ISPA is to honour the co-founders of The Hills Health Ranch in British Columbia at this year’s conference, to be held in October in Texas, US.

Pat and Juanita Corbett will be the recipients of the 2009 ISPA Dedicated Contributor award, for their significant contribution towards the growth of the spa association.

ISPA chair Jean Kolb said: “The Corbetts have been dedicated members of the association since 1994, and as members of the ISPA Board of Directors and ISPA Committees, they played an integral role in ensuring the ‘I’ in ISPA was never overlooked.”

Pat Corbett added: “It was important to Juanita and I to make ISPA the engine that would give the international spa industry a voice with power and influence.”

The Corbetts opened the Canada-based The Hills Health Ranch in 1982. They also own Spa Expertise Canada, a spa product-based importing and distribution company.

Other 2009 award recipients at this year’s ISPA include Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, who will accept the ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award. Details: experienceispa.com