Three leading health and spa industry professionals were honoured during the recent 2006 International Spa Association Conference and Expo (ISPA) in Las Vegas, Nevada, US.

Dr Michael Jacobson, the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) was the recipient of the 2006 Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award for his “relentless campaigning for healthy behavioural choices”.

For more than 30 years, Dr Jacobson has worked towards greater accuracy in US food labelling. CSPI was the driving force behind the US Nutrition and Labeling Education Act, which required nutritional information to be included on food labels.

The director of development for the Skin Authority, Gayle Brady, received the 2006 Dedicated Contributor Award, which recognises an active ISPA member who has contributed significantly to the growth of the association.

Spa developer and consultant Sylvia Sepielli was also honoured.

She received the 2006 Visionary Award, which is given each year to an active ISPA member who has contributed significantly towards the definition and positive movement of health and wellness over their career.

Sepielli is the owner and president of Sylvia Planning and design (SPAd Inc) and began full-time spa consulting in 1994. Details: www.experiencespa.com