Asia Spa Awards 2018...

To be invited to be a participating judge and then attend the annual AsiaSpa Awards in mid November was a great delight.  To be amongst industry persons from across many countries was inspiring. Here is an update from Asia Spa.....

14th Annual AsiaSpa Awards Recognise the Industry’s Finest

Hong Kong’s most anticipated spa and wellness event of the year, the 14th annual AsiaSpa Awards took place on November 15 at W Hong Kong with the glamorous occasion attended by representatives of the region’s outstanding brands. The 2018 Awards honoured nominees, industry icons and guests, for an evening themed ‘Tokyo Blue’.

A panel of 20 judges selected the best in the business across 26 categories. Awards were presented to spas, hotels and resorts, retreats and products recognised for raising the bar of product and treatment standards.

The elegant evening saw more than 400 professionals celebrate the winners who have demonstrated stellar products and services within the region’s best spas and resorts. These included Maia Spa, Fusion Maia, Da Nang City, Vietnam, which took home ‘Spa of the Year (Southeast Asia & the Pacific)’, while ‘Spa of the Year (North & West Asia)’ went to Chuan Spa, Cordis Hong Kong. Exception Marine, Thalgo was awarded ‘Anti-Ageing Product Line of the Year’, and MDNA Skin, MDNA Skin was recognised as ‘Natural Product Line of the Year’. Gaya Island Resort, Sabah, Malaysia, received ‘Destination Hotel/Resort of the Year’, while The Sukhothai Shanghai, China, was ‘Urban Hotel of the Year’.

“This year’s AsiaSpa Awards are even more special because we’re celebrating the magazine’s 15th anniversary. We’re really proud of the staying power we have in the publishing world as an authority on all things spa and wellness in the region. It’s encouraging to see the commitment to improvement in the industry with so many professionals who are genuinely passionate about delivering authentic wellness through alternative therapies. They are the heart and soul of any spa and we celebrate their valuable contributions to this business. We are also delighted to announce Intraceuticals as our main sponsor for the 2019 awards,” says Stephanie Shiu, editor-in-chief of AsiaSpa magazine.

We at AsiaSpa would like to express our gratitude to our event sponsor, Lapidem Tokyo and special thanks to W Hong Kong for sponsoring this year’s stunning venue. We are also thrilled to have the support of Sans Souci as our trophies sponsor this year. Sans Souci is a Czech producer of bespoke decorative lighting fixtures with over 12 years of experience and expertise in hospitality projects and interior design jobs around the world.

And the AsiaSpa award winners for 2018 are:
Spa of the Year (Southeast Asia & the Pacific)          Maia Spa, Fusion Maia, Da Nang City, Vietnam
Spa of the Year (North & West Asia)                         Chuan Spa, Cordis Hong Kong
Urban Spa of the Year                                                 Bliss Spa, W Hong Kong
Day Spa of the Year                                                    Lapidem Tokyo Spa, Tokyo, Japan
New Spa of the Year                                                   PANPURI WELLNESS, Bangkok, Thailand
Men's Spa of the Year                                                 The Ritz-Carlton Spa, The Ritz-Carlton,                                                                                                       Millenia, Singapore
Eco-Spa of the Year                                                    Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Gold Coast,
                                                                                         Australia
Medi-Spa of the Year                                                  Dii Wellness Medi Spa, Bangkok, Thailand
Destination Retreat Program of the Year                    7-day Ayurvedic Journey, Anantara Spa,                                                                                                      Anantara Tangalle Resort, Sri Lanka
Spa Treatment of the Year                                          Bamboo Fusion Massage, Willow Stream SPA,                                                                                            Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai, China
Couple's Treatment of the Year                                  Vitality of the Hearts, Holistic Sanctuary and                                                                                                Healing Sanctuary Spa, The Farm, Philippines
Men's Spa Treatment of the Year                               Pedi:MENi: Cure by Bastien Gonzalez, The                                                                                                  Oriental Spa, The Landmark Mandarin                                                                                                    Oriental, Hong Kong
Medi-Spa Treatment of the Year                                High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Aesthetic                                                                                                Facial, Sense of Tough, Hong Kong
Innovative Spa Treatment of the Year                        MARGY'S Monte Carlo Prestige Facial with                                                                                                Platinum Mask, Morpheus Spa, Morpheus                                                                                                Hotel, Macau, China
Professional Spa Product Line of the Year                 BioPhyto, Christina
Results-Orientated Product Line of the Year              Hydrating Collection, Aromatherapy Associates
Anti-Ageing Product Line of the Year                        Exception Marine, Thalgo
New Product Range of the Year                                  Ampoule Concentrates Grand Cru, BABOR
Natural Product Line of the Year                                MDNA Skin, MDNA Skin
Men's Product Line of the Year                                   Muscle Ease Blend, Subtle Energies
Spa Cuisine of the Year                                               Kamalaya Cuisine, Kamalaya Wellness                                                                                                         Sanctuary and Holistic Spa, Koh Samui,                                                                                                   Thailand
Destination Hotel/Resort of the Year                          Gaya Island Resort, Sabah, Malaysia
Urban Hotel of the Year                                              The Sukhothai Shanghai, China
Family-Friendly Hotel/Resort of the Year                  Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
Eco-Hotel/Resort of the Year                                      Fivelements, Bali, Indonesia
Romantic Hotel/Resort of the Year                             Ayana Resort and Spa, Bali, Indonesia

Congratulations!

           

Massage

Massage.  It is a word we have all heard of and it is not to be taken for granted.

A slow inhale-exhale then I calmly express “that was fabulous. Thank you.” That’s what I said as my Li'Tya kodo massage came to end at Mud Day Spa.  It is not the first time and I’m sure it will not be the last time that I thank and feel a sense of gratitude after surrendering to the skilful hands of the spa therapist or masseuse. It’s that feeling of being in the moment and having released all thoughts and angst of the world and reality of outside.   

Li'Tya

Life has a strange way of operating with some days or weeks being more emotionally strenuous than others.  We’ve all felt it, that sometimes there are aspects of life that we are attached to that can be emotionally draining for a few days, weeks and months. Then at times there’s the same matter that eases off only to reappear with a feeling of never really disappearing.  The variance of life’s up and down events can be of little or extreme shock, drama, sadness or frustration which can cause emotional tension to rise.  Tension is an indicator that life has been a tad stressful; those felt symptoms of back/neck ache, headaches, light headed/dizzy, irregular breathing, irritable, gastrointestinal changes, worry, rapid heart rate, poor concentration, forgetfulness and difficulty quietening the mind or low energy may just be your trigger. 

hot stone massage

If you can relate to any of this, take a moment and ask yourself “when can I take a moment from life to surrender and rejuvenate at a day spa?”.  The array of massages are all benefiting, try and make a promise to yourself that one day you will tick off all the massage options within their spa menu.

Some massages that maybe available on a spa menu:

Swedish/Relaxation        Aromatherapy         Hot Stone            Deep Tissue       Shiatsu                

Lomi Lomi            Kodo Massage             Thai             Balinese           Signature        Pregnancy

Here are a few of our favourite day spas within Australia I suggest you book in for a massage:

Park Hyatt Melbourne

Dome Spa Retreat                                        

Natskin Day Spa

The Lyall Spa

One Spa

Peace and Quiet

Park Hyatt Melbourne

Bannisters Day Spa

Buddha Garden Day Spa

Byron at Byron 

Advanced Skin Spa

Serene Day Spa

 Not sure which massage will benefit you most, well discuss it with the receptionist on booking. But, often the description and your intuition will serve you correct.

Remember massage is not just about releasing stiff muscles, the power and benefit of having a skilful therapist and the comfort of nicely appointed treatment room – yes, sound, temperature, aroma and equipment make a difference - to release some pent up emotion.  You are more than the physical!

Wish to take a Spa Wellness Travel package staying at a stunning spa resort or spa wellness retreat, well contact us here: T: 03-5254 1411

a Hyatt spa here or there...

Booking into a spa hotel or spa resort that is a global brand you can expect the ethos, intent and spa product being offered to be consistent, after all that is why loyalty prevails.  

The Barai within our Collection offers only eight exclusive residential spa suites, is a part of and located adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, Thailand.  Unable to retreat to Thailand at this point in time, my mind pondered the options of a spa hotel or day spa in Melbourne that would suit my needs.  Knowing The Barai’s emphasis on water treatments and facilities and the quality spa products they use, my attention quickly diverted to the Park Hyatt which is home to the Park Club Health & Day Spa.

Perfect!  The Park Club Health & Day Spa provided a steam room, sauna, jaccuzi and pool for me to restore and rejuvenate.  Dedicating time to the warmth of steam and a sauna is a must for me before a treatment and the pool allows for a few laps to stretch my limbs. Beyond the facials, body treatments, massages and beauty treatments for men and women within the spa menu, there's also wellness retreats, which equates to a ‘signature treatment’.   Wanting a bit of everything, I booked a Peace wellness retreat encompassing a calming massage, revitalising facial and scalp massage.

My day started in bit of a flurry as I had an hour and half drive and the weather was horrendous. Thank goodness for complimentary valet parking, to simply arrive and hand over the car makes life easy. Within minutes, I was in the infamous white cozy robe and sipping a cup of warm ginger and lemongrass tea.  Perfect – by now I’ve forgotten the outside world.   Uki, my therapist was amazing, asking after areas that I wanted attention given to and questioning my comfort throughout. Having only a thirty minute massage was not going to treat a full body, but I know if it was I would have been snoring.   

Time from my scalp massage was taken and given to pressing and kneading my glutes (bum muscles), whilst working through my tension and pain, Uki advised this is a common area that needs attention for people who sit at a desk working for a long period of time. Oh the joys!  Whether a sixty minute plus or express facial, Kerstin Florian the exclusive spa-only brand that is developed using natural ingredients and is free from heavy preservative and perfumes is used at both the Park Club Health & Day Spa and The Barai.  Uki offered more advice suggesting I apply vitamin c+ serum under my moisturiser on my face at night to assist with fine lines; I thanked her for the advice and the sample, but eagerly purchased the Rehydrating Neroli Water at the account on my departure.  I love having a hydrating mist in my bag.  The serum maybe next times purchase. 

I was out the door and off to a lunch meeting feeling blissfully relaxed. 

Park Health Club & Day Spa

bliss massage

bathe with these beauties - keep swimming to the end...

The Barai suite batheing

For all Spa Wellness Travel advice and reservations contact:  T: 03-5254 1411

Now, we encourage you take a little time our for yourself.  During November there's TWO OFFERS for you to experience the wonderful therapists, spa products and treatments at the Park Hyatt Melbourne.

1st - Unwind with the Pure Indulgence package - 60min Turkish Salt Scrub, 30min Relaxation Massage, 75min Advance Facial + 30min lunch. Mon-Sat cost $369 and you'll be gifted with an Eucalyptus/Wildflower Bath Soak to take home (valued $65).

2nd - Book any 1hr treatment and receive a complimentary foot or scalp massage (valued $49). Remember to mention Spa Wellness Travel. 

Contact the Park Club Health & Day Spa on 03-9224 1222.