THE AWARD : Namesake of Spa Icon Alex Szekely
THE ISPA ALEX SZEKELY HUMANITARIAN AWARD
EACH YEAR , ISPA CELEBRATES an extraordinary individual whose contributions to overall well-being transcend the boundaries of the spa industry . Named in honor of the late spa visionary Alex Szekely , this annual accolade stands as a testament to the transformative power of human kindness . Rooted in the belief that true well-being extends beyond physical health , the award honors those who dedicate their lives to fostering the renewal of mind , body and spirit .
Recipients of the ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award are models of compassion and dedication . From selfless acts of kindness to initiatives that ripple positive change , honorees exemplify the profound impact compassionate individuals can have on the world . As the industry association comes together to bestow this honor at the annual ISPA Conference , the ceremony becomes a poignant reminder that , at its essence , the spa community is a conduit for healing , empathy and the relentless pursuit of a better world for all .
THE AWARD : Namesake of Spa Icon Alex Szekely
FIRST PRESENTED IN 2000 , the ISPA Humanitarian Award was renamed in 2002 to honor a visionary leader whose untimely passing was a tremendous loss to the spa community . Alexandre Szekely was a founder and early president of the International SPA Association and — along with his mother , Deborah Szekely — a transformative leader for the Golden Door and Rancho La Puerta , where he championed a mind-body-spirit approach to health . Alex was diagnosed with Hodgkin ’ s Lymphoma in 1998 and died of melanoma at age 44 .
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS
Distinguished recipients of the ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award
2000 Dr . Andrew Weil
2001 All ISPA members in honor of 9 / 11
2002 Alex Szekely ( posthumously )
2003 Dr . Kenneth Cooper 2004 Ruth Stricker 2005 Deborah Szekely 2006 Dr . Michael Jacobson 2007 Dr . Maya Angelou 2008 Sir Sidney Poitier 2009 Lance Armstrong 2010 Doc Hendley
2011 Bert Jacobs 2012 Lisa Ling 2013 Blake Mycoskie 2014 Jewel 2015 Alice Waters 2016 John Ondrasik 2017 Peyton Manning 2018 Daymond John 2019 Mick Ebeling 2022 Leon Logothetis 2023 Ben Nemtin 2024 Justin Wren
24 PULSE n MARCH 2024