Spa Leaders Named Visionaries
Posted: 11-02-07

Two spa-industry leaders were honored with the SpaFinder Visionary Award on Nov. 1.

The Fifth Annual Visionary Award was presented to Canyon Ranch’s Enid and Mel Zuckerman, for: bringing the concept of wellness into the spa setting, with the creation of Canyon Ranch Tucson; and creating the first dedicated healthy living residential community, Canyon Ranch Living.

The award was presented by SpaFinder CEO Pete Ellis and President Susie Ellis, to the Zuckermans during an invitation-only gathering in New York City, as part of SpaFinder’s “The Spa Experience 2007,” a public sampling of spas from around the globe.

The Zuckermans created the Canyon Ranch fitness resort in the early 1980s. The resort provides a medically guided wellness experience, and at the time of its creation represented a leap beyond the typical “fat farm” destinations of the time and a sweeping redefinition of the spa concept, according to a SpaFinder press release.

In 2005 the couple announced of Canyon Ranch Living Miami, an environment where people can fully integrate health and wellness into their lives and homes—and in turn spurring a booming new business model. According to Spa Finder, there are now 220 health/wellness-focused residential communities worldwide.