Founder of the Day Spa Association (DSA) and Spa Industry Association (SIA) Hannelore Leavy has died aged 77 years.

Originally from Austria, Leavy began her career in the 1970s as the US marketing director for the US office of the Austrian National Tourism Board, where she organised European spa excursions. She then progressed to become VP of sales and marketing and associate publisher at Spa Finder, where she helped establish Spa Finder Travel Arrangements.

Leavy founded the DSA and SIA, originally the International Medical Spa Association, in 1991 where she served as executive director for nearly 20 years until she retired in 2010 and was succeeded by Allan Share.

More recently, she set up her own consultancy firm – HR Leavy Spa & Wellness Business Consultancy.

Commenting on her passing, Share said: “Our industry has lost a true icon.

“Hannelore loved to talk spa, live spa, eat spa...it was her way. Being from Austria she had the European feeling for what spa really meant and wanted the US market to adopt a true model.”