GALA SPA AWARDS 2013: top model Toni Garrn becomes "Beauty Idol" and Philippe Cousteau wins the "Special Prize" / Prize ceremony for best international care products and spas takes place in Baden-Bade

Hamburg/Baden-Baden, (ots) - Last Saturday's night, premium people
and lifestyle magazine GALA and Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa hosted the
GALA SPA AWARDS 2013 in Baden-Baden, where the best international
care concepts and spas were once again honoured. A total of 112 hotel
and day spa concepts, as well as 139 care product lines comprising
258 products, participated in one of the most important international
beauty and spa awards in the world. The highlight of the evening was
the announcement of supermodel Toni Garrn as Beauty Idol of the year.
The judging panel honoured the superb career, exceptional talent,
social engagement and natural and unrivalled beauty of the
internationally acclaimed top model, who was born in Hamburg and is
also known as the Victoria's Secret angel. The "Special Prize" was
awarded to Philippe Pierre Cousteau, grandson of French oceanographer
and filmmaker, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. The scientist, social
entrepreneur and advocate of the resource-saving use of water
continues the legacy of his grandfather. As co-founder and president
of the "EarthEcho International" organisation, Philippe Cousteau
raises awareness and is a resolute and passionate advocate of water,
the element that keeps us all alive.

Around 200 invited guests attended the glamorous award ceremony,
including numerous celebrities from the worlds of economy, culture
and show business, as well as well-known representatives from the
cosmetics industry and luxury hotel sectors.

Prominent guests at this year's event included Chantal de Freitas,
Ursula Karven, Franziska Knuppe, Lisa Martinek, Eva Padberg, Erol
Sander, Sylvie van der Vaart, Max von der Groeben and Ole Tillmann,
among others. Presenters Judith Rakers and Yared Dibaba hosted the
evening together with the judging panel and prominent award
presenters. The winner of the first season of "The Voice of Germany',
Ivy Quainoo, accompanied the event with her music.

The award winners 2013 at a glance:

"Beauty Idol" category:
Toni Garrn

"Special Prize" category:
Philippe Pierre Cousteau

"Luxury Concepts" category:
La Prairie - Skin Caviar Liquid Lift

"Innovation Concepts" category:
Bioeffect - EGF Serum

"Cult Concepts" category:
Clarins - Eau Dynamisante

"Men Concepts" category:
Clinique - Dark Spot Corrector from the Skin Supplies line for men

"Treatment Concepts" category:
Peter Thomas Roth - Camu-Camu Facial

"Luxury Hotel" category:
Karkloof Safari Spa in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa)

"Innovative Spa" category:
Hotel Jungbrunn in Tannheim (Tyrol)

In addition to co-initiator Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, sponsors
Mercedes-Benz, OMEGA, Niesmann+Bischoff, as well as our partners Shu
Uemura Art of Hair, Horst Kirchberger and Pommery, made a vital
contribution to the success of this year's GALA SPA AWARDS.

More information can be found 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.

Your 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