The African Pride Mount Grace Country House & Spa in the Magaliesberg, which forms part of the luxury African Pride Hotels collection, has been named as South Africa’s Best Luxury Day Spa in the Country Category of the 2011 World Luxury Spa Awards™. The World Luxury Spa Awards™ gives recognition to unsurpassed service excellence and put the spotlight on spas that represent the finest standards, thus attracting the attention of global spa-goers and industry experts. Open to luxury spas in the respective categories, the World Luxury Spa Awards™ are recognized and respected on the global front by the public and media at large and are universally acknowledged.

Marinique Truter, Executive Manager, World Luxury Spa Awards™ said the calibre of entries for 2011 was outstanding. Official voting closed on March 19 and “the response and comments from voters was phenomenal”.

“The World Luxury Spa Awards™ is the highest accolade a spa can ever hope to receive. For participants the World Luxury Spa Awards™ challenge service excellence and highlight the importance of constant improvement. The World Luxury Spa Awards™ truly puts a winner/finalist spa ahead of its peers from a marketing perspective,” Truter said. The independent judging process was based on spa guest votes and the feedback and votes from a selected global panel of spa industry professionals.

“This is a great honour and achievement, especially for our STAFF that carries out this superb work. Mount Grace Spa offers the highest standards of service with a superior product range against the backdrop of the beautiful Magaliesberg countryside and spectacular hotel,” said Francisco Caceres Garcia, Mount Grace Spa Manager.

The African Pride Mount Grace Country House & Spa is surrounded by 10 acres of lush gardens and is a true haven of natural elegance. This classic hotel with 121 rooms and suites offers the ultimate in rural luxury and is only an hours' drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria..

The Mount Grace Spa offers a soothing, pampering experience. GUESTS can also discover the healing and relaxing benefits of water therapy in the outdoor Hydrotherapy Spa Garden. With its heated outdoor jacuzzi pool, heated flotation pool, cold rock pools and waterfalls, the Spa Gardens have been designed to take full advantage of the therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy, nature and the elements. To achieve complete relaxation, floating in the supportive waters of the Brine Pool (Liquid Sound Flotation Pool) is recommended. Also on offer is Thallasso Therapy, a form of Hydrotherapy engaging the rejuvenating forces of water and natural elements to heal the body and soothe the soul. Varying temperature and pressure in the Hydrotherapy Tub stimulates blood circulation and eases tension.

Danny Bryer, Director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue for the Protea Hospitality Group, offered congratulations to the hotel and spa. “The African Pride Mount Grace Country House & Spa epitomises everything that is African Pride Hotels. It is a magnificent and luxurious property with a culture of service excellence that surpasses even the most exacting standards. The fact that African Pride Hotels keep winning awards is a testament to the highest international standards of service, accommodation and facilities on offer.”