Recipient of this year's "Royal Spa Award" is the Czech journalist Marta Csontosová who received the prize during a dinner reception for members of the press at the ITB (International Tourism Fair) in Berlin. As tradition demands, the award was handed over by a member of aristocracy, in this case by Prince Jiri Lobkowitz, a Czech nobleman who serves as noble patron for the "Royal Spa" Marienbad. Every "Royal Spa" has such a blueblooded patron to represent old traditions and values in a modern day setting.

Since 2003 the "Royal Spas of Europe" honour journalists for writing and publishing exceptionally accomplished and informative articles about the organization and the special offers of its members.

"Royal Spas of Europe" is an association of presently seven European spas and health resorts, each one of them looking back on a long royal tradition. Crowned heads and members of noble families, high ranking state-officials and aristocrats spent time in these places and made the towns known all over the world. The Marianzke Lazne Health and Rehabilitation enterprise is the only member in this royal circle which is situated in the Czech Republic.
Known by the name of Marienbad, this Bohemian health-resort was favoured by European aristocrats for many decades and even the English King Edward VII. came several times to improve his health and play golf with elegant members of high society. In 1905, His Majesty Edward VII. personally opened the Royal Golf Club in Marienbad.

The winner of the "Royal Spa Award 2009", Marta Csontosová, was born 1951 in Slowakia and studied journalism at the Karls-University in Prague. She worked for the Czech radio and was a founding member of several newspapers in Slowakia. Since 2003 she is the chief editor of a Czech print magazine, which specializes in topics like health, wellness and spa treatments. For her work and the well researched and expertly documented article published in this magazine about the "Royal Spa" Marienbad and the whole organization "Royal Spas of Europe" the author was now honoured.

To become a partner in the exclusive circle of "Royal Spas", a mere tradition of blueblooded guests is not sufficient. On top of that, members have to accept a strict catalogue of rules and regulations. This catalogue determines the criteria, to which every "Royal Spa" has to submit and live up to. Fitness- and healthfacilities outfitted with first-class equipment, elegant ambience, top service, stylish and well-kept bathing-facilities and remedial products for trreatment of highest quality are just a few of the regular standards, which any guest may expect to find in a "Royal Spa". Where kings and blueblooded high society felt so very comfortable in past times, today's health- and quality conscious visitors will experience truly royal treatment. To cherish the glamourous past and enrich it with modern ideas is the chosen path for the "Royal Spas of Europe" to achieve a firm position on the competetive health- and wellness market. But it is well known, that the most fantastic quality offerings do mean nothing as long as nobody knows about them. That is why every "Royal Spa" welcomes the media and gladly lets journalists take a look behind the scenes. "We depend on well informed and capable journalists to function as our communicators", emphasized Rainer Mertel, Bad Neuenahr, chairman of the organization, during the "Royal Spa Award" ceremony.


Further details about the Royal Spas Award 2010 and application forms are available from the
Royal Spas of Europe Press Office
Kurgartenstrasse 1, 53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)2641 801 219
Email: press@royal-spas.net
Or via the website www.press.royal-spas.net