SpaAsia Crystal Awards 2008

It was an evening mixed with explosive joy and taut suspense. For most cheer and joy became their theme for the night. Drinks flowed freely and Kamalaya’s Cuisine graced the tables.

The Gala Night on October 16 was attended by over 300 guests and attending in place of the Minister of Tourism Malaysia was the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry. The night was the high point of the three-day Wellness Summit, an annual gathering attended by the who’s who of the hospitality, spa and wellness industries.

Everyone came out dressed to the nines to celebrate with colleagues and friendly rivals. Suspense and the nervous wait for the announcement of impending victory became little songs that played on their minds as nominees trotted into the hall along with the rest. And when the eventual winners of the 2008 SpaAsia Crystal Awards were announced a feeling of relief and joy swept across the hall as everyone, victors and rivals alike, celebrated the ones honoured.

The Crystal Awards is now in its fifth edition. An industry-renowned recognition, the award is a well-deserved endorsement of the property’ and individual’s contribution to the enhancement and elevation of the industry.

The best among the best go through the various stages of stringent checks and measures. Audited, weighted and sampled mysteriously, each nominee is eventually a worthy victor recognized and endorsed by industry experts and unbiased peers. The night saw major triumphs for some and little heartbreaks for the others. In the most popular categories, the top three contenders were shortlisted and had their names announced (see list below). The eventual runners-up missed the award by a mere whisker, but such is the way of competitions.

Brands and properties would only be nominated after they had gone through a thorough process of evaluation and audits following consultation, inputs and views of experts and industry leaders with long standing experience and distinction. This year saw a field of 150 applicants vying for recognition in the 17 categories, and 75 representing 35 unique brands made it to the nominees’ list. SpaAsia Crystal Awards provides an opportunity for the spa and wellness industry to show the world their commitment to quality, innovation and excellence!