(March 20, Highlands, NC) In Condé Nast Travelers’ 20th Annual Readers Choice Survey, The Spa at Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, NC has been named the #1 Hotel Spa in North America. The article entitled, “The New Age of American Spas, Readers Choices,” is featured in the April edition of Condé Nast Traveler. In a sidebar vignette called The Trifecta, the article reads, “For the first time ever, one spa achieves perfection, a 100% rating for all three criteria: treatment, staff and facilities. Old Edwards Inn and Spa scores the perfect Trifecta.”

In achieving the #1 position, Old Edwards rises above longstanding favorites like the spas found in Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, and The Four Seasons, as well as the second-place Resort Spa in the Readers Poll, The Mayflower in Washington, CT, with an overall score of 98.1.

The article reports that with the increase in the popularity of spas, the number of spas that made their way into the poll for ranking jumped to 240 spas in 2010—that’s triple the number of spas that usually make the grade. The article touts the rise in spa popularity to an increasing focus on wellness as well as new treatments for any type of clientele, including services for men, children, teens, and pregnant woman.

A few other statistics named in the article that point to the growth in spa industries are:

• The spa industry is now a $12.8 billion global industry.
• The spas are growing in quality as well as quantity.
• The industry experienced over 17% growth last year.
• There are now more than 12,000 spas in North America.

The Condé Nast announcement comes on the heels of Old Edwards Inn and Spa being voted by TripAdvisor users as the Best Spa Resort in North America.

Old Edwards President, Richard Delany, says, “When our resort is recognized in readers’ polls— particularly the caliber of Condé Nast, which caters to discriminating travelers— it is the best type of accolades we can receive. To realize that we are succeeding at delivering experiences that people remember as the best that they have had anywhere is truly remarkable, particularly given the number and quality of spas out there today. It shows that our guests really do notice those little touches that we strive so hard to deliver—as well as the larger ones like the quality of our facilities. I am very proud of our spa and resort staff for achieving this recognition.”

The Spa at Old Edwards has recently undergone even further renovations, following a $50 million plus renovation to the property that was completed in 2007, to add additional treatment rooms in a solarium so guests can experience the outdoor feeling while being pampered. A press release with photos will follow within the next week after décor is complete in the renovated spaces.