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Wednesday, May 24, 2006
All about Spas
By Nelia G. Neri
The word SPA is coined from the phrase salus per aqua which roughly translates to “health/ healing by water.”
I never realized how big the spa industry is worldwide until I attended the International SPA Association 2006 Thailand International Spa and Wellness Conference and Exhibition at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. We were a group of six Filipino writers who came on opening day upon the invitation of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The hardworking TAT marketing rep in the Philippines David de Jesus made the necessary arrangements.
Thailand is an ideal venue for this international event because it is positioning itself as the “Spa Hub of Asia” which means it is a leading world class spa destination and supplier. Its legendary spas have long attracted visitors seeking their traditional and natural treatments.
ISPA 2006 Thailand brought together buyers and sellers of new products, as well as operators of spas, hotels and resorts, fitness, beauty, health and aesthetic centers, and major retail chains and distributors. International spa experts led by Ms. Kate Mearns, chairman of ISPA-USA, conducted sessions on business management and shared notes on the latest industry/consumer trends and findings.
“The Best of The East” was this year’s theme and host country Thailand saw to it that the famed Thai spa therapy was showcased. A Thai Spa Pavilion beautifully decorated in all things Thai was the centerpiece at the exhibition hall along with booths of top-rated Thai spas which are acclaimed for fusing the best of ancient local holistic practices with the latest in modern amenities.
And of course guests were treated to a sampling of the legendary Thai massage.
A most welcome sight for our group was the Philippine booth with its distinctive “Wow Philippines” logo. At the forefront were the representatives of the Dept. of Tourism, and spa enthusiasts led by Zeny de Jesus who is managing director of the Ayutthaya Thai Spa in Quezon City, and Cathy Brillantes Turvill, president of Tagaytay’s Nurture Spa who is also the president of the Spa Professionals International Devt. Center, Philippines. Oh yes, our booth offered a sampling of the distinctive Philippine “hilot.”
A tour around the exhibition hall opened my eyes to the idyllic and exotic spa resorts around the region (Singapore, Bali, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the different places in Thailand like Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Phuket, etc.). The spas in Asia are known for offering the ultimate in pampering, using traditional rural herbs, aromatic spices and fragrant oils for massage and therapeutic treatments. Nothing compares to the “oriental touch,” it seems!
Beauty and wellness products and equipment, and everything else that was spa-related were all on display at the exhibition hall. It was an eye-opening experience for me!
*****
Before I end this spa-talk I would like to point out that Cebu is home to one of the most luxurious spa resorts in Asia. Chi, the spa at Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort can hold its own among the most celebrated spas around the world.
Designed as a village, Shangri-La’s Chi Spa offers the privacy of an exclusive enclave, the beauty of an enchanted kingdom, and the serenity of a spirtual haven. It is absolute bliss surrendering to the ministrations of its therapists.
One of Chi’s unique features is the Chi Water Garden. Its facilities include vitality hydro pools, herbal steam rooms, aroma-relax beds and body scrub salas. The Chi Water Garden combines the Asian tradition of bathing and cleanliness with the European origins of spa.
The word SPA is coined from the phrase salus per aqua which roughly translates to “health/ healing by water.” In today’s usage it has come to mean many things....a health facility, a massage haven, a therapeutic sanctuary, a beauty center, a wellness hub, and more!
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 24, 2006 issue)
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