World's premier luxury hospitality organization creates international standard for luxury spa evaluation and certification.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. yesterday announced the launch of Leading Spas, the first international luxury spa evaluation and certification program. The announcement was made during the company's 2004 International Convention, held in Palm Beach, Florida, October 31 to November 2.

As the world's foremost authority for grading and inspecting hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. established the Leading Spas designation as the benchmark for global luxury standards in the spa and hospitality industries.

To achieve this prestigious certification, a hotel's spa facilities and services must pass a rigorous inspection process that encompasses more than 200 criteria.

"While many hotels and resorts purport to have ‘full-service spas,' until now there has never been a global accreditation and certification process," said Paul McManus, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.

"Based on the model we developed with our joint venture company Leading Quality Assurance, the inspection and evaluation process for Leading Spas dictates that the facilities and services at a hotel's spa meet strict and measurable criteria. It is imperative that guests using a Leading Spa have a truly luxurious experience."

Of the 90 Leading Hotels that requested the Leading Spas inspection, only 48 met the requirements. Among those selected are such venerable properties as Brenner's Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, Germany; The Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland; the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa and Lausanne Palace & Spa in Switzerland.

Also named to the list are the newly opened Carlisle Bay on Antigua, Miraval - Life in Balance in Arizona, and Mantra Punta del Este in La Barra, Uruguay.

All hotels that have been accredited as Leading Spas are designated with a special icon in the 2005 Directory of The Leading Hotels of the World.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing more than 420 of the world's finest hotels and resorts, and is the operator of www.lhw.com – the online source for your luxury lifestyle.