GALA SPA AWARDS 2013: The nominees for the internationally renowned beauty and spa award have been decided

Hamburg (ots) -

The 17th GALA SPA AWARDS takes place in Baden-Baden on March 16, and
will be attended by prominent guests

The GALA SPA AWARDS 2013 is one of the most important
international beauty and spa awards in the world. Only first-class
care products and spas that meet the holistic requirements of the
GALA SPA AWARDS, epitomised by the motto "sanus per aquam - health
through water", reach the final selection. Companies from 29
countries were given the chance to submit their spa locations and
luxury hotels, as well as innovative beauty products and exceptional
treatments. In the current issue 11/13 of GALA magazine (available at
news stands from today), the nine-member expert judging panel,
including television presenter Sylvie van der Vaart, stylist and
publisher Armin Morbach, as well as GALA editor-in-chief, Christian
Krug, presents the nominees in the product, hotel and spa categories.
The winners will be honoured at the award ceremony for the 17th GALA
SPA AWARDS 2013 at Brenners Park- & Spa- Hotel in Baden-Baden on
March 16.

A total of 112 hotel and day spa concepts, as well as 139 care
product lines comprising 258 products, took part in the competition.

In the "Luxury Concepts" category, the following products made the
final selection:
Lancôme - Absolue L'Extrait
Sisley - Sisleÿa Fermeté Corps
La Prairie - Skin Caviar Liquid Lift

Nominees in the "Innovation Concepts" category include:
Astalift - Jelly Aquarysta
Bioeffect - EGF Serum
Intelligent Nutrients - Spirit Essence by the Destress Express line

The following concepts are nominated in the "Cult Concepts" category:
Santaverde - Xingu-Linie
Nuxe - Huile Prodigieuse
Clarins - Eau Dynamisante

The nominees in the "Men Concepts" category are as follows:
Clinique - Dark Spot Corrector from the Skin Supplies line for men
Biotherm Homme - Youth Architect Serum from the Force Supreme line
Bulldog

The nominees in the "Treatment Concepts" category are:
Peter Thomas Roth - Camu-Camu Facial
Aveda - Stress Fix Body Massage
Thalgo - Polynesia

This year's nominees in the "Luxury Hotel City/Resort" category are:
Karkloof Safari Spa in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa)
Le Royal Monceau Raffles in Paris
Jumeira Port Soller Hotel & Spa on Mallorca

Nominees with a chance to win the prize in the "Innovative Spa
Concepts" category are:
Hotel Jungbrunn in Tannheim/ Tyrol
Hotel Park Weggis in Weggis/ Lucerne
FreiRaum in Grünwald near Munich

As a special highlight, this year's "Beauty Idol" and the winner
of the "Special Prize" will be announced on the evening of the award
ceremony itself.

Features that distinguish the "Beauty Idol" as a spa personality
are an attractive appearance, vitality, a positive attitude and a
health- conscious lifestyle that corresponds to the spa concept.
Previous award winners include Karolina Kurkova, Julie Delpy, Vanessa
Redgrave, Joseph Fiennes, Ornella Muti, and Iris Berben. With the
annual "Special Prize", the judging panel honours people who have
realised, added to and promoted the spa concept in an outstanding and
professional manner. Previous award winners include Benny Adrion for
his commitment to the non-profit association, "Viva con Aqua",
photographer and ecologist Sebastian Copeland and the interior design
icon and grande dame of elegant purism, Andrée Putman, among others.

Premium people and lifestyle magazine GALA awards the GALA SPA
AWARDS together with co-initiator Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in
conjunction with sponsors Mercedes-Benz, OMEGA, and
Niesmann+Bischoff. Further event partners include Shu Uemura Art of
Hair, Horst Kirchberger and Pommery.

More information about the nominees can be found in the current
GALA issue (11/13, available at news stands from today) and at
http://spa-awards.gala.de/.

About the GALA SPA AWARDS

The GALA SPA AWARDS is one of the most important international
beauty and spa awards. Only first-class care products and
hotels/locations that meet the holistic requirements of the GALA SPA
AWARDS are honoured. The judging panel comprises the following
members: television presenters Sylvie van der Vaart and Susann
Atwell, Prof. Heinz Kroehl, Chairman European Spa Academy (ESA),
Prof. Martina Kerscher, dermatologist and professor of cosmetic
science and Frank Marrenbach, Managing Director of Brenners Park-
Hotel & Spa, as well as stylist and publisher Armin Morbach, GALA
editor-in-chief Christian Krug, head of the GALA beauty department
Frie Kicherer and GALA beauty editor Ariane Häusler.

About GALA

Every Thursday, premium people and lifestyle magazine GALA reports
about celebrities from all over the world. With well-researched
background information, GALA presents the stories behind the news.
With exclusive pictures, insightful stories, honest interviews and
brilliant photo sequences, GALA creates an intimate yet respectful
closeness to the stars. Week after week, the magazine sets standards
for trailblazing, glamorous journalism. The sold circulation of GALA
ranges around 321,861 copies (IVW data IV/2012). The title is
available at a copy price of 2.80 euros.

Press contact:
GALA PR / Communication
Andrea Wagner
Gruner + Jahr AG & Co KG
phone: ++ (0) 40 3703-2980
e-mail: wagner.andrea@guj.de
www.gala.de