatler are delighted to welcome them onboard.
Now in their fourth year, the Irish Tatler Spa Awards commends the best spas in the country with awards being presented in ten categories, including Best Overall Treatment, Best Body Treatment, Best Facial Treatment, Innovation, Best Spa Style, Best Spa Therapist, Best Service, Readers Choice as voted by Irish Tatler readers, and the coveted Irish Tatler Spa of the Year and the Fáilte Ireland Approved Spa of the Year awards, undoubtedly the highest accolades of the event.
Monart Destination Spa walked away with the award for Destination Spa of the Year for the fourth year in a row. From architecture and design, spa facilities to service, visitors to Monart enjoy the complete five star spa experience. The judges felt that Monart Destination Spa provided the kind of experience spa-lovers dream of and which was unequalled elsewhere.
The glamorous ceremony was attended by spas from all over Ireland, presided over by Irish Tatler Editor Jessie Collins. ‘We are delighted that the Spa Awards has become such an important industry event although only in its fourth year, it is a real achievement for all the spas here to receive a coveted award as nominated by Irish Tatler readers and our extensive judging panel at Harmonia.’ commented Jessie Collins, editor of Irish Tatler
Rita Bonn at the Spa at the Heights at Aghadoe Heights was awarded the Best Therapist accolade at the 2012 Irish Tatler Spa Awards. Rita has worked at the Spa at the Heights for the past eight years and is a natural therapist who specializes in holistic treatments such as Indian Head Massage and Cancer Care Massage. The judges commended Rita for her professionalism which they deemed to be of the highest standard and also her fantastic manner, making her a worthy winner.
The Innovation award this year went to Watsu at the Spa at Hodson Bay Hotel, who are a great example of how spas in Ireland supercede expectations. They were the first to offer Watsu treatments (from water and shiatsu) which the judging panel were simply ‘dazzled’ by. Based on ancient healing and calming practices this treatment is truly innovative and is executed at the Spa at Hodson Bay Hotel to perfection.
THE 2012 IRISH TATLER SPA AWARD WINNERS ARE:
| Category | Winner |
| Irish Tatler Spa of the Year | ESPA at The Ritz Carlton |
| Failte Ireland Approved Spa of the Year | ESPA at The Ritz Carlton |
| Destination Spa of the Year | Monart Destination Spa |
| Hotel Spa of the Year | Oceo Spa at Seafield Golf & Spa Hotel |
| Boutique Spa of the Year | The Spa at Mount Juliet |
| Best Facial – Winner | The Eve Lom Ultimate Cleanse Facial at Galgorm Resort & Spa |
| Best Facial – Commended | Rituel Energisant de Choc at No.1 Pery Square |
| Best Facial – Commended | Elemental Nature Facial for Radiant Skin at The Escape Spa at The Imperial Hotel |
| Best Body Treatment – Winner: | Burren Wilderness Massage at The White Horses Spa at Doonbeg |
| Best Body Treatment – Commended: | The Neck & Bust Ritual at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa |
| Best Body Treatment – Commended: | Hot Stone Massage at The Cloisters Spa at Muckross Park Hotel |
| Best Treatment – Winner | The Real Aromatherapy Experience at Spa Solís at Lough Eske |
| Best Treatment – Commended: | The Elixir Magical Moment at The Spa Druid’s Glen |
| Best Treatment – Commended: | Confessions of a SPAholic package at ESPA at The g hotel |
| Best Therapist – Winner | Rita Bonn at The Spa at the Heights at Aghadoe Heights |
| Best Therapist – Commended: | Rose Dennigan at Delphi Spa at Delphi Mountain Resort |
| Best Therapist Commended: | Tracey Moran at Johnstown House Hotel & Spa |
| Best Service – Winner | SÁMAS at The Park Hotel Kenmare |
| Best Service – Commended: | The Spa at Dromoland Castle |
| Best Service – Commended | ESPA at The Europe |
| Spa Style Award – Winner | SUNDARI Spa at The Killarney Plaza Hotel |
| Spa Style Award – Commended: | The Thai Spa at Lough Erne Resort |
| Spa Style Award – Commended: | Chill Spa at The Ice House Hotel |
| Innovation – Winner: | Watsu at The Spa at Hodson Bay Hotel |
| Innovation – Commended: | Lava Sea Shell massage at Nadur Spa at Ballygarry House |
| Innovation – Commended: | The Spa Suites at ESPA at The Maryborough |
| Reader’s Choice Spa of the Year: | Sanctuary Spa at Mount Wolseley Hotel |
Notes to Editors:
The Irish Tatler Spa Awards
Established in 2009, the Irish Tatler Spa Awards has quickly become an important fixture on the calendar for all those in the spa industry, with an award representing the highest of accolades in Ireland. Nominations are received via Irish Tatler magazine and via spas. The judging panel consists of twelve discerning industry experts, with over 40 years’ professional spa experience between them.
Irish Tatler
Irish Tatler is Ireland’s leading women’s monthly magazine, celebrating its 121st year in print in 2011. As Ireland’s original Style Bible, it contains aspirational fashion, strong beauty content, luxury travel and interiors as well as intelligent features for Ireland’s thinking woman. Irish Tatler‘s latest ABC figures stand at 23,919 (source ABC January – December 2011) confirming its place as Ireland’s No. 1 fashion and beauty monthly.