Baccarat AsiaSpa Awards 2005

At a sumptuous cocktail and spa cuisine party sponsored by the InterContinental Hotel Hong Kong luminaries of the spa world gathered to find out who had won the 16 awards.

The many special guests included international model Rosemary Vandenbroucke, Oriane Yun Hong of title sponsors Baccarat and Parineeta Sethi of AsiaSpa India, who all presented awards. The evening's MC was Melinda Yon, director of MY Concepts and a regular contributor to AsiaSpa. Winners were presented with a stunning Baccarat crystal sculpture mounted on a plinth sponsored by TM&N.

"The BASA awards bring well-deserved recognition and thanks to spa owners, trainers and designer, product manufacturers and spa associations, and encourage them to keep aiming as high as possible in their quest to create the best spa experiences," said Blu Inc Media CEO Olivier Burlot. "And after the success of this year we are delighted to announce that 2005 is just the first of many years of annual awards to come."

Destination Spa of the Year

Winner Spa Destination of the Year - Mandala Spa, Boracay, The Philippines

"Our commitment to excellence speaks volumes about Mandala Spa. Our philosophy was: if it's not good enough for us, it's not good enough for our guests. We put a lot of emphasis on empowerment. We want everyone to take charge of their own lives. Our programs help one do just that. Being in one of the world's best beach certainly helps! Of late, we have had guests who came to us because they heard so much about us.  We're starting to carve our niche and we're extremely happy about that."

Karen Villarica-Reina, Spa Founder, Mandala Spa, www.mandalaspa.com

Nominations

• Ananda in the Himalayas, India
• Chiva-Som Luxury Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand
• Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Chi Spa Village, Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort, Cebu, Philippines
• The Farm at San Benito, Philippines
• Mandala Spa, Boracay Island, Philippines
• Uma Paro, Bhutan
• Banyan Tree Ringha Resort, China
• Evason Hideaway and Six Senses Spa at Ana Mandara, Vietnam
• The Datai, Langkawi, Malaysia
• Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort & Spa
• Empire Hotel and Country Club, Brunei

Urban Spa of the Year

Winner Urban Spa of the Year - CHI Spa, Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

"WE CONSCIOUSLY TRIED TO ENSURE THAT GUESTS VISITING CHI, PARTICULARLY IN A CITY CENTER ENVIRONMENT, HAVE A PALPABLE SENSE OF DETACHMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. ALL THE SENSES ARE ENGAGED TO ACHIEVE THIS, FROM THE TREATMENT MENU, INTERIORS, ACCESSORIES, ART AND TREATMENT STYLE."

Ian Brewis, Spa Director for Shangri-La, www.shangri-la.com

Nominations

• Aurora Spa Retreat Melbourne, Australia
• Evian Spa, Three On The Bund, Shanghai, China
• I-Spa, InterContinental Hong Kong
• Spa Botanica, The Sentosa, Singapore
• The Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
• Away Spa at W Seoul Walkerhill, Korea
• Wellspring Spa, Grand Formosa Taipei, Taiwan
• Plateau, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
• Chi Spa, Shangri-La Bangkok

Spa Retreat of the Year

Winner Retreat of the year - The Farm at San Benito, The Philippines

"The general concept of our natural medical treatment is to allow our bodies to heal itself through natural modalities with plant based natural body supplements. The Farm is a popular place to spend the week because of its easy accessibility, its paradise-like ambience; its gourmet restaurant; the heavenly  massages and most importantly the whole staff who renders services from their hearts."

Dr Lucero-Palma, Medical Director, The Farm at San Benito www.thefarm.com.ph

Nominations

• Ananda in the Himalayas, India
• Bagus Jati Health and Wellbeing Retreat, Bali
• Begawan Giri Estate, Bali
• Chiva-Som Luxury Health Resort, Thailand
• Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa, Queensland, Australia
• Mandala Spa, Boracay, Philippines
• The Farm at San Benito, Philippines
• Ringha Banyan Tree, China
• Uma Paro, Bhutan
• The Bale, Bali

Spa Interior Design of the Year

Winner Spa Interior of the Year - CHI at the Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

"In Chi the space, lighting, details AND MORE FORM A WHOLE GREATER THAN THE PARTS, CREATING SOMETHING GUESTS MAY NOT HAVE SEEN BEFORE OR EXPECT IN A SPA. IT'S NOT OVERTLY THAI OR BALINESE, MODERNIST/MINIMALIST. IT'S simply THAT SENSE OF DETACHMENT, PRIVACY AND TIMELESSNESS."

Ian Brewis, Spa Director of Shangri-La, www.shangri-la.com

Nominations

• Evian Spa, Three on the Bund, Shanghai
• The Lalu, Taiwan
• Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Plateau, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
• W Seoul Walkerhill, Korea
• Chi Spa, Shangri-La Bangkok, Thailand
• Four Seasons, Langkawi
• Trisara, Phuket, Thailand
• Prana Spa, The Villas, Bali

Spa Exterior of the Year

Winner Exterior Design of the Year Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi

"The key of the design is that it reflects the architecture, Lanna period, depicting the ethnic influences of northern Thailand and the Lanna kingdom. The 54- acre destination spa resort is created within a very defined design integrity meant to showcase Thailand's craftsmanship and rich cultural heritage."

Ingo Schweder, Mandarin Oriental Director of Spa, www.mandarinoriental.com

Nominations

• Ananda in the Himalayas, India
• The Lalu, Taiwan
• Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Spa Village Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia
• Ritz-Carlton, Bali
• Four Seasons, Ubud, Bali
• The Legian, Bali
• JW Marriott, Phuket

Asian Spa Capital

Winner Spa Capital of the Year - Bali

"It hopefully will continue to re-enforce the fact that Bali is truly the spa island of planet earth. You can delay paradise but never deny it..." John O'Sullivan, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, www.fourseasons.com/jimbaranbay

"Balinese hospitality offers warmth and genuine care and combined with the latest spa facilities on the island this makes an irresistible combination." David Wilson, The Ritz-Carlton resort & Spa, Bali, www.ritz-carlton.com

 "The Bali Spa Association and our member spas and business partners are thrilled and honoured to be recognised with this award from AsiaSpa magazine. We feel that Bali, as an Asian spa capital, continues to grow and evolve, not only as a 'spa destination' but as a unique and magical wellness location that reflects the harmony and balance with all that is around us." Mary Darling, Bali Spa Association

Nominations

• Bali
• Bangkok
• Hong Kong
• Hua Hin
• Kerala
• Maldives
• Phuket
• Shanghai
• Singapore

Spa Treatment of the Year

Winner Spa Treatment of the Year - Mandala Spa, The Philippines

"At Mandala Spa, we encourage you to experience yourself. As you are. Watsu, more than any other modality that I am aware of, gives you permission to do just that. There is so much spaciousness within yourself, so much acceptance of who you are and where you are at in your evolution. Watsu came into my life before the idea of the spa came in. It was actually because of watsu that I was inspired to do the spa."

Karen Villarica-Reina, Mandala Spa, www.mandalaspa.com

Nominations

• La Therapie Intensive Facial, Ellespa, Hong Kong
• Singing Bowl Therapy, Jari Menari, Bali
• Watsu, Mandala Spa, Boracay Island, Philippines
• Hot Sand treatment, ASO Spa, Hong Kong
• Hilot, Sanctuario Spa, Manila, Philippines
• Hydrotherapy, Thalasso Bali

Medi-Spa of the year

Winner Medi-Spa of the year - The Farm at San Benito, The Philippines

"We promote more the holistic concept of healthy lifestyle and wellness where diet, exercise, spa treatment and natural medical treatments all come together. The Farm is the only health resort that has medical doctors who manage and supervise the guests' treatments and nurses who perform the cleansing treatments on our guests."

Dr Lucero-Palma, Medical Director, The Farm at San Benito, www.thefarm.com.ph

Nominations

• Chiva-Som Luxury Health Resort, Thailand
• St Gregory Spa, Singapore
• St Carlos Medical Spa, Bangkok, Thailand
• Tao Garden Health Spa & Resort, Thailand
• The Farm at San Benito, Philippines

Spa Product of the Year

Winner Spa Product of the Year Pevonia

"After extensive research and development, we proudly and enthusiastically launched the Pevonia Botanica brand in 1991 with 80 products and respective professional treatments. Today, the brand offers over 250 products and nearly 50 professional treatments. Pevonia International invests millions of dollars each year in ingredient research and product development. We are committed to providing treatments and products that offer natural, pure formulations capable of delivering visible results."

Philippe Hennessy, Director Pevonia International, www.pevonia.com

Nominations

• Aromatherapy Associates
• Avance
• Decleor
• Elemis
• Jurlique
• Li'Tya
• Pevonia
• Sundari
• Sodashi

Spa Association of the Year

Winner Spa Association of the Year - Spa Association of the Philippines

"The spa association of the Philippines was founded early 2004. The aims were to professionalise the spa industry through education and self-regulation, to set the standards for the spas in the Philippines, and to launch HILOT as a modality indigenous to the Philippines. It has brought the major spa players together, organised on-going 'learning sessions' and worked with the regulatory bodies on standards. We are now recognised nationally and internationally as the voice in our industry."

Karen Villarica-Reina, President. www.spaassociationphilippines.com.ph

Nominations

• Australian Spa Association
• Spa Association Singapore
• Spa Association of the Philippines
• Thai Spa Association

Spa Event of the Year

Winner Spa Event of the Year - Turning Point Spa Seminar

"The primary aim of the first Spa Industry Seminar, organised by The Turning Point in 2003, was to connect with people in the industry and to promote my newly-hatched integrated creative service concept. As it turned out, I was impressed by the industry people I met at the seminar ... and impassioned by what they had to say. So what began as a means to an end developed into an end in itself."

Don Siegel

Nominations

• ISPA Asia Pacific Conference, Singapore
• Turning Point Spa Industry Seminar
• CosmoProf Singapore

Spa Personality of the Year

Winner Spa Personality of the Year - Ingo Schweder, Director of Spa, Mandarin Oriental

"It's a great honour to be recognized by fellow professionals for the contribution made to the industry. I am very fortunate to work within a very supportive board at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, which fully supports my vision in many facets. In addition to receiving support from executives on the group level, I have to credit my group team without their help I would not have been able to progress and energize the vision to the extent we have. Andrea, Sonee, Anita, Bernadette, Bonnie, Elsie and many others are a critical and very important in assuring group wide support of the mission we have set out for us, not to be the biggest but the best. I am just the conductor to an amazing orchestra of highly professional individuals."

Ingo Schweder

Nominations

• Carroll Dunham, Wild Earth
• Christina Ong, COMO Hotels and Resorts
• Ian Brewis, Director of Spa Development, Shangri-La
• Ingo Schweder, Director of Spa, Mandarin Oriental
• Ho Kwon Ping, Chairman, Banyan Tree
• Sonu Shivdasani, Six Senses

Spa Academy of the Year

Spa Academy of the year - Frederique Academy Hong Kong

"The academy is at the forefront of spa education and we are always looking for new techniques and teaching methods as well as keeping abreast of all the latest in the industry. This ensures that our students are employable and industry savvy. Our Academy prepares students to be immediately employable. We want them to be ready to step into a job and be comfortable right away. We train our students holistically: to understand that their work is not superficial. It is not only about beauty - it is about health, wellness, and lifestyle. It is about transforming their life and others lives too."

Frederique Deleage, Academy founder, www.paua.com.hk

Nominations

• Spa Academy by Raffles International, Singapore
• Chiva-Som International Academy
• Frederique Academy, Hong Kong

In-Spa training of the year

Winner: In-Spa Training of the Year -Banyan tree

"Being able to provide a good treatment is important, but being able to do so, with feelings, is what we demand of our therapists. Good attitude, enthusiasm and a keen interest to develop their potential with the company are key elements. During the training period therapists are graded to identify their strengths so that their potential can be developed to the fullest. Being critical of our own performance and constantly coming up with innovations has kept us ahead of the competition."

Ravi Chandran, Vice President and Managing Director of Spa Operations, www.banyantree.com

Nominations

• Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
• Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
• Chiva-Som Luxury Health Resort
• Paua Group
• Mandara Spa
• Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
• Mandala Spa, Boracay Island, Philippines
• Shiseido Spas

Spa Marketing of the Year

Winner Spa Marketing of the Year - Mandarin Oriental Hotels

"The Mandarin Oriental spa division has created a detailed manual, which is energised through the senior managers of the organization and details how to best market each spa facility - internally, externally and in synergy with all partners in the industry. We have also implemented a group-wide corporate identity for all its branding needs. From uniforms, collateral, flyers, advertisements and stationary, to our extensive Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group spa branded retail items like signature products, teas, music, fashion, yoga wear and related. Last but not least, wellness is the very active component in the Mandarin Oriental corporate offices, with a nutrition rich and vegetarian lunch available for all key directors on a daily basis as well as lunch time yoga classes."

Ingo Schweder, Director of Spa

Nominations

• Langham Place Hotel
• InterContinental Hotels
• Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts
• Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
• Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
• Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Spa Cuisine of the Year

Winner Spa Cuisine of the Year - ISPA

"Our philosophy when creating our I-Spa cuisine menu was simplicity. Using only the most natural ingredients, we have produced healthy and appetizing dishes that excite the appetite and relax the mind. Our goal is to create culinary dishes that promote relaxation and a sense of wellbeing, while still being indulgent. Our I-Spa cuisine when enjoyed at the Pool Terrace overlooking magnificent Victoria Harbour is a truly relaxing I-Spa experience."

Laurent Andre, executive chef, InterContinental Hotel, Hong Kong, www.interconti.com

Nominations

• Chiva-Som Luxury Health Resort, Thailand
• The Farm at San Benito, Philippines
• Mandala Spa, Boracay Island, Philippines
• Maya Ubud Resort and Spa, Bali
• W's Tonic, W Seoul Walkerhill, Seoul
• I-Spa, InterContinental Hong Kong