The 2007 edition of the Leading Spas Directory is just released - showcasing the 94 which qualified for Leading Spas status, for 2007.

With the enormously positive response to the Leading Spas concept, The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is devoting even more resources to further developing and promoting the program.  The newest initiative is the introduction of an e-book, an electronic version of the Directory itself.

"We are capitalizing on the increasing popularity of interactive e-commerce in the introduction of this new electronic brochure," said Welf Ebeling, executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. "The sophisticated consumer enjoys the participatory aspects of these more advanced on-line marketing tools, and we are seeking to engage our customers on as many levels as possible."

In both the print and electronic versions of the Directory, a full page is devoted to each spa, and includes details on facilities, exercise disciplines available, signature treatments offered, and special Leading Spas packages, in addition to general property information.

There are also tips on spa etiquette, and a glossary of spa terms to familiarize guests with various treatments and philosophies.

Launched in late 2004, Leading Spas is the first global evaluation and accreditation program for luxury spas.  In order to qualify, a hotel must be a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, and undergo an anonymous inspection of all aspects of the spa facilities.  To retain the accreditation, each Leading Spa must be reinspected and reevaluated annually.

Commenting on the Leading Spas initiative, Mr. Ebeling said, "We take our responsibility to our customers very seriously, and we have undertaken this evaluation initiative to ensure that, when our guests choose a Leading Spa, they will experience the same quality of facilities and service that they have come to expect during a stay at a Leading Hotel.  The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. has a nearly 80-year-old reputation for excellence to maintain and uphold."

The Leading Spas for 2007 are:

EUROPE

• Hotel Sacher Wien, Vienna, Austria *
• Anassa, Polis, Cyprus
• Hotel Martinez, Cannes, France
• Le Meurice, Paris, France
• Brenner's Park-Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden, Germany
• Schlosshotel Bühlerhöhe, Baden-Baden, Bühl, Germany *
• Park Hotel Bremen, Bremen, Germany
• Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, Cologne, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany *
• Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt, Germany *
• Hotel Nassauer Hof, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Germany
• Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg, Germany
• Bayerischer Hof, Munich, Germany
• Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens, Lagonissi, Greece
• Divani Apollon Palace & Spa, Athens, Vouliagmeni, Greece
• Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas, Crete, Greece *
• Killarney Park Hotel, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
• Grand Hotel Quisisana, Capri, Italy
• Capri Palace Hotel & Spa, Capri, Anacapri, Italy
• Mezzatorre Resort & Spa, Ischia Island, Italy
• Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
• Villa del Parco, Forte Village, Sardinia, Island of Sardinia, Italy *
• Masseria San Domenico, Savelletri, Apuliae, Italy
• Kempinski Hotel Giardino di Costanza, Sicily, Mazara del Vallo, Italy *
• Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort, Siena, San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy
• Hotel Metropole, Monte Carlo, Monaco *
• Vila Vita Parc, Algarve, Porches, Portugal
• Vila Sol Spa & Golf Resort, Algarve, Vilamoura, Portugal *
• Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I, Barcelona, Spain
• Marbella Club Hotel • Golf Resort & Spa, Marbella, Spain
• Grand Hotel Quellenhof, Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
• Waldhaus Grand Hotel, Flims, Switzerland *
• La Réserve Genève Hotel and Spa, Geneva, Switzerland
• Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland
• Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne, Switzerland
• Lausanne Palace & Spa, Lausanne, Switzerland
• Palace Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland
• Le Mirador Kempinski, Lake Geneva, Mont-Pèlerin, Vevey, Switzerland
• Raffles Le Montreux Palace, Montreux, Switzerland
• Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt, Switzerland
• The Grove, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
• The Scotsman, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
• The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
• Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
• The St. David's Hotel & Spa, Cardiff Bay, Wales, United Kingdom

MIDDLE EAST

• La Residence des Cascades, Soma Bay, Red Sea, Egypt
• Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Residence & Spa at One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

AFRICA

• Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Mauritius, Flic-en-Flac, Mauritius *
• Banyan Tree Seychelles, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles
• The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, Cape Town, South Africa
• Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate, George, South Africa *
• Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa, Knysna, South Africa

ASIA & PACIFIC

• Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, Australia *
• Hayman, Hayman, Australia *
• Langham Hotel, Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
• Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Bora Bora, French Polynesia *
• The Legian, Bali, Indonesia
• The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa, Hokkaido, Japan *
• The Shilla Jeju, Jeju, Korea
• The Shilla Seoul, Seoul, Korea
• Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru, North Malé Atoll, Republic of Maldives
• One&Only Maldives at Reethi Rah, North Malé Atoll, Republic of Maldives
• Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, South Malé Atoll, Republic of Maldives
• Banyan Tree Lijiang, Lijiang, People's Republic of China *
• Marina Mandarin, Singapore City, Singapore *
• Banyan Tree Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
• The Dusit Thani, Bangkok, Thailand
• The Metropolitan, Bangkok, Thailand
• Dusit Resort Hua Hin, Hua Hin, Thailand
• Rayavadee, Krabi, Thailand
• Banyan Tree Phuket, Phuket, Thailand
• Dusit Laguna Resort, Phuket, Thailand *

NORTH AMERICA

• Le Méridien Cancún Resort & Spa, Cancún, Mexico
• Marquis Los Cabos, Los Cabos, Mexico
• Marquis Reforma Hotel/Spa, Mexico City, Mexico *
• Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
• Paradisus Riviera Cancún - Royal Service, Riviera Maya, Mexico
• Paraiso de la Bonita Resort & Thalasso, Riviera Maya, Mexico
• Enchantment Resort & Mii amo Spa, Sedona, Arizona, USA
• The Island Hotel Newport Beach, Newport Beach, California, USA *
• Sonnenalp Resort of Vail, Vail, Colorado, USA
• Biltmore, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
• The Setai, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
• Halekulani, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
• Cornelia Day Resort, New York, New York, USA *
• Trump International Hotel & Tower, New York, New York, USA
• The Equinox Resort & Spa, A RockResort, Manchester Village, Vermont, USA

SOUTH AMERICA

• Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Golf-Spa, Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina
• Mantra Punta del Este, Punta del Este, Uruguay

THE CARIBBEAN

• Carlisle Bay, Carlisle Bay, Antigua
• Hotel Kurá Hulanda Spa and Casino, Willemstad, Curaçao *
• Raffles Resort Canouan Island, Canouan Island, St. Vincent & The Grenadines *
• Parrot Cay & COMO Shambhala Retreat, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

* Denotes receiving Leading Spa accreditation for the first time