The Maldives has won the award for World’s Best Spa Destination at the World Spa Awards held on Sunday (4 September) at Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, Italy.

The Maldives was also named the Best Spa Destination in the Indian Ocean category.

Launched by the World Travel Awards in 2015, the World Spa Awards aims to drive up standards within spa tourism by rewarding organisations that are the leaders in the field.

The Spa by Thalgo at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi was named Indian Ocean’s Best Resort Spa as well as Maldives’ Best Wellness Retreat.

COMO Cocoa Island won the award for Indian Ocean’s Best Wellness Retreat. COMO was also awarded Best Resort Spa in the country.

The gala event took place alongside the World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony 2016, and welcomed hundreds of hospitality leaders from across Europe and around the world.

Speaking at the Gala Ceremony, World Spa Awards President Graham Cooke said: “Following a successful launch in Vietnam last year, World Spa Awards is now firmly established on the international spa industry calendar.

“We have welcomed the elite of this rapidly expanding industry here to Forte Village Resort this evening and recognised the leaders among them with our prestigious trophies. My congratulations to all our winners and my best wishes for your future endeavours.”

Talise by Jumeirah won the prestigious title of World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand while Etihad Six Senses Spa was awarded World’s Best Airline Lounge Spa.

The title of World’s Best Spa Brand was awarded to QMS MediCosmetics with The Armani/SPA at Armani Hotel Milano winning World’s Best Spa Design award.

Anantara Spa at Banana Island Resort Doha meanwhile took home the award for World’s Best Private Island Spa.

The award for World’s Best Wellness Retreat went to Forte Village Resort, Italy, the host of the event.

During the ceremony, Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort was announced as the host for the Grand Finale of the World Travel Awards 2016, to be held in December.

World Spa Awards was established in response to overwhelming demand from the spa industry for a programme that was fair and transparent; a programme with a mission to serve as the definitive benchmark of excellence, and to help to foster a new era of growth in spa tourism.

The World Spa Awards programme has categories for the Best Hotel Spa, Best Resort Spa, Best Wellness Retreat, and Best Spa Destination, each awarded on a national level.

The individual country level winner with the most votes not only takes the national award but also the world level award in each of the respective categories.

A number of categories exist on a world-level only, such as Best Airline Lounge Spa, Best Cruise Line Spa, Best Spa Brand, Best Medical Spa and Best Desert Spa.

Votes are cast by professionals working within the spa industry and submitted online at World Spa Awards website.