Five for Fighting’s John Ondrasik to receive ISPA’s Humanitarian Award
The International SPA Association (ISPA) will present John Ondrasik with the 2016 ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award at the 26th annual ISPA Conference & Expo, set to take place 13-15 September at The Venetian in Las Vegas. Ondrasik, a Grammy-nominated artist, will also serve as keynote speaker on 14 September with a musical performance.
“John delivers such heartfelt music every time he performs,” said ISPA president Lynne McNees. “ISPA loves celebrating those who use their talents to help others. He is the perfect representation of someone that has taken the talents given to him and used them for good.”
Singer-songwriter Ondrasik, known by his stage name Five for Fighting, exploded onto the music scene with the release of "Superman" in 2000. "Superman" continued to embed itself in the nation's consciousness with the events of 9/11, as Ondrasik joined other superstar musicians for the fundraiser, "The Concert for New York," a 2001 event dedicated to first responders affected by the events of 11 September. Three years later, Ondrasik landed another number one Billboard hit with "100 Years."
“Personally, giving back through charity work has been the most selfish exercise of my life, as I meet such wonderful and inspiring people,” Ondrasik said. “Whether it’s the CD for the troops project or my work with Augie Nieto and ALS, I am continually in awe at the courage and strength of the human spirit.”
The Humanitarian Award is named in honour of the late spa pioneer Alex Szekely. It is designed to recognise an individual who acts as a respected contributor to overall wellbeing, encouraging the renewal of mind, body and spirit. The award will be presented to Ondrasik by Szekely’s mother, Deborah Szekely.
Past Humanitarian Award recipients include Alice Waters, Jewel, Blake Mycoskie, Lisa Ling and Dr. Maya Angelou.
John Ondrasik ISPA Conference Five For Fighting Humanitarian AwardISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship recognises two recipients
ISPA Visionary Award to honour Geraldine Howard
Dr Brené Brown, Simon Sinek to speak at this year’s ISPA conference
Jean Kolb to receive ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award
Wellness real estate market booming – forecast to reach $913bn by 2028, reports GWI
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Why shouldn’t sports facilities be beautiful? Across Asia, architects are creating landmark buildings for the public, discovers Christopher de Wolf