Best Spas in Asia Announced with 28 Spas and Wellness Centers Honored

28 Spas and Wellness Centers Honored at Asia Spa & Wellness Festival Gold Awards; China lead with five awards

Bangkok - In a star-studded ceremony reminiscent of the Academy Awards, 28 spas and wellness centers were honored with the Asia Spa & Wellness Festival Gold Awards at the Landmark Hotel, Bangkok.

As each Award was announced by master of ceremony, the whole ballroom roared with applause from both winner and nominees alike. Over 300 spa owners, managers and industry leaders were present at the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony.

The much awaited Awards, dubbed the most prestigious awards for spas and wellness centers in Asia were given in conjunction with of the Asia Spa & Wellness Festival 2009, organized by AIC Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, Thai Spa Association and Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Promotion Council with the support of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

The winners were selected from a pool of 212 nominations, and were judged by a panel of independent judges comprising spa personalities, travel writers and tour planners. The grueling nomination and adjudication process took over two months, and comprised of mystery visits and spa audits. In deciding the winner, the judges took into consideration both the ‘hardware’ component – ambience, design and equipment, and ‘software’ component – therapist skills and qualifications, treatment menus, and service quality.

Among the big winners of the night was the Hyatt group, which took home four awards including the Best Spa Group. China, already home to the largest number of spas in Asia, took home five awards in a show of strength. Host Thailand and Singapore tied in second place with four winners each. Other winners are from Malaysia, India, Philippines, Macau, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bhutan.

Awards Chairman, William Ng said that the Awards proved that Asian spas have come of age, and are now operating at an international level.

“The judges were impressed with the overall quality of nominations and submissions this year, and had a difficult time choosing the winners. The general consensus is that the winners have all displayed standards consistent with the best in the world”, Ng said.

He added, “Since the introduction of the Awards last year, the industry has rallied behind this momentous annual event, and the Awards have raised the bar for the spa and wellness industry.

At the same time, we are seeing greater recognition locally and internationally for our spas, which bodes well for our quest to make Asia synonymous with the best spas”. Also present at the packed Awards ceremony were president of Thai Spa Association, Andrew Jacka, president of Federation of Thai Spa Associations, Apichai Jeeradisak and representatives from spa associations across Asia.

Full List of Winners
Embargo: 21 March 2009

Best New Spa
Spa Cenvaree at CentralWorld, Bangkok, Thailand

Best Spa Ambience
The Barai, Hyatt Hua Hin, Thailand

Best Spa Experience
Mogambo Springs, The Spa at Plantation Bay, Cebu, Philippines

Best Day Spa (5 winners)
Evian Spa by Three, Shanghai, China
Tirta Spa, Boracay Island, Philippines
The Retreat Spa, Singapore
RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort, Bangkok, Thailand
Sense of Touch, Hong Kong

Best Wellness Centre (2 winners)
Kenko Reflexology & Spa, Singapore
Song Spa, Hyatt Regency Dongguan, China

Best Traditional Treatment
Manda Snana by Jiva Spa at Taj Tashi, Thimphu, Kingdom of Bhutan

Best Signature Treatment
Chocolate Wrap by M-Spa & Fitness, Genting Highland, Malaysia

Best Resort Spa (5 winners)
The Barai, Hyatt Hua Hin, Thailand
Spa Village, Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia
Kaya Kalp – The Royal Spa, ITC Mughal, Agra, India
Health Club & Spa - Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore
Regalia Resort and Spa, Suzhou, China

Best Destination Spa (4 winners)
Spa Indochine, Siam Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
The Spa at The Nam Hai Resort, Hoi An, Vietnam
Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa, Hainan, China
Thermes Marins Bali, Indonesia

Best Hotel Spa (6 winners)
The Spa at Crown, Macau
Plateau Residential Spa - HYATT PURE, Hong Kong
Heavenly Spa by Westin, Beijing, China
The Asian Spa, Spacare International, Singapore
Zen Serena Spa at The Metropolitan Hotel, New Delhi, India
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Japan

Best Spa Group
HYATT PURE

About the Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council
The Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council, or ASWPC is the regional coordinating body for the promotion of spas and wellness centres. We assist national and regional organisation in promoting spas and wellness centres inter- and intra-regionally to an audience of wellness tourists, health practitioners and other stakeholders.

About the Asia Spa & Wellness Festival Gold Awards
The Gold Awards is an annual Awards ceremony organized collectively by and for the spa and wellness community in Asia. The Organising Committee comprises spa owners and directors, and travel, lifestyle and business media. It is held in conjunction with the Asia Spa & Wellness Festival, which is the largest gathering of spa and wellness professionals in Asia. For more info, visit www.asiaspafestival.com