Hong Kong, November 30, 2012: Thailand won the Asian Spa Capital of the Year award at the 8th annual AsiaSpa Awards for 2012, organised on 15 November in Hong Kong by AsiaSpa magazine. The award was one of five picked up in total by Thai spas, health and wellness resorts, more than any other country.
The remaining four were:
Day Spa of the Year: The Oasis Spa Lanna, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Spa Retreat of the Year: Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa, Ko Samui, Thailand
Medi-Spa of the Year: S Medical Spa, Bangkok, Thailand
In-Spa Training of the Year: Banyan Tree Spa Academy, Phuket, Thailand
Mrs. Titiporn Manenate, Director of TAT Hong Kong Office said, “When the Chiva-Som International Health Resort opened in Hua Hin in 1995, it broke new ground in the annals of Asia-Pacific health and wellness tourism. Ever since then, Thailand has continued to raise the bar in the quality and diversity of its spa offerings. Today, the kingdom has a huge range of health resorts and spas offering superb herbal treatments and traditional massage, all of very high and certifiable standards.”
She added: “Thai spas blend traditional well-being therapies with relaxing massage, holistic treatments and numerous other ways to relieve and detox an overworked physical and mental system. Enjoyed by people around the world, Thai spas are becoming as popular as Thai cuisine.”
Originated in 2005 to recognise what the organisers refer to as the “sensational spa industry of Asia,” the AsiaSpa awards now cover a total of 24 categories. This year’s awards event attracted more than 350 industry professionals representing spas, hotel and resorts, retreats, academies, personalities and products. The categories recognise achievements in luxury standards, innovation, ecological awareness, and exceeding the benchmark in spa training.
“2012 has been a very interesting year for the spa industry, with many new brands and spa additions,” says Vivienne Tang, Editor-in-Chief of AsiaSpa magazine. “We’ve never received so many nomination entries like we did this year, and it has been a truly thrilling experience to see who eventually took home an award.”
Of the other award winners, spas from Singapore won four awards, and from Hong Kong and Indonesia, three awards each. The Maldives won one award. The rest went to industry personalities and products around the region.
The trophies were provided by Baccarat with additional event sponsorship by Thalissi, W Hong Kong, Alissi Brontë, Phytocéane, Acantha and Hedonist. The W Hong Kong hosted this year’s Awards.
AsiaSpa describes itself as being Asia’s only magazine totally dedicated to the pursuit of complete well-being. It has a readership of over 120,000, many of them brand-conscious urban females.
Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4544-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.tatnews.org
