AsiaSpa Awards 2008 - Thailand gets most awards

Last night the winners of the fourth year of the AsiaSpa Awards, presented by AsiaSpa magazine, the region’s most recognised spa and wellness publication, were announced at a glittering evening in Hong Kong. Celebrating the best in terms of innovation and quality that Asia’s spa the 26 categories, voted on by 29 independent judges, were won by the spas, spa personalities, events, associations and resorts that set the benchmarks in the region.

Thailand had the most number of winners: Holistic Spa, Kamalaya in Koh Samui Destination Spa of the year, The Oriental Spa, Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok taking the Urban Spa award, Tamarind Springs, Koh Samui winning Day Spa of the Year TRIA Integrative Wellness, Bangkok winning Medi-Spa, The Barai, Hyatt Regency, Hua Hin taking the newly crested Spa Design Award. CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok won the Spa Treatment Award while The Dheva Spa, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai took home the Holistic Treatment Award, and Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin won Spa Cuisine.

Indonesia also came up with numerous winners, with Bali walking away with Spa Capital of the Year, Spa Village Resort snapped up the New Spa Award and Jara Menari won The Spa Therapist’s Team award. The Philippines, Hong Kong and Cambodia all had winners too, and while big brands Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotels and Resorts were represented, independent spas Sense of Touch and the Shinta Mani Spa also made the winner's podium.

“We are very proud to support the best businesses in the industry and to give them the recognition they deserve,” said Olivier Burlot, Managing Director of Blu Inc Media. “Despite the challenging times that lie ahead we are very optimistic about the strength of both the industry and our publication.”

AsiaSpa’s new Editor-in-Chief, Rebecca Walker supported this notion saying, “I have every confidence that AsiaSpa will continue to thrive in the coming year and beyond. This is our biggest turn out to date and it is wonderful to have so many pivotal figures of the spa industry under the one roof.”

Hosted and sponsored by the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, the black and bling themed event took place in The Salon. Entertainment was provided by a jazz trio by Innonation, as over 400 industry VIPs networked while the champagne flowed and delicious canapés were tasted. A glamorous fashion show showcased Baccarat’s stunning glass jewellrey and the event was decorated with flowers from Tiffanny Flowers and candles and décor from The Candle Company.

Guests walked away with goodie bags including fabulous products from Payot, Elemis, and Tea Concepts as well as delicious chocolates from Beschele. Special guests included Oriane Hong of Baccarat, Claudia Bonfiglioli of Cosmoprof and Gordon Fuller from the Grand Hyatt.

The winners of the AsiaSpa Awards 2008 are:

Destination Spa of the Year: Holistic Spa, Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand
Urban Spa of the Year: The Oriental Spa, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand
Day Spa of the Year: Tamarind Springs, Koh Samui, Thailand
New Spa of the Year: Spa Village Resort, Tembok Bali, Indonesia
Spa for Men of the Year: The Mandarin Barber, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
Spa Retreat of the Year: The Farm, The Philippines
Eco-Spas of the Year: Six Senses Resorts & Spas
Socially Responsible Spa of the Year: The Shinta Mani Spa, Shinta Mani Hotel and Institute of Hospitality, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Medi-Spa of the Year: TRIA Integrative Wellness, Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Spa Capital of the Year: Bali, Indonesia
Spa Association of the Year: Australasian Spa Association
Spa Event of the Year: Cosmoprof Asia 2007, Hong Kong
Spa Personality of the Year: Catherine Feliciano-Chon, CatchOn & Company, Hong Kong
In-Spa Training of the Year: CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Spa Academy of the Year: Frederique Academy, Hong Kong
Spa Design of the Year: The Barai, Hyatt Regency, Hua Hin, Thailand
Spa Treatment of the Year: Himalayan Tsangpo Ritual – CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Holistic Treatment of the Year: Inner Flow Therapy, The Dheva Spa, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Men’s Spa Treatment of the Year: ‘Cheers to Beers’ Therapy, Sense of Touch, Hong Kong
Spa’s Therapist Team of the Year: Jari Menari, Bali, Indonesia
Spa Product of the Year: Comfort Zone
Anti-Ageing Product of the Year: Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream, Elemis
Natural Products of the Year: Aromatherapy Associates
Men’s Product of the Year: Optimale Refreshing Eye Contour Care by Payot Homme
Spa Cuisine of the Year: Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand
Spa Marketing of the Year: Pevonia

More info: www.asiaspaawards.com