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Spa Hotels|Spa Resorts|Wellness Retreats

About Us

The Luxury Spa Edit is the ultimate guide to the worlds most elite spa hotels, spa resorts and wellness retreats.

Our collection of spas, retreats and clinics have been handpicked by leading spa, wellness and travel experts, ensuring the highest standards and exceptional experiences for our audience.

The annual Luxury Spa Edit Awards celebrate the finest spas, clinics, wellness retreats and spa brands around the globe.


Our Contributors and Awards Panelists

Lisa Brown

Contributor, Awards panelist

Lisa Brown

Lisa is the founder of The Luxury Spa Edit. With over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, Lisa Brown (née Stokes) previously worked as a make up artist to A-list stars including Kate Moss, Felicity Jones, Gemma Arterton and Daniel Craig. With a passion for travel, beauty and spas Lisa went on to be a luxury spa columnist for The Huffington Post and continues to contribute spa articles and quotes to numerous high-end publications. With her expert knowledge and insight into the growth of the spa and wellness sectors she was inspired to create The Luxury Spa Edit in 2017.

Lisa has visited over 120 spa hotels, resorts and wellness retreats around the globe. She’s reviewed everything from yoga at Ananda in the Himalayas to detox cures at VIVA Mayr, beauty rejuvenation programmes at SHA Wellness and Clinique La Prairie to holistic relaxation and mindfulness retreats at Six Senses Oman. Her travels have taken her across four continents.

Alice Hart-Davis

Contributor, Awards panelist

Alice Hart-Davis

Alice Hart-Davis is a celebrated beauty journalist and founder of The Tweakments Guide website, the UK’s leading resource for people wanting independent information about non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

While she still loves print media, writes regularly for publications including the Daily Mail and The Times, and facilitates real-life events, she spends most of her time online, charting her adventures in the world of tweakments, beauty and spas on Instagram and The Tweakments Guide.

Leo Bear

Contributor, Awards panelist

Leo Bear

Spa goddess Leo Bear contributes to a number of the UK’s top luxury titles including Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Quintessentially and Telegraph Luxury.

She first dipped her toe into wellness during a year-long stint in Los Angeles where she test-ran all the latest health fads. After extensive research, she settled on keeping things ‘clean and lean’, and steers away from anything involving gold, caviar and needles. And watsu.

When she’s not spa-ing, she writes about honeymoons, and in between monthly travel assignments, she creates content and collateral for marketing agencies and luxury brands.

Leo lives with her husband and two children in west London.

Jo Foley

Contributor, Awards panelist

Jo Foley

Jo Foley is a freelance writer, editor and spa consultant. A former editor of The Observer magazine, she was also Executive Editor of The Times. She has written numerous books on diet, lifestyle, beauty and wellbeing, including Great Spa Escapes – a guide to some of the most opulent spas in the world.

For more than 30 years she has been visiting and reviewing spas, sanctuaries and wellness centres on four continents and has written about them for publications as varied as The Financial Times, Conde Nast Traveller, Tatler, Harper’s Bazaar, The Sunday Telegraph, Woman & Home, The Daily Mail, Departures and The Times.

She has experienced more than her fair share of Ayurvedic retreats in India, traditional Chinese medicine programmes, Hay Baths in Austria, Inca inspired Temezcal sweat lodges in Mexico, native American Hopi Candle therapy in Arizona, Thai massages, Balinese baths, thalassotherapy hosings in France, detoxes in the Dolomites, and Hammams throughout the Middle East.

Juliet Kinsman

Contributor, Awards panelist

Juliet Kinsman

Juliet Kinsman is the Sustainability Editor at Condé Nast Traveller. As Editor-in-chief at Mr & Mrs Smith for 13 years, contributing editor to Louis Vuitton City Guides and a journalist for over two decades, Juliet’s travel and spa tips appear in a plethora of high-end publications from Condé Nast Traveller and Harpers Bazaar to The Independent and National Geographic.

Through her consultancy website, BOUTECO, she works with award-winning brands to help them stand for something and stand out for it, amplifying messages that matter and sharpening their spirit of sustainability.

She’s been an expert speaker on many a travel panel and a judge for numerous high-end awards from architecture to boutique hotels. There’s nothing Juliet loves more than inspiring people with her travel tips and wellness experiences. Juliet is also a celebrated author and her book THE BUCKET LIST ECO EXPERIENCES: Traveling the World, Sustaining the Earth was published in 2022.

Gerri Gallagher

Awards panelist

Gerri Gallagher

With more than 25 years of editorial experience at Tatler magazine, with specific expertise in the field of spas, wellness and cosmetic beauty, Gerri has an extensive global knowledge and unique perspective. Her experience of non-invasive cosmetic procedures is first-hand; she has travelled extensively visiting medical spas and wellness facilities around the world. Gerri oversaw the publication of the Tatler Spa Guide and Tatler Beauty and Cosmetic Surgery Guide for over 10 years.

Gerri now provides a consultancy service to spa brands, hotels and resorts both in the UK and internationally, from helping shape the vision of a new spa development to the re-launch of an existing spa.

Lindsay Madden Nadeau

Awards panelist

Lindsay Madden Nadeau

As a self-described industry disrupter with a personal passion for wellbeing, Lindsay has spent the past 23 years working across the globe for some of the most prestigious luxury hospitality leaders, becoming a leading voice and ambassador in the wellness industry. She is also the founder of Meraki Bespoke Wellness Strategies, a consultancy dedicated to building bespoke wellness concepts.

Lindsay current holds the role of Senior Director Wellness Strategy and Development for Red Sea Global. Lindsay is responsible for actively steering the Wellness Strategy for a visionary developer of two of the world’s most ambitious hospitality and regenerative tourism projects. She supports the development team to identify and analyze industry insights, converting these into an actionable strategic roadmap that delivers on Red Sea Global’s ambitions for wellness in the region. Lindsay’s expertise will help bring strength and credibility to international communications, ensuring both projects become a global reference point for health and wellbeing.

Lindsay co-leads as Vice-Chair of the Global Wellness Tourism Initiative by the Global Wellness Institute, a research-led team that aims to gain a deep understanding of the foundations that make for great wellness destinations—as well as the motivations that spur travelers to visit them—then integrates these learnings into a successful destination strategy.

Tracey Woodward

Awards panelist

Tracey Woodward

Tracey Woodward is a highly respected, experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the cosmetics and wellbeing industries; skilled in leadership, marketing management, retail, sales, spa and product Development she is an inspiring and motivational leader.

Leading the way in self-care and wellbeing, Tracey is a key opinion former and a recognised contributor both online and in printed media. Tracey is an industry thought leader and currently sits on several boards as an advisory director for Beauty Bulb and Murdock London. She is also co-creator for Kalmar and an Operating Partner for Cedar-Bridge Investments.

Her personal interests include transformational wellness holidays, biohacking, longevity, and vitality for life.

Mark Smith

Contributor, Awards panelist

Mark Smith

As Deputy Editor at European Spa Magazine Mark Smith has been writing about men’s grooming and spas for over 20 years.

Reviewing spas since 2007 he visits around 30 venues a year and regularly speaks about the male spa market. He has written for Vogue, Tatler, Daily Telegraph and Men’s Fitness.

He also works as a consultant and has recently launched the new mindfulness-based wellbeing company Kalm Horizons.

Suzanne Duckett

Awards panelist

Suzanne Duckett

Suzanne is currently spa expert at The Telegraph and regularly contributes lead articles to The Times. Previously editor of The Tatler Spa Guide and beauty director of Cosmopolitan magazine, Suzanne is a sort after industry creative consultant to major beauty and wellbeing brands.

Suzanne is also founder of the holistic lifestyle website Onolla where she offers clients a fast track way to a cleaner, greener life through one to one lifestyle MOT’s, bathroom detoxes, and her recommendations of leading practitioners and tried and tested skincare products.

Suzanne’s mission is to encourage and guide people to sustain themselves, their loved ones and the planet. Onolla endorsers include Kate Winslet and Miranda Hart.

Uwern Jong

Awards panelist

Uwern Jong

Uwern Jong (he/him) is Experientialist®-in-Chief and co-Founder at OutThere magazine, a multi-award luxury and experiential travel journal rooted in its brand values of diversity, discovery and discernment.

A luxury travel expert, hotel aficionado and inclusive and intersectional tourism advocate, Uwern is at the forefront of LGBTQ+ and diversity tourism, representing destinations like Thailand, Malta and Stockholm as part of his brand ambassadorships.

He has recently spearheaded IGLTA’s (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) new hotel global LGBTQ+ accreditation programme, IGLTA Accredited™ and has been a member of the association’s board of directors for three terms. Uwern was recently awarded by the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) as LGBTQ+ Travel Trailblazer of the Year and by Walpole (the association of British luxury brands) as one of the top 50 most influential people in British luxury.

Anna Hart

Contributor

Anna Hart

Anna Hart’s work as a globe-trotting writer has recently taken her behind-the-scenes at a viking fire festival in Shetland for The Telegraph, had her hanging out with digital nomads in Ubud for Stella magazine, and sleeping under the stars in Namibia for Conde Nast Brides. As Contributing Travel Editor of Stylist magazine, she’s always looking for under-the-radar hotels, up-and-coming city districts and must-visit new openings to share with readers.

Specialising in adventure travel and active breaks, Anna believes that all the best holidays return you to real life feeling better than you did before you left. Her idea of holiday hell is a half-assed massage at a luxury resort; you’re more likely to find her trekking in Bhutan, downward-dogging in Suffolk or checking into a no-nonsense medi-spa in Bavaria.

Rosemary Ferguson

Contributor

Rosemary Ferguson

Model turned nutritionist Rosemary (previously campaign star of Miu Miu and Prada, cover girl of Vogue and The Face, and runway muse of every designer from Galliano to McQueen) is also an author, writer and mum of three beautiful girls!

From a homeopathic background, Rosemary always had an interest in what food can do for your health – this lead her to study at The College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is now qualified in naturopathy and nutrition and runs clinics on Harley Street in London, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Her philosophy is all about making goals achievable, she believes that life is to be lived and through nutrition and self care we can give our bodies the tools needed to cope with the stressful lives we lead.

She is the author of ‘Juice’- published in April 2015 – which features 100 juice recipes to help cope with modern day life. She also writes for Women’s Health UK, Beauty Papers, Net-a-porter’s Edit and Get The Gloss.

Lindsay Frankel

Contributor

Lindsay Frankel

Deputy editor of You magazine, journalist Lindsay Frankel has more than twenty years’ experience working on women’s glossy magazines. In the name of work, she had has the good fortune to test out the latest beauty products and treatments.

She has reviewed spas – both new openings and old favourites – in the UK and around the world and is passionate about making sure you spend wisely on the treatments and spa breaks that are truly worth your hard-earned cash.

While she’s always keen to explore places she’s never been, Lindsay also can’t quite keep away from Greek Islands, or Sydney every couple of years (where she once had the best mani/pedi she’s ever experienced at Venustus in Paddington).

Teresa Tarmey

Contributor

Teresa Tarmey

Dedicated skincare expert Teresa Tarmey is behind many of London’s most flawless a-list faces. Having suffered with adult acne herself, she is knowledgeable and passionate about skincare for any age.

With 19 years experience she’s trailed the world’s most progressive spas, procedures, diets and formulas in search of the perfect complexion. Teresa’s approach is unique; delivering results-driven treatments from her beautiful, discreet Notting Hill flagship, where her A-list clients seek her expertise.

Her serene, holistic, flexible approach and lack of white coat has become her signature amongst Tarmey advocates.

Laura Millar

Contributor

Laura Millar

Award winning travel writer Laura Millar has spent twenty years working in journalism, and has visited some of the most beautiful parts of world, as well as some of the most unusual.

From canyoning down cliffs in Tahiti, to meeting penguins in Patagonia, she is usually willing to do (almost) anything in the name of a story, and is published in a wide range of prestigious titles including Marie Claire, Stylist, City AM, Escapism, Square Mile, TTGLuxury, and the Evening Standard.

She sees spas a little slice of luxury, and a chance for some much-needed me-time, but believes they have to be beneficial and leave you feeling improved, whether releasing those tricky knots of tension or (ideally) making you look at least twenty years younger….

Lysanne Currie

Contributor

Lysanne Currie

As a glossy women’s and celebrity magazine editor, Lysanne Currie spent the last 20 years travelling the globe interviewing the bold, the beautiful and the brave on everything from work to wellbeing and politics to pampering.

Currently Group Editor of Director Publications and Head of Content Publishing at the Institute of Directors (IoD), she now tells the stories of some of the globe’s greatest entrepreneurs and, for the past two years, has specialised in the role of wellness in business leadership. She sits on the IoD’s Mental Health Steering Group.

Toni Jones

Contributor

Toni Jones

Toni Jones is a UK-based editor and writer, and the founder of the Shelf Help Club, a global self-development book club and platform. Toni’s work has appeared in The Telegraph and Stella, The Times, The Daily Mail and You Magazine, Forbes, Vogue, Women’s Health, Grazia and The Mail Online, where she edited the popular Detox|Retox column.

Having now swapped her ‘detox retox’ lifestyle for a more holistic approach to her mental, emotional and physical health, her ultimate travel – and spa – experience is one that nourishes all aspects of Self (bonus points if there’s a library).

Her favorite places to unwind are Kamalaya in Koh Samui, Atzaro in Ibiza, or the sheds at Soho Farmhouse.
(And she’ll always have time for a bit of Miami glitz at The Standard in South Beach).

Lynne Hyland

Contributor

Lynne Hyland

A health and beauty editor for more than two decades, Lynne has tried and tested everything from the latest aesthetic and medi-spa treatments to hardcore bootcamps, detox and yoga retreats.

Lynne lives in London with her husband and two children and is always on the look out for luxury family friendly spas and retreats.

Eva Wiseman

Contributor

Eva Wiseman

Eva Wiseman is an editor and columnist for the Observer Magazine, where, among other things, she is responsible for the beauty content.

As well as spa reviews, her travel writing has included a pilgrimage to Texas for authentic barbecue, and to Portland to discover the best vintage shopping in the world. Eva contributes to numerous high-end publications including British Vogue.

Camilla Hewitt

Contributor

Camilla Hewitt

Camilla is a freelance makeup artist working in the fashion & beauty industry. When she is not on the set of a photoshoot Camilla contributes to Country & Town House magazine. Her monthly Body & Soul page celebrates the world of wellbeing, with recipes, spa reviews & stress-busting techniques.

Lucy Brialey

Awards panelist

Lucy Brialey

Lucy is the Founder and Director of the Sustainable Wellness.

As part of her role as Director at Sustainable Wellness, Lucy is responsible for the their Global Campaigns: UNFCCC Wellness for Climate Action, UNEP Wellness for Biodiversity, UNEP Wellness for Water Stewardship, Plastic Free Spa and #zerowastechallenge.

Her career has taken her on the path of working as a therapist, an innovative wellness at work business owner, European Group Spa Director and now the Co-founder of the Sustainable Spa Association. Alongside this she is involved in working as a consultant to sustainable spa and wellness resorts to assist in a strategic yet creative business vision. She directs her focus to international wellness concepts, sustainable business planning and the future of ESG investment strategies.

She proudly chairs The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Initiative for the Global Wellness Institute, is an expert on the Global Panel for Sustainability for HospitalityNet and Global Sustainability Ambassador for World Wellness Weekend. She believes that a successful spa and wellness strategy is intrinsically linked to sustainability.

Amanda Byram

Contributor

Amanda Byram

Amanda’s job as a global tv presenter has allowed her to roam the world – living in Buenos Aires for Total Wipeout, and visiting Brazil, Paraguay and other South American hot spots. A self confessed travel and fitness addict, she needs to keep moving between shoots.

With a true passion for wellbeing, Amanda is a health, fitness and nutrition expert for Heath & Fitness Magazine and The Luxury Spa Edit.

Tracie Cant

Contributor

Tracie Cant

Over the years, Tracie has created red carpet looks for some of the world’s most beautiful and talented screen and fashion icons including Keira Knightley, Emily Blunt, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, Scarlett Johansson, Gemma Arterton and Claire Danes.

With her distinctive approach and remarkable technical ability, Tracie is in demand on both sides of the Atlantic working with the industry’s top photographers; Miles Aldridge, David Bailey, Karen Collins, Rankin, Peter Lindbergh and Annie Liebowitz, for prestigious publications like Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, i-D and Numero.

Tracie has a keen interest in all aspects of wellbeing and has studied natural therapies and holistic nutrition, she spends her down time traveling to detox, yoga and wellness retreats around the globe.

Kim Brown

Contributor, Awards panelist

Kim Brown

As one of the UK’s leading make up artists not only does Kim Brown travel the world working on fashion and beauty shoots for publications including Vogue, Elle and Harpers Bazaar, she also regularly beautifies an array of a-list stars including Cate Blanchett, Rosamund Pike and Uma Therman.

Kim has collaborated with many acclaimed designers, including Preen and Jonathan Saunders and has also worked with icons of photography including David Bailey and Peter Lindbergh. Kim is currently the beauty director of high-end quarterly fashion and style magazine Glass. 

Kim is also trained in shiatsu massage and has a passion for travel, aromatherapy and wellness.

Annabel Kerman

Contributor

Annabel Kerman

Annabel is a fashion editor, writer and stylist based in Singapore. Previously a Style Director in the UK she now combines fashion and travel as fashion editor at World Travel Magazine.

She always has her eye on the next trip with her family, and tries to juggle completing her Asian bucket list with locations in which three wayward children will cause the least damage.        

Jody Thompson

Contributor

Jody Thompson

A journalist and editor for more than two decades for a series of national and international newspapers, magazines, websites and broadcasters (including the BBC) for the most part specialising in news, music, showbiz and entertainment, Jody was most recently blogs editor at the HuffPost UK before she set up her own media consultancy firm in 2017.

An unashamed massage junkie and travel addict, she has reviewed spas around the world from Thailand to Turkey, and her travel writing about everywhere from America to Australia has appeared in the likes of The Luxury Spa Edit and the Mail Online. She is still getting over the surprise experience of being whipped with a towel in a St Petersburgh spa by a burly Russian therapist who didn’t speak any English.

Behiye Hassan

Contributor

Behiye Hassan

Behiye Hassan is an experienced journalist specialising in wellness and business performance. She helped launch the Institute of Directors’ Mental Health and Wellbeing initiative, regularly interviews CEOs and entrepreneurs about their wellbeing and writes for Everywoman.com, Capita Travel and Events, Investec The Stand, Director and Luxury Plus. She is Managing Editor of MeettheLeader.com.

Laura Ivill

Contributor

Laura Ivill

‘It’s no wonder that the world’s best spas are found in some of the most beautiful and idyllic locations,’ Laura says. ‘From the sensual forests of Bali, to the tropical beaches of Mexico, to British rural retreats, I look for quality, consistency and elements of the local culture in every spa visit.

‘Health and wellbeing trends have come a long way since I started reviewing spas in the 1990s. Being kind to ourselves is something we expect from our holidays more than ever these days. And we love to treat ourselves to a bit of luxury.’

Laura has written for The Sunday TImes, The TImes, The Telegraph, The FT and Conde Nast Traveller, among the international press.