• [Travel with a Purpose] Your Complete Holistic Healing Journey at The Farm at San Benito, the Philippines

  Located in Lipa City in Batangas, The Farm at San Benito encompasses all the luxurious features of a premium medical wellness resort. Its tastefully-appointed suites and villas echo a sophisticated design concept that marries the opulence of nature and the subtle elegance of traditional Filipino-Oriental sensibilities. Nestled in a 51-hectare forested property, The Farm at San Benito is an exclusive estate of lush gardens and lagoons, of quiet tree groves and crisp, fresh air, with strong positive energy radiating around the property. Yet, beyond its paradisal beauty and the inspiring sensations it evokes, lies The Farm’s true essence: it is a facility for medical wellness and a safe sanctuary for healing. Its programs, aimed to help the body and mind achieve optimum health and performance, have been meticulously designed following foundational science-based protocols and guided by evidence. At a time when health consciousness has become a widespread realization, more and more people are traveling to achieve a state of mind and body that is fit and well-balanced. Some travel to seek treatment for their illnesses. Others do so as a preventive measure to keep their health at an optimum level. Traveling with a purpose that is focused on health and wellness attests to the phenomenal growth of conscious travelers. The Farm at San Benito is at the forefront of medical wellness tourism Celebrating two decades of life-transformative healing holidays, it has distinguished itself as one of the world’s best, winning over 80 accolades from prestigious international bodies such as 'Best Wellness Resort in the World.' It cupped the coveted ‘Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Award from the Haute Grandeur Global Spa Awards in 2021 receiving a total of 21 awards. Since it’s officially the rainy season in the country, now is the perfect time to detox and cleanse from within. Rain symbolizes purification. At The Farm, you can experience a full immersion into clean living through physical healing in the form of mindful movements and functional fitness activities, medically-guided fasting, and treatments to eliminate toxins from within while restoring the body’s optimum ability to restore nutrients. The Farm offers an ‘Intro to Detox’ program that includes a 3-day medically supervised cleansing program to purge unhealthy elements from the body and mind while providing optimum nutrition. The Farm is also home to a world-renowned Weight Management, Diabetes Prevention & Heart Health Program, which focuses on the management of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and stress to resolve the root cause of the dysfunction and to bring the body back to a natural state of balance. At The Farm, the wide-ranging compendium of services aimed to address various health and psycho-emotional conditions, are all medically supervised by licensed physicians supported by health professionals, spa therapists, medical acupuncturists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, living food experts, fitness coaches, sound healers, and yoga teachers. The Farm at San Benito is thus a complete and genuine sanctuary—a space of encompassing beauty where the body and mind can heal to return to a state of genuine well-being and spiritual enrichment and inner renewal can be achieved. www.thefarmatsanbenito.com

• [Hot in Thailand] Jungle Bubble: The Elephant Outside the Room at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort

  In a world first, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the night with Thailand’s majestic elephants in their natural habitat while staying in unique transparent Jungle Bubbles. Unfolding across 650,000 square metres of Northern Thailand’s ancient jungle, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is perched on a hill overlooking the Mekong and Ruak rivers. The secluded location is uniquely positioned to take in majestic three country views over the confluence of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, and grazing elephants in the most stunning of natural settings below. Located in the jungle, the two Jungle Bubbles areperched on raised wooden decks offering uninterrupted views of the elephants, as well as stargazing at night. The Jungle Bubbles were custom designed by Eye In The Sky and are constructed with high tech polyester fabric using exclusive Precontraint Serge Ferrari technology to create an milieu in which guests can enjoy an immersive, close-to-nature experience. The well-appointed bubble accommodation is fully air-conditioned, offering 22 square metres of indoor floor space; a 4.5-diameter bedroom and living space with a king bed and seating area under a transparent roof; and an enclosed, nontransparent en-suite shower and vanity. Intimate touches of bathrobes and slippers; crisp white bed linen; regular and feather pillows; and exquisite bathroom amenities provide convenient functions with the comfort of home. A hair dryer, vanity and make up mirror are also provided. Guests at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort can purchase the Jungle Bubble experience as an optional activity and spend the night from dusk till dawn, returning to the hotel in the morning. Rates start from 17,700 Thai Baht per night for two people and include a delectable dinner basket; a fully stocked mini bar; 24-hour in-room dining service; and tea and coffee making facilities. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is world famous for its elephant camp that, along with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), were set up primarily to help elephants that cannot help themselves: for those that find themselves, through abuse or through circumstance, unable to provide and maintain an income for themselves, for their mahouts and their families. Here appropriate activities are designed that allow the elephant caretakers to raise the funds they need to look after the elephants without forcing them into activities they might not enjoy. The introduction of the Jungle Bubbles at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is another world first that can be scaled and shared with other elephant camps to allow them to give a subset of elephants – those that prefer to only meet their mahouts and are bonded into friendship groups – a natural life in a manner that the elephants enjoy without becoming a financial strain on the operation.

• [Interview] Ms. Dao Huyen – CEO of S.H.E Cosmetics Ltd., Vietnam

  Vietnam has recently become one of the hottest growth markets for beauty and cosmetics in Asia. Wellness Today is fortunate to talk with a Hanoi-based beauty enthusiast and cosmetics dealer Dao Huyen, founder & CEO of S.H.E. Cosmetics Ltd. ▲ Ms. Dao Huyen, founder & CEO of S.H.E. Cosmetics Ltd. [WT] Could you tell us a bit of your background? [DH] I have been working in cosmetics field for more than 5 years. I started as a sales person at a small cosmetics shop. It was about two years ago when I became deeply attracted by cosmetics trading business. At that time, I was working as a sales & marketing manager at a local skincare clinic which sells not only skincare services but also cosmetics products. While working, I found that the Vietnamese cosmetics market was booming but needed to mature as customers were rapidly getting savvy. I soon moved to a Korean cosmetics company in Hanoi and started working as a manager at large. At this company, I was fortunate to get many insights from local distributors and consumers. I found Korean-made cosmetics products were getting high popularity in local market. In early 2018, with the vision of bringing the best cosmetics products mainly from Korea to the Vietnamese customers, I started my own business, S.H.E Cosmetics Ltd., offering OEM ODM services to local enterprises and also sourcing the hottest trend cosmetics from Korea for local distributors in Vietnam. [WT] What do you think about today’s Vietnamese cosmetics market? [DH] The cosmetics consumption in Vietnam is still low compared to neighboring countries like Thailand. However, if you have a better understanding of the characteristics of the country, Vietnam is more promising than any other country. It's really an attractive market. Above all, the percentage of younger people under 35 is 60%. Due to rapid westernization and increased personal social exposure, young people are more interested in their appearance than ever before. The other reason why the Vietnamese market is more attractive is because of the socio-economic role of women who have traditionally been quite active. With the increase in women's income, I am sure, they will spend more money on beauty and cosmetics. I think this is going to happen very quickly. [WT] Specifically, what aspects of beauty consumption expenditure should we pay attention to in Vietnam? [DH] As in other countries, Vietnamese women spend their money in purchasing home care cosmetics products and/or in getting treatments at beauty salons. For home care products, the preference for whitening function or sunscreen is high due to the nature of Vietnam climate. But the problem is that they are very interested in cosmetics, but there are not many people who have enough knowledge about exactly what products to use and how to use them. So the beauty market in Vietnam is characterized by a lot of skin care shops in each neighborhood. Consumers want to receive cosmetics from these shops and receive professional treatment from them. However, there are not many skincare shops that have mastered the techniques to fully understand the products and use them effectively. Of course, I think there will be many improvements over time. [WT] At this point, what parts of Vietnam skin care shops should focus on to evolve themselves? [DH] In a word, differentiation. Many shops now offer similar products and similar services. In order for shops to evolve and be competitive, they must have differentiated technology. If you simply sell cosmetics on the market, you cannot win the competition. And it is also important to have good products to gain trust. In short, arming with good products and good skills is the basis for differentiation, and I think more customers will come to these well-organized shops. [WT] I hear that you are planning to open your skincare shop yourself. Could you elaborate in detail? [DH] Yes, I am currently in contact with various agencies in Korea to provide services that Vietnam consumers really want. I would like to choose an institution that can provide a good selection of products and continue to provide skin care related technology. The key to this plan is to build a solid platform for reliably supporting existing skincare shop operators and new start-ups. I plan to open my first shop by the end of this year. [WT] Thank you for many good comments. Finally, what does the company name S.H.E mean? S.H.E. stands for Safety, High Technology, and Effectiveness. The purpose is to provide customers with a safe product with the latest technology to ensure maximum effectiveness. This name is the company's future mission as well.

• [Travel with a Purpose] Your Complete Holistic Healing Journey at The Farm at San Benito, the Philippines

  Located in Lipa City in Batangas, The Farm at San Benito encompasses all the luxurious features of a premium medical wellness resort. Its tastefully-appointed suites and villas echo a sophisticated design concept that marries the opulence of nature and the subtle elegance of traditional Filipino-Oriental sensibilities. Nestled in a 51-hectare forested property, The Farm at San Benito is an exclusive estate of lush gardens and lagoons, of quiet tree groves and crisp, fresh air, with strong positive energy radiating around the property. Yet, beyond its paradisal beauty and the inspiring sensations it evokes, lies The Farm’s true essence: it is a facility for medical wellness and a safe sanctuary for healing. Its programs, aimed to help the body and mind achieve optimum health and performance, have been meticulously designed following foundational science-based protocols and guided by evidence. At a time when health consciousness has become a widespread realization, more and more people are traveling to achieve a state of mind and body that is fit and well-balanced. Some travel to seek treatment for their illnesses. Others do so as a preventive measure to keep their health at an optimum level. Traveling with a purpose that is focused on health and wellness attests to the phenomenal growth of conscious travelers. The Farm at San Benito is at the forefront of medical wellness tourism Celebrating two decades of life-transformative healing holidays, it has distinguished itself as one of the world’s best, winning over 80 accolades from prestigious international bodies such as 'Best Wellness Resort in the World.' It cupped the coveted ‘Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Award from the Haute Grandeur Global Spa Awards in 2021 receiving a total of 21 awards. Since it’s officially the rainy season in the country, now is the perfect time to detox and cleanse from within. Rain symbolizes purification. At The Farm, you can experience a full immersion into clean living through physical healing in the form of mindful movements and functional fitness activities, medically-guided fasting, and treatments to eliminate toxins from within while restoring the body’s optimum ability to restore nutrients. The Farm offers an ‘Intro to Detox’ program that includes a 3-day medically supervised cleansing program to purge unhealthy elements from the body and mind while providing optimum nutrition. The Farm is also home to a world-renowned Weight Management, Diabetes Prevention & Heart Health Program, which focuses on the management of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and stress to resolve the root cause of the dysfunction and to bring the body back to a natural state of balance. At The Farm, the wide-ranging compendium of services aimed to address various health and psycho-emotional conditions, are all medically supervised by licensed physicians supported by health professionals, spa therapists, medical acupuncturists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, living food experts, fitness coaches, sound healers, and yoga teachers. The Farm at San Benito is thus a complete and genuine sanctuary—a space of encompassing beauty where the body and mind can heal to return to a state of genuine well-being and spiritual enrichment and inner renewal can be achieved. www.thefarmatsanbenito.com

  • In English
  • Feature

  2022-06-05

• [Hot in Thailand] Jungle Bubble: The Elephant Outside the Room at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort

  In a world first, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the night with Thailand’s majestic elephants in their natural habitat while staying in unique transparent Jungle Bubbles. Unfolding across 650,000 square metres of Northern Thailand’s ancient jungle, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is perched on a hill overlooking the Mekong and Ruak rivers. The secluded location is uniquely positioned to take in majestic three country views over the confluence of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, and grazing elephants in the most stunning of natural settings below. Located in the jungle, the two Jungle Bubbles areperched on raised wooden decks offering uninterrupted views of the elephants, as well as stargazing at night. The Jungle Bubbles were custom designed by Eye In The Sky and are constructed with high tech polyester fabric using exclusive Precontraint Serge Ferrari technology to create an milieu in which guests can enjoy an immersive, close-to-nature experience. The well-appointed bubble accommodation is fully air-conditioned, offering 22 square metres of indoor floor space; a 4.5-diameter bedroom and living space with a king bed and seating area under a transparent roof; and an enclosed, nontransparent en-suite shower and vanity. Intimate touches of bathrobes and slippers; crisp white bed linen; regular and feather pillows; and exquisite bathroom amenities provide convenient functions with the comfort of home. A hair dryer, vanity and make up mirror are also provided. Guests at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort can purchase the Jungle Bubble experience as an optional activity and spend the night from dusk till dawn, returning to the hotel in the morning. Rates start from 17,700 Thai Baht per night for two people and include a delectable dinner basket; a fully stocked mini bar; 24-hour in-room dining service; and tea and coffee making facilities. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is world famous for its elephant camp that, along with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), were set up primarily to help elephants that cannot help themselves: for those that find themselves, through abuse or through circumstance, unable to provide and maintain an income for themselves, for their mahouts and their families. Here appropriate activities are designed that allow the elephant caretakers to raise the funds they need to look after the elephants without forcing them into activities they might not enjoy. The introduction of the Jungle Bubbles at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is another world first that can be scaled and shared with other elephant camps to allow them to give a subset of elephants – those that prefer to only meet their mahouts and are bonded into friendship groups – a natural life in a manner that the elephants enjoy without becoming a financial strain on the operation.

  • In English
  • Feature

  2019-12-24

• [Interview] Ms. Dao Huyen – CEO of S.H.E Cosmetics Ltd., Vietnam

  Vietnam has recently become one of the hottest growth markets for beauty and cosmetics in Asia. Wellness Today is fortunate to talk with a Hanoi-based beauty enthusiast and cosmetics dealer Dao Huyen, founder & CEO of S.H.E. Cosmetics Ltd. ▲ Ms. Dao Huyen, founder & CEO of S.H.E. Cosmetics Ltd. [WT] Could you tell us a bit of your background? [DH] I have been working in cosmetics field for more than 5 years. I started as a sales person at a small cosmetics shop. It was about two years ago when I became deeply attracted by cosmetics trading business. At that time, I was working as a sales & marketing manager at a local skincare clinic which sells not only skincare services but also cosmetics products. While working, I found that the Vietnamese cosmetics market was booming but needed to mature as customers were rapidly getting savvy. I soon moved to a Korean cosmetics company in Hanoi and started working as a manager at large. At this company, I was fortunate to get many insights from local distributors and consumers. I found Korean-made cosmetics products were getting high popularity in local market. In early 2018, with the vision of bringing the best cosmetics products mainly from Korea to the Vietnamese customers, I started my own business, S.H.E Cosmetics Ltd., offering OEM ODM services to local enterprises and also sourcing the hottest trend cosmetics from Korea for local distributors in Vietnam. [WT] What do you think about today’s Vietnamese cosmetics market? [DH] The cosmetics consumption in Vietnam is still low compared to neighboring countries like Thailand. However, if you have a better understanding of the characteristics of the country, Vietnam is more promising than any other country. It's really an attractive market. Above all, the percentage of younger people under 35 is 60%. Due to rapid westernization and increased personal social exposure, young people are more interested in their appearance than ever before. The other reason why the Vietnamese market is more attractive is because of the socio-economic role of women who have traditionally been quite active. With the increase in women's income, I am sure, they will spend more money on beauty and cosmetics. I think this is going to happen very quickly. [WT] Specifically, what aspects of beauty consumption expenditure should we pay attention to in Vietnam? [DH] As in other countries, Vietnamese women spend their money in purchasing home care cosmetics products and/or in getting treatments at beauty salons. For home care products, the preference for whitening function or sunscreen is high due to the nature of Vietnam climate. But the problem is that they are very interested in cosmetics, but there are not many people who have enough knowledge about exactly what products to use and how to use them. So the beauty market in Vietnam is characterized by a lot of skin care shops in each neighborhood. Consumers want to receive cosmetics from these shops and receive professional treatment from them. However, there are not many skincare shops that have mastered the techniques to fully understand the products and use them effectively. Of course, I think there will be many improvements over time. [WT] At this point, what parts of Vietnam skin care shops should focus on to evolve themselves? [DH] In a word, differentiation. Many shops now offer similar products and similar services. In order for shops to evolve and be competitive, they must have differentiated technology. If you simply sell cosmetics on the market, you cannot win the competition. And it is also important to have good products to gain trust. In short, arming with good products and good skills is the basis for differentiation, and I think more customers will come to these well-organized shops. [WT] I hear that you are planning to open your skincare shop yourself. Could you elaborate in detail? [DH] Yes, I am currently in contact with various agencies in Korea to provide services that Vietnam consumers really want. I would like to choose an institution that can provide a good selection of products and continue to provide skin care related technology. The key to this plan is to build a solid platform for reliably supporting existing skincare shop operators and new start-ups. I plan to open my first shop by the end of this year. [WT] Thank you for many good comments. Finally, what does the company name S.H.E mean? S.H.E. stands for Safety, High Technology, and Effectiveness. The purpose is to provide customers with a safe product with the latest technology to ensure maximum effectiveness. This name is the company's future mission as well.

  • In English
  • Feature

  2019-04-10

실시간 Feature 기사

• [Interview] Ms. Ivanka Trump, Executive VP of Trump Hotel Collection

  Wellness Today is pleased to have the opportunity to speak with Ivanka Trump about the Spa at Trump®, a signature spa brand developed by the Trump Hotel Collection. Ivanka is the Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions for The Trump Organization. ▲ Ms. Ivanka Trump inside the hammam at The Spa at Trump SoHo. [Image via Yossi Michaeli Photography] [WT] Statistics indicate hotels in Asia Pacific closed out 2011 at a healthy 9.8% RevPAR growth over 2010, with Southeast Asia at a staggering 18.8%. Growth looks set to continue through 2012. As you’re scheduled to speak at the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Hong Kong this October, what does this indicate of Trump Hotel Collection’s interest in the APAC market? Trump Hotel Collection is keenly interested in the APAC market and is aggressively sourcing options. We have recently appointed Todd Wynne-Parry to the new role of senior vice president of global hotel development and acquisitions. For us, it is all about finding the right opportunity, in the right location and now we are pleased to have Todd focusing his efforts on our expansion. Additionally, we will be opening a representative office in Shanghai in the short-term and appointing an executive to spearhead our growth in Greater China as an initial step. The RevPAR stats illustrate that Asia is leading a successful hospitality market and we hope to be a part of it very soon. [WT] The Spa at Trump® signature brand was founded in 2008. Where can these luxurious spas be found? And will the Spa at Trump® brand be placed in international properties? The Spa at Trump can be found at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, Trump International Hotel Las Vegas and Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk. Trump SoHo New York has the only authentic luxury hammam on the East Coast. All of our spas have unique treatments and incredible designs that have been incredibly successful. We hope to expand The Spa at Trump to prospective international properties in the near future. [WT] The spas are designed to envelop guests in services geared toward wellness and inner health. What principles guide the Trump Spa philosophy? We cater all of our treatments to focus on wellness and health. From the minute you step into the spa until the moment you leave. All of the interactions between spa employees and guests are focused on wellness, health and of course impeccable service. Our Spa Attaché program is on call for guests to cater to every need while enjoying our treatments. [WT] Trump Hotel’s SoHo location was your first design to use a Middle Eastern theme. What influences shaped this design decision? While working on the design of Trump SoHo , I was frequently going back and forth to Istanbul on business and fell in love with the hammam experience, and knew I had to bring it back to the states. [WT] Can visitors to other Trump Spas expect the same Middle Eastern theme? And will this be a theme used as the Spa at Trump® signature brand expands internationally? We recently renovated Trump Spa at Trump International Hotel & Tower New York and incorporated Middle Eastern rituals into many of the treatments. Our treatments are both tailored to the spas specific location as well as the consumer trends. With Middle-Eastern inspired treatments being so popular the last few years, you very well might see The Spa at Trump reinvent treatments that feature this theme. [WT] Wellness is a recent trend in the Spa industry. Where do you see the growth markets for wellness and medi-spas, and how will the Spa at Trump® be positioned? I think wellness is more than a trend; it’s a concept that is here to stay and The Spa at Trump has been offering wellness options since 2008. For the busy lives that so many of us lead it is important to de-stress, decompress, unwind, and take care of your body on a regular basis. Wellness Today would like to thank you for your participation in the interview, and your contributions to the industry.

  • In English
  • Feature

  2012-10-03

• [Interview] Mr. Andrew Gibson, Director of Spa & Wellness, MOHG

  Wellness Today is privileged to have the opportunity to speak with Andrew Gibson about the Spas at Mandarin Oriental. Andrew is the Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group based in Hong Kong. ▲ Mr. Andrew Gibson, Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group [WT] The award winning Spas at Mandarin Oriental are often found at the top of a seasoned traveler’s favorite spa. In 2011, the Forbes ‘Five Star Spa’ award was granted to a record eight hotels, more than any other hotel group in the world. What makes Mandarin Oriental unique? I think that attention to detail is probably the most important characteristic required to enable our spas to reach the standards they have. This starts from the fact that we have an experienced and dedicated spa team that work from concept through to post opening. Many other hotel groups contract out this work. We have an amazing set of standards and tools to help get started and maintain the operation of our spas. We project manage every one of our spas from concept through to opening. Our Spa Directors visit Hong Kong for an induction that includes spa experiences at three of our properties so they understand the level of support they will receive and they experience the oriental heritage that permeates through each of our properties. We measure and monitor success and we try to recruit people that have a genuine desire to provide hospitality. If all of those things come together the guest will have a memorable experience in every aspect of their visit and will not see all the details that go behind the delivery of excellent service. [WT] The Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong was recently awarded “Hotel Spa of the Year, Asia and Australasia” at the inaugural World Spa Awards 2012. In a region known for a number of high-end hotel spas, that is quite an achievement. What makes this site stand-out? The Oriental Spa was a landmark creation in more than just name. The spa set design standards and facilities so high that many spas now use it as the benchmark to follow. Design, however, is just one aspect of the experience and today we have been able to deliver a high level of service and creativity to the local Hong Kong market as well as the hotel guests. The General Manager of the hotel takes a personal interest in the spa and ensures that the entire hotel team supports the operation. The Spa Director sits in the Executive committee so that the spa is included in operations and that important events in the hotel are fed back to the spa. As a result the spa plays a significant role in attracting local community into the hotel and works together with all other departments to ensure that the guest enjoys the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel. [WT] Mandarin Oriental spas are designed to envelop guests in simple, effective and authentic spa experience. What principles guide the Mandarin Oriental Spa philosophy? I have copied our guiding principle below since this is such a simple and short paragraph: The Spas at Mandarin Oriental are born out of a sincere understanding and passion for wellness, which we define as a way of life that focuses on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. The Group is committed to delivering all aspects of wellness with integrity and honesty, providing inspiration for lifestyle change, in an environment that delights all the senses. The Spas at Mandarin Oriental are havens for contemplation and discovery. Guided by our Oriental heritage but influenced by local cultural diversity, the Group has created distinctive concepts with a unique sense of place in every location. The main message is that we have always focused on wellness. This is important because it makes you look beyond just a treatment. By keeping our focus clear and staying true to our philosophy we have been able to reinforce this with hiring and training teams that have the desire to help people. One of the points of difference is how we deliver the concept of Oriental heritage since this is a subtle use of oriental principles and customs blended with a strong sense of place. None of our spas are the same but everyone has a distinctly Mandarin Oriental feel about it and has a core of standards, products, treatments and service guidelines that are consistent throughout. [WT] Mandarin Oriental spas also provide fitness options, nutrition counseling and a variety of other disciplines. What additional services may the guest find? The type of services offered by our spas depends on their location the availability of specialists and the type of guests that stay at the hotel. In Chang Mai we have the most complete wellness offering with visiting practitioners, resident Ayurveda doctors and programmes that are tailor made for guest. There is an organic garden and we work with experts and local community to grow indigenous plants that can be used in healing and treatments. In Sanya we are more focused on Chinese traditional treatments and have an excellent TCM Doctor, a Shaolin monk that teaches meditation and a range of Chinese based treatments. In Las Vegas there is a dedicated foot massage salon that caters for people that spend all day walking the Las Vegas strip, in the Landmark, Hong Kong we have Pilates and Yoga that is also open to the local community. New York has an excellent line up of practitioners that provide therapeutic treatments. They are so good that some of the therapists have guest booked a year in advance. We also have a consultant natural health practitioner that is engaged by several of our hotels to assist with healthy eating options for guests and employees. As you can see each spa has the ability to adapt the wellness spectrum according to their market demand. [WT] In 2009, Mandarin Oriental launched its Signature Spa Product Line. What does this encompass? In 2007 we identified the need to create a strong brand image for Mandarin Oriental and one of the ways was to create a signature product line. Our spa philosophy is strong and consistent and we wanted the product line to reflect the philosophy. Since the majority of our treatments were body based and mainly some form of massage we decided this was the area to focus on. Two of the main considerations to product development were the need to identify signature treatments and the ability to distribute the product globally. In keeping with our Oriental Heritage and desire to offer treatments that have a therapeutic value (i.e. providing wellness) we collected Chinese Doctors, Holistic practitioners, aroma therapists and our team of trainers and met in London to do a work shop that would identify the treatments we wanted to cover. Our solution was to create a customized massage that could be adapted based on a lifestyle questionnaire, a diagnostic and a smell test. The massage would be based on TCM and the aroma oils would reinforce the therapeutic benefit of the treatment. The solution was to produce our oils and scrub. These products could also satisfy our commitment to sustainability, the oils are natural, the packaging and containers, distribution and storage were all considered to provide the most ethically responsible way of delivering these oils. The result was a fantastic creation of oils, scrubs and candles that truly represent our brand. The product line is simple and concentrates on the core of our treatments. This also leaves us free to work with companies that are expert at skin care, men’s lines, etc so that our spas have a core element and a sense of place. [WT] Mandarin Oriental has a well-designed global print advertising campaign which gathers ‘fans’ from around the world. The campaign simply and elegantly connects the Group’s highly-recognized symbol – the fan- with international celebrities who regularly stay at the hotels and are true fans of the Group. Have the spas played a part in the ”She’s/He’s a Fan” campaign? Our marketing strategy is controlled by our Group Communications and Marketing Departments. They take great care to ensure that the entire Mandarin Oriental product is presented. Spa is one our Mandarin Oriental core competencies and therefore is included in all group initiatives. Our group videos included elements from all parts of life in Mandarin Oriental but we also have a dedicated spa video. One of the reasons that the fan campaign is successful is because the fans speak of the entire Mandarin Oriental experience. [WT] For many guests, time spent at the spa is a way to escape from a daily routine inundated by gadgets and technology. However, in managing a highly recognized global spa brand, the spas likely use guest-centric technology to ensure your jet-setting guests receive top level service at any Mandarin Oriental Spa. The three mantras I preach to our spa team are: Keep it simple, be consistent and always do your best. Keeping things simple provides a better opportunity to train well and deliver excellent service. If our teams are confident they can then provide better service and our guest will feel more relaxed and secure. Technology is also a core competency for Mandarin Oriental and behind the scenes we are fanatic at collecting and analyzing data. We have a dedicated finance and data management person in the spa corporate team that works to help provide the Spa Directors with accurate information. By improving our data analysis and measuring quality and finance we can allow the operations team to spend more time with the guests. This enables us to provide better service to our guests. It also provides information to help justify why we need specific facilities that might not be seen to generate revenue. [WT] Statistics indicate hotels in Asia Pacific closed out 2011 at a healthy 9.8% RevPAR growth over 2010, with Southeast Asia at a staggering 18.8%. Growth looks set to continue through 2013. How are the Spas at Mandarin Oriental positioned for growth in the coming years? 2012 is turning out to be a very unpredictable year. Nothing can be taken for granted and our teams have to work diligently and quickly to maintain business levels and control overheads. In 2009 we were very quick to react to the drop in hotel occupancies by focusing on local community use of the spas. With a global brand we are able to take best practices that work in one location and deploy them into other regions. Our spas are well positioned to cope with the uncertainty ahead. The operations teams are experienced, the systems are in place and we can react quickly to changes. We are continually striving to improve the guest experience and have a healthy level of competition amongst our spa directors to be the best in the company. With many new projects in Asia, Europe and the Middle East we are continuing to expand. In 2013 we shall have between 4 – 6 news spas to add to the portfolio. [WT] With the luxury travel industry becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, what is Mandarin Oriental’s position? Mandarin Oriental has many stories of sustainable practices throughout our properties. We have just published our strategy on sustainability. This report represents Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s collective accomplishments and programs to advance sustainability, to champion the communities in which we operate and to deliver excellence. It also illustrates challenges and opportunities for the future. For us, sustainability is about caring for the environment, now and for generations to come. In everything we do, we strive to create value for our stakeholders by enhancing environmental quality and the communities where we operate. As with anything we tackle we want to do it well. Wellness Today would like to thank Andrew Gibson for his generous participation in this interview. About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most prestigious hotels and resorts. The Group now operates, or has under development, 45 hotels representing almost 11,000 rooms in 28 countries, with 19 hotels in Asia, 13 in The Americas and 13 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In addition, the Group operates, or has under development, 14 Residences at Mandarin Oriental connected to its properties.

  • In English
  • Feature

  2012-09-10

• [Interview] Mr. Andrew Gibson, Director of Spa & Wellness, MOHG

  Wellness Today is privileged to have the opportunity to speak with Andrew Gibson about the Spas at Mandarin Oriental. Andrew is the Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group based in Hong Kong. ▲ Mr. Andrew Gibson, Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group [WT] The award winning Spas at Mandarin Oriental are often found at the top of a seasoned traveler’s favorite spa. In 2011, the Forbes ‘Five Star Spa’ award was granted to a record eight hotels, more than any other hotel group in the world. What makes Mandarin Oriental unique? I think that attention to detail is probably the most important characteristic required to enable our spas to reach the standards they have. This starts from the fact that we have an experienced and dedicated spa team that work from concept through to post opening. Many other hotel groups contract out this work. We have an amazing set of standards and tools to help get started and maintain the operation of our spas. We project manage every one of our spas from concept through to opening. Our Spa Directors visit Hong Kong for an induction that includes spa experiences at three of our properties so they understand the level of support they will receive and they experience the oriental heritage that permeates through each of our properties. We measure and monitor success and we try to recruit people that have a genuine desire to provide hospitality. If all of those things come together the guest will have a memorable experience in every aspect of their visit and will not see all the details that go behind the delivery of excellent service. [WT] The Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong was recently awarded “Hotel Spa of the Year, Asia and Australasia” at the inaugural World Spa Awards 2012. In a region known for a number of high-end hotel spas, that is quite an achievement. What makes this site stand-out? The Oriental Spa was a landmark creation in more than just name. The spa set design standards and facilities so high that many spas now use it as the benchmark to follow. Design, however, is just one aspect of the experience and today we have been able to deliver a high level of service and creativity to the local Hong Kong market as well as the hotel guests. The General Manager of the hotel takes a personal interest in the spa and ensures that the entire hotel team supports the operation. The Spa Director sits in the Executive committee so that the spa is included in operations and that important events in the hotel are fed back to the spa. As a result the spa plays a significant role in attracting local community into the hotel and works together with all other departments to ensure that the guest enjoys the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel. [WT] Mandarin Oriental spas are designed to envelop guests in simple, effective and authentic spa experience. What principles guide the Mandarin Oriental Spa philosophy? I have copied our guiding principle below since this is such a simple and short paragraph: The Spas at Mandarin Oriental are born out of a sincere understanding and passion for wellness, which we define as a way of life that focuses on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. The Group is committed to delivering all aspects of wellness with integrity and honesty, providing inspiration for lifestyle change, in an environment that delights all the senses. The Spas at Mandarin Oriental are havens for contemplation and discovery. Guided by our Oriental heritage but influenced by local cultural diversity, the Group has created distinctive concepts with a unique sense of place in every location. The main message is that we have always focused on wellness. This is important because it makes you look beyond just a treatment. By keeping our focus clear and staying true to our philosophy we have been able to reinforce this with hiring and training teams that have the desire to help people. One of the points of difference is how we deliver the concept of Oriental heritage since this is a subtle use of oriental principles and customs blended with a strong sense of place. None of our spas are the same but everyone has a distinctly Mandarin Oriental feel about it and has a core of standards, products, treatments and service guidelines that are consistent throughout. [WT] Mandarin Oriental spas also provide fitness options, nutrition counseling and a variety of other disciplines. What additional services may the guest find? The type of services offered by our spas depends on their location the availability of specialists and the type of guests that stay at the hotel. In Chang Mai we have the most complete wellness offering with visiting practitioners, resident Ayurveda doctors and programmes that are tailor made for guest. There is an organic garden and we work with experts and local community to grow indigenous plants that can be used in healing and treatments. In Sanya we are more focused on Chinese traditional treatments and have an excellent TCM Doctor, a Shaolin monk that teaches meditation and a range of Chinese based treatments. In Las Vegas there is a dedicated foot massage salon that caters for people that spend all day walking the Las Vegas strip, in the Landmark, Hong Kong we have Pilates and Yoga that is also open to the local community. New York has an excellent line up of practitioners that provide therapeutic treatments. They are so good that some of the therapists have guest booked a year in advance. We also have a consultant natural health practitioner that is engaged by several of our hotels to assist with healthy eating options for guests and employees. As you can see each spa has the ability to adapt the wellness spectrum according to their market demand. [WT] In 2009, Mandarin Oriental launched its Signature Spa Product Line. What does this encompass? In 2007 we identified the need to create a strong brand image for Mandarin Oriental and one of the ways was to create a signature product line. Our spa philosophy is strong and consistent and we wanted the product line to reflect the philosophy. Since the majority of our treatments were body based and mainly some form of massage we decided this was the area to focus on. Two of the main considerations to product development were the need to identify signature treatments and the ability to distribute the product globally. In keeping with our Oriental Heritage and desire to offer treatments that have a therapeutic value (i.e. providing wellness) we collected Chinese Doctors, Holistic practitioners, aroma therapists and our team of trainers and met in London to do a work shop that would identify the treatments we wanted to cover. Our solution was to create a customized massage that could be adapted based on a lifestyle questionnaire, a diagnostic and a smell test. The massage would be based on TCM and the aroma oils would reinforce the therapeutic benefit of the treatment. The solution was to produce our oils and scrub. These products could also satisfy our commitment to sustainability, the oils are natural, the packaging and containers, distribution and storage were all considered to provide the most ethically responsible way of delivering these oils. The result was a fantastic creation of oils, scrubs and candles that truly represent our brand. The product line is simple and concentrates on the core of our treatments. This also leaves us free to work with companies that are expert at skin care, men’s lines, etc so that our spas have a core element and a sense of place. [WT] Mandarin Oriental has a well-designed global print advertising campaign which gathers ‘fans’ from around the world. The campaign simply and elegantly connects the Group’s highly-recognized symbol – the fan- with international celebrities who regularly stay at the hotels and are true fans of the Group. Have the spas played a part in the ”She’s/He’s a Fan” campaign? Our marketing strategy is controlled by our Group Communications and Marketing Departments. They take great care to ensure that the entire Mandarin Oriental product is presented. Spa is one our Mandarin Oriental core competencies and therefore is included in all group initiatives. Our group videos included elements from all parts of life in Mandarin Oriental but we also have a dedicated spa video. One of the reasons that the fan campaign is successful is because the fans speak of the entire Mandarin Oriental experience. [WT] For many guests, time spent at the spa is a way to escape from a daily routine inundated by gadgets and technology. However, in managing a highly recognized global spa brand, the spas likely use guest-centric technology to ensure your jet-setting guests receive top level service at any Mandarin Oriental Spa. The three mantras I preach to our spa team are: Keep it simple, be consistent and always do your best. Keeping things simple provides a better opportunity to train well and deliver excellent service. If our teams are confident they can then provide better service and our guest will feel more relaxed and secure. Technology is also a core competency for Mandarin Oriental and behind the scenes we are fanatic at collecting and analyzing data. We have a dedicated finance and data management person in the spa corporate team that works to help provide the Spa Directors with accurate information. By improving our data analysis and measuring quality and finance we can allow the operations team to spend more time with the guests. This enables us to provide better service to our guests. It also provides information to help justify why we need specific facilities that might not be seen to generate revenue. [WT] Statistics indicate hotels in Asia Pacific closed out 2011 at a healthy 9.8% RevPAR growth over 2010, with Southeast Asia at a staggering 18.8%. Growth looks set to continue through 2013. How are the Spas at Mandarin Oriental positioned for growth in the coming years? 2012 is turning out to be a very unpredictable year. Nothing can be taken for granted and our teams have to work diligently and quickly to maintain business levels and control overheads. In 2009 we were very quick to react to the drop in hotel occupancies by focusing on local community use of the spas. With a global brand we are able to take best practices that work in one location and deploy them into other regions. Our spas are well positioned to cope with the uncertainty ahead. The operations teams are experienced, the systems are in place and we can react quickly to changes. We are continually striving to improve the guest experience and have a healthy level of competition amongst our spa directors to be the best in the company. With many new projects in Asia, Europe and the Middle East we are continuing to expand. In 2013 we shall have between 4 – 6 news spas to add to the portfolio. [WT] With the luxury travel industry becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, what is Mandarin Oriental’s position? Mandarin Oriental has many stories of sustainable practices throughout our properties. We have just published our strategy on sustainability. This report represents Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s collective accomplishments and programs to advance sustainability, to champion the communities in which we operate and to deliver excellence. It also illustrates challenges and opportunities for the future. For us, sustainability is about caring for the environment, now and for generations to come. In everything we do, we strive to create value for our stakeholders by enhancing environmental quality and the communities where we operate. As with anything we tackle we want to do it well. Wellness Today would like to thank Andrew Gibson for his generous participation in this interview. About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most prestigious hotels and resorts. The Group now operates, or has under development, 45 hotels representing almost 11,000 rooms in 28 countries, with 19 hotels in Asia, 13 in The Americas and 13 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In addition, the Group operates, or has under development, 14 Residences at Mandarin Oriental connected to its properties.

  • In English
  • Feature

  2012-09-10

• [Interview] Mr. Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality

  Wellness Today has had the great pleasure of interviewing a true leader in the global spa & wellness industry. Ingo Schweder, the Founder and CEO of award-wining GOCO Hospitality was kind enough to share his thoughts on the global wellness industry. ▲ Mr. Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality [WT] GOCO Hospitality, a unique name that caught my attention the first time I heard it. What’s the meaning behind the name? The company's name, GOCO Hospitality, combines two of the most important elements of the company: the acronym "GO" stands for traveling, movement, and energy, whereas "CO" is based on the word “consultancy”. GOCO’s projects are always authentic, reflect local cultures and traditions and strive to make a social impact in their community. This philosophy allows GOCO Hospitality to cross borders and create new discoveries while being innovative, visionary, and individual. Our vision is to “create, innovate, operate tomorrow’s hospitality concepts”. For us to be able to achieve this we carefully assess the market for each of our projects and ensure that we accurately read lifestyle trends, letting this learning influence our concept development. We like to create concepts that are not only appropriate for today’s guests, but also anticipate and answer the needs and demands of future guests. In all our projects we do not simply follow current trends, but try to continuously establish new ones that will lead the market. We also make sure to put our personal touch, a “thumbprint”, on all our projects. We put our heart into each concept we create, each hotel or spa we operate, ensuring that each is distinctively unique and is aligned with our and our client’s vision for the project. [WT] GOCO’s tag line, “Wellness Meets Wanderlust”. My first impression is that GOCO’s adding something new to the wellness industry. What’s behind the phrase? “Wellness Meets Wanderlust” is very much an extension of who we are, which is a consultancy and management company that focuses on where wellness and hospitality merge. Many of our team members have extensive experience in the field of hospitality, having worked with multinational hospitality greats including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, and Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, to name a few. Our team is also highly experienced in the spa and wellness field with credentials such as Ananda in the Himalayas, Six Senses Spas, and SHA Wellness Clinic. Thus, it only seemed natural that GOCO Hospitality’s tagline describe those strengths, where wellness meets the wanderlust of traveling/hospitality. “Wellness meets wanderlust” also describes the interests of our guests and clients, who are an emerging new group of travelers. These travelers are more than the seasoned world-traveler accustomed to five-star hospitality services and facilities. They have grown more and more interested in wellness and seek to experience a combination of the best wellness practices and facilities available today with discovering new destinations while enjoying the luxury of five-star hospitality. Again, this is “wellness meets wanderlust”. [WT] Congratulations on a couple big awards in the past year: Winner Best Spa Consultant at The Crystal Awards Asia Pacific 2011 Winner Best Spa Consultant Company of the Year from the SpaChina Awards 2011. Quite an achievement in a short period of time. GOCO’s vision and efforts certainly recognized throughout the industry. We are extremely proud and delighted to have been recognized as Best Spa Consultant. As a young company, to receive such recognition and trust from our industry peers, partners, clients, and consumers is truly remarkable. For that we express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude. Our success can be attributed to the following qualities that place us apart from the rest: Understanding the East In a time where major growth is taking place in the emerging markets of China and India, it serves any client well when the consulting company they take on is knowledgeable in these markets. GOCO is a multicultural company based in Bangkok, Thailand, with its team of 30 employees representing 11 different nationalities and holding countless years of experience in the Asia/ Pacific spa and hospitality market. With western knowledge and a heart of eastern values and sensibilities the GOCO team can relate well to clients from all regions of the world. Depth of Practical Experience Being at the helm of GOCO as CEO and founding partner and with my 25 years experience in tow, I have garnered a large network of hospitality professionals, which is continuously expanding. From this network I seek to form a team with individuals as passionate and driven as I, with expertise in all the arenas of service that GOCO provides. The GOCO team is comprised of handpicked global spa and hospitality professionals who have worked for leading hospitality companies around the world. This, combined with varied nationalities, education backgrounds, and professional qualifications, results in diverse skill sets and international experience allowing GOCO to offer our clients a high level of competence in a multitude of service areas. Premier Alliances At GOCO, we are very proud of the alliances we have made with some of the most talented and respected people and companies in the hospitality and wellness industries. We are proud to work with: Architects: ♦ Tadao Andao http://www.andotadao.org ♦ Sandy Pei http://www.peipartnership.com Interior Designers ♦ George Wong http://www.georgewongdesign.com ♦ Tony Chi http://www.tonychi.com ♦ Calvin Tsao www.tsao-mckown.com ♦ Matteo Thun www.matteothun.com ♦ P Interior & Associates (PIA) www.piainterior.com Landscape Artists: ♦ Bill Bensley www.bensley.com ♦ P Landscape www.plandscape.com Artists: ♦ Gregory Colbert www.ashesandsnow.org ♦ Vivienne Tam www.viviennetam.com Without these partners, our work would be far less unique and successful. Build based on Results GOCO’s work always begins with the end in mind. With the first step of completing detailed Market Research & Feasibility studies GOCO is able to meet the concerns of any investor or owner by forecasting the financial expectations as well as profit and return on investment a project will generate. Dedicated to Improving Service Levels GOCO provides training and service support that develops therapist skill levels to those of an international standard. Conducting such training programs supports the long term growth and advancement of the overall hospitality and wellness industry in terms of service level and guest experience. [WT] I’m particularly interested in GOCO’s big project in Ningbo, China - Xiangshan Hot Spring & Wellness Center. From the pre-release information, it appears to be a trend-setting site. As the center will open in the second half of 2013, what is your role with the site? We are very proud to be working on a benchmark property in Xiangshan, the GOCO Hot Spring & Wellness Center, which will introduce a concept new to China—oceanfront mineral springs thermal bathing, as a main feature. Targeted to open in August 2013, the GOCO Hot Spring & Wellness Center will cover an indoor area of 6,000 sq.m. and another 5,000 sq.m. for an outdoor mineral spring bathing area. The GOCO Hot Spring & Wellness Center will feature 24 treatment rooms, two luxury spa suites and one spa villa, as well as single gender and co-ed mineral springs bathing facilities with indoor and outdoor thermal experiences. Unique to the GOCO Hot Spring & Wellness Center will also be the medi-spa & weight management clinic, which will span across two dedicated floors with seven treatment suites for the extensive medi-spa treatments offered. GOCO Hospitality provided the following services: ▲ Market Research & Feasibility Studies ▲ Concept Development ▲ Technical And Pre-opening Services ▲ Management GOCO Hospitality is also responsible for the interior design of the spa. Architecture is by WATG, Hawaii Office, a world-renowned leading design consultant for the hospitality, leisure and entertainment industries. [WT] Wellness is a recent trend in the Spa industry. Where do you see the growth markets for Wellness? The growth of the spa and wellness industry has increased in all regions of the world, but the markets that have shown the greatest growth are undeniably China, India, and the Middle East. These regions enjoy growing economies and a population that has both the disposable income and the desire to invest in taking better care of their health by means other than conventional Western medical science. More and more people are questioning the validity of conventional Western medicine. Thus, the natural inclination for people to apply and utilize more traditional wellness modalities will further expand. This will lead to the development and growth of entire new product requirements, additional market niches will come up, and new supply chains will be established. In sum, this will open up a whole new growth segment for the industry. The spa consumer has become more and more sophisticated and will continue to increase their spa knowledge, defining their preferences and needs. The educated wellness consumer will be demanding services that are directed at the ultimate result they want to achieve. The often unsupported claims by spa and product companies of the supposed results their services and/or products will bring will be replaced by spa services or products which will have been developed from substantial academic and scientific research. The research will be drawn from ancient wellness traditions and new scientific discoveries, leading to services and products demonstrating such. Nations will put increased efforts behind the creation of wellness communities where a wide span of wellness services, hospitality, and real estate combine and celebrate the cultural symbiosis of the respective country. We can also expect to see growth in the number of innovative large-scale residential communities catering to particular lifestyle choices, whether they are created along the lines of preferred activities (wellness, golf, nature, etc.) or even ethnic or cultural nuances. [WT] GOCO is currently working on wellness projects on five continents. What is the number of different countries you’re currently working in? GOCO is currently working with hoteliers and developers on 23 wellness projects in 14 countries around the world. In the Asia-Pacific region alone, we are working on projects in the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Australia, and our home base, Thailand. From hotel spas to destination resorts and mixed-use developments, GOCO is involved in some of the most interesting and innovative projects active today. Our clientele range from individual investors to global hospitality brands. The majority of GOCO Hospitality’s business is made up of projects in the North and North East Asia regions, followed by South East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. GOCO’s main markets for projects are: China forming 30% of the project location total, India with 15% and the Middle East at 15%, with nine countries forming the remaining 40%. [WT] You’ve done some work in South Korea. Are you able to share information on this wellness project? I was the Executive Assistant Manager at the Chosun Seoul Hotel from 1989 to 1991. During this time I gained an in-depth understanding of the South Korean market and the South Korean guest, which has proved to be immensely valuable in our work. GOCO Hospitality did a market research and feasibility study for the Lotte Retreat and Spa on Jeju Island. Designed to be one of the leading spa and wellness facilities in South Korea and immersing into the culture of Jeju, the spa facility at the Lotte Retreat and Spa will deliver the ultimate luxury experience. Spa treatments and activities are designed to enhance well-being and are specifically results-oriented. These include a medi-spa, several thermal experiences, detox programs, healthy cuisine, and a wide variety of exercise options. From well-appointed VIP treatment suites to a state-of-the-art sauna area, the spa facility will provide a truly authentic and unique service platform supported by cutting-edge design, the use and applications of local ingredients, wellness consultations, and tactile experiences combined to immerse spa guests into the ultimate state of wellness. [WT] 
How do you see South Korea in the Wellness Industry? South Korea is a growing market that presents many great opportunities for the wellness industry. There is great market demand yet the limited number of wellness facilities cannot adequately cater to the needs of the consumer in South Korea. According to Intelligent Spas – Asia Pacific Regional Report 2011, there are 50 registered spa facilities in South Korea, which generates $24 million of industry revenues, and employs about 750 people. Measuring by the industry revenues of seven growing spa markets, South Korea is ranked 3rd, after China ($75 million) and Japan ($50 million). The South Korean spa market is dominated by mineral or hot springs public bathhouses and saunas. Other facilities in these spas would include Jacuzzis, massage rooms, and relaxation lounges. These bathhouses can be as large as an entire building or occupying a large space in a department store. The popularity of bathhouses has grown with the South Korean consumer. The bathhouse is no longer seen as just a weekend or evening relaxation activity. It has now become a popular choice for couples on their date, for businessmen to entertain clients, even a must-visit place for foreign tourists. Another popular trend in the South Korean market is day spas and salons. As the awareness of self-appearance grows in the South Korean consumer, so does the number of day spas and salons that offer facial treatments as well as hair and nail services. South Korea’s fast-developing medical tourism is also a great boon for the country’s wellness industry. South Korea has solid IT infrastructure and revolutionary medical technology as well as skilled and experience medical practitioners. All these are contributing factors that could help improve the services and increase the number of medi-spas in the country. The South Korean consumer now is also more health-conscious, preferring to rely on preventative medicine, traditional medicine, and consuming naturally healthy or organic food. With the South Korean government taking measures to support the growth of the wellness industry as it has, the future looks bright and promising for investors, developers, and consumers alike. [WT] What are the website & contact points for GOCO? Our contact details are: GOCO Hospitality 2/4 Nai Lert Tower, Suite 47, 3F, Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: +66 2 655 2323 E-mail: GOCO@GOCO.co URL: www.GOCO.co

  • In English
  • Feature

  2012-06-05

• [Interview] Mr. Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality

  Wellness Today has had the great pleasure of interviewing a true leader in the global spa & wellness industry. Ingo Schweder, the Founder and CEO of award-wining GOCO Hospitality was kind enough to share his thoughts on the global wellness industry. ▲ Mr. Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality [WT] GOCO Hospitality, a unique name that caught my attention the first time I heard it. What’s the meaning behind the name? The company's name, GOCO Hospitality, combines two of the most important elements of the company: the acronym "GO" stands for traveling, movement, and energy, whereas "CO" is based on the word “consultancy”. GOCO’s projects are always authentic, reflect local cultures and traditions and strive to make a social impact in their community. This philosophy allows GOCO Hospitality to cross borders and create new discoveries while being innovative, visionary, and individual. Our vision is to “create, innovate, operate tomorrow’s hospitality concepts”. For us to be able to achieve this we carefully assess the market for each of our projects and ensure that we accurately read lifestyle trends, letting this learning influence our concept development. We like to create concepts that are not only appropriate for today’s guests, but also anticipate and answer the needs and demands of future guests. In all our projects we do not simply follow current trends, but try to continuously establish new ones that will lead the market. We also make sure to put our personal touch, a “thumbprint”, on all our projects. We put our heart into each concept we create, each hotel or spa we operate, ensuring that each is distinctively unique and is aligned with our and our client’s vision for the project. [WT] GOCO’s tag line, “Wellness Meets Wanderlust”. My first impression is that GOCO’s adding something new to the wellness industry. What’s behind the phrase? “Wellness Meets Wanderlust” is very much an extension of who we are, which is a consultancy and management company that focuses on where wellness and hospitality merge. Many of our team members have extensive experience in the field of hospitality, having worked with multinational hospitality greats including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, and Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, to name a few. Our team is also highly experienced in the spa and wellness field with credentials such as Ananda in the Himalayas, Six Senses Spas, and SHA Wellness Clinic. Thus, it only seemed natural that GOCO Hospitality’s tagline describe those strengths, where wellness meets the wanderlust of traveling/hospitality. “Wellness meets wanderlust” also describes the interests of our guests and clients, who are an emerging new group of travelers. These travelers are more than the seasoned world-traveler accustomed to five-star hospitality services and facilities. They have grown more and more interested in wellness and seek to experience a combination of the best wellness practices and facilities available today with discovering new destinations while enjoying the luxury of five-star hospitality. Again, this is “wellness meets wanderlust”. [WT] Congratulations on a couple big awards in the past year: Winner Best Spa Consultant at The Crystal Awards Asia Pacific 2011 Winner Best Spa Consultant Company of the Year from the SpaChina Awards 2011. Quite an achievement in a short period of time. GOCO’s vision and efforts certainly recognized throughout the industry. We are extremely proud and delighted to have been recognized as Best Spa Consultant. As a young company, to receive such recognition and trust from our industry peers, partners, clients, and consumers is truly remarkable. For that we express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude. Our success can be attributed to the following qualities that place us apart from the rest: Understanding the East In a time where major growth is taking place in the emerging markets of China and India, it serves any client well when the consulting company they take on is knowledgeable in these markets. GOCO is a multicultural company based in Bangkok, Thailand, with its team of 30 employees representing 11 different nationalities and holding countless years of experience in the Asia/ Pacific spa and hospitality market. With western knowledge and a heart of eastern values and sensibilities the GOCO team can relate well to clients from all regions of the world. Depth of Practical Experience Being at the helm of GOCO as CEO and founding partner and with my 25 years experience in tow, I have garnered a large network of hospitality professionals, which is continuously expanding. From this network I seek to form a team with individuals as passionate and driven as I, with expertise in all the arenas of service that GOCO provides. The GOCO team is comprised of handpicked global spa and hospitality professionals who have worked for leading hospitality companies around the world. This, combined with varied nationalities, education backgrounds, and professional qualifications, results in diverse skill sets and international experience allowing GOCO to offer our clients a high level of competence in a multitude of service areas. Premier Alliances At GOCO, we are very proud of the alliances we have made with some of the most talented and respected people and companies in the hospitality and wellness industries. We are proud to work with: Architects: ♦ Tadao Andao http://www.andotadao.org ♦ Sandy Pei http://www.peipartnership.com Interior Designers ♦ George Wong http://www.georgewongdesign.com ♦ Tony Chi http://www.tonychi.com ♦ Calvin Tsao www.tsao-mckown.com ♦ Matteo Thun www.matteothun.com ♦ P Interior & Associates (PIA) www.piainterior.com Landscape Artists: ♦ Bill Bensley www.bensley.com ♦ P Landscape www.plandscape.com Artists: ♦ Gregory Colbert www.ashesandsnow.org ♦ Vivienne Tam www.viviennetam.com Without these partners, our work would be far less unique and successful. Build based on Results GOCO’s work always begins with the end in mind. With the first step of completing detailed Market Research & Feasibility studies GOCO is able to meet the concerns of any investor or owner by forecasting the financial expectations as well as profit and return on investment a project will generate. Dedicated to Improving Service Levels GOCO provides training and service support that develops therapist skill levels to those of an international standard. Conducting such training programs supports the long term growth and advancement of the overall hospitality and wellness industry in terms of service level and guest experience. [WT] I’m particularly interested in GOCO’s big project in Ningbo, China - Xiangshan Hot Spring & Wellness Center. From the pre-release information, it appears to be a trend-setting site. As the center will open in the second half of 2013, what is your role with the site? We are very proud to be working on a benchmark property in Xiangshan, the GOCO Hot Spring & Wellness Center, which will introduce a concept new to China—oceanfront mineral springs thermal bathing, as a main feature. Targeted to open in August 2013, the GOCO Hot Spring & Wellness Center will cover an indoor area of 6,000 sq.m. and another 5,000 sq.m. for an outdoor mineral spring bathing area. The GOCO Hot Spring & Wellness Center will feature 24 treatment rooms, two luxury spa suites and one spa villa, as well as single gender and co-ed mineral springs bathing facilities with indoor and outdoor thermal experiences. Unique to the GOCO Hot Spring & Wellness Center will also be the medi-spa & weight management clinic, which will span across two dedicated floors with seven treatment suites for the extensive medi-spa treatments offered. GOCO Hospitality provided the following services: ▲ Market Research & Feasibility Studies ▲ Concept Development ▲ Technical And Pre-opening Services ▲ Management GOCO Hospitality is also responsible for the interior design of the spa. Architecture is by WATG, Hawaii Office, a world-renowned leading design consultant for the hospitality, leisure and entertainment industries. [WT] Wellness is a recent trend in the Spa industry. Where do you see the growth markets for Wellness? The growth of the spa and wellness industry has increased in all regions of the world, but the markets that have shown the greatest growth are undeniably China, India, and the Middle East. These regions enjoy growing economies and a population that has both the disposable income and the desire to invest in taking better care of their health by means other than conventional Western medical science. More and more people are questioning the validity of conventional Western medicine. Thus, the natural inclination for people to apply and utilize more traditional wellness modalities will further expand. This will lead to the development and growth of entire new product requirements, additional market niches will come up, and new supply chains will be established. In sum, this will open up a whole new growth segment for the industry. The spa consumer has become more and more sophisticated and will continue to increase their spa knowledge, defining their preferences and needs. The educated wellness consumer will be demanding services that are directed at the ultimate result they want to achieve. The often unsupported claims by spa and product companies of the supposed results their services and/or products will bring will be replaced by spa services or products which will have been developed from substantial academic and scientific research. The research will be drawn from ancient wellness traditions and new scientific discoveries, leading to services and products demonstrating such. Nations will put increased efforts behind the creation of wellness communities where a wide span of wellness services, hospitality, and real estate combine and celebrate the cultural symbiosis of the respective country. We can also expect to see growth in the number of innovative large-scale residential communities catering to particular lifestyle choices, whether they are created along the lines of preferred activities (wellness, golf, nature, etc.) or even ethnic or cultural nuances. [WT] GOCO is currently working on wellness projects on five continents. What is the number of different countries you’re currently working in? GOCO is currently working with hoteliers and developers on 23 wellness projects in 14 countries around the world. In the Asia-Pacific region alone, we are working on projects in the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Australia, and our home base, Thailand. From hotel spas to destination resorts and mixed-use developments, GOCO is involved in some of the most interesting and innovative projects active today. Our clientele range from individual investors to global hospitality brands. The majority of GOCO Hospitality’s business is made up of projects in the North and North East Asia regions, followed by South East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. GOCO’s main markets for projects are: China forming 30% of the project location total, India with 15% and the Middle East at 15%, with nine countries forming the remaining 40%. [WT] You’ve done some work in South Korea. Are you able to share information on this wellness project? I was the Executive Assistant Manager at the Chosun Seoul Hotel from 1989 to 1991. During this time I gained an in-depth understanding of the South Korean market and the South Korean guest, which has proved to be immensely valuable in our work. GOCO Hospitality did a market research and feasibility study for the Lotte Retreat and Spa on Jeju Island. Designed to be one of the leading spa and wellness facilities in South Korea and immersing into the culture of Jeju, the spa facility at the Lotte Retreat and Spa will deliver the ultimate luxury experience. Spa treatments and activities are designed to enhance well-being and are specifically results-oriented. These include a medi-spa, several thermal experiences, detox programs, healthy cuisine, and a wide variety of exercise options. From well-appointed VIP treatment suites to a state-of-the-art sauna area, the spa facility will provide a truly authentic and unique service platform supported by cutting-edge design, the use and applications of local ingredients, wellness consultations, and tactile experiences combined to immerse spa guests into the ultimate state of wellness. [WT] 
How do you see South Korea in the Wellness Industry? South Korea is a growing market that presents many great opportunities for the wellness industry. There is great market demand yet the limited number of wellness facilities cannot adequately cater to the needs of the consumer in South Korea. According to Intelligent Spas – Asia Pacific Regional Report 2011, there are 50 registered spa facilities in South Korea, which generates $24 million of industry revenues, and employs about 750 people. Measuring by the industry revenues of seven growing spa markets, South Korea is ranked 3rd, after China ($75 million) and Japan ($50 million). The South Korean spa market is dominated by mineral or hot springs public bathhouses and saunas. Other facilities in these spas would include Jacuzzis, massage rooms, and relaxation lounges. These bathhouses can be as large as an entire building or occupying a large space in a department store. The popularity of bathhouses has grown with the South Korean consumer. The bathhouse is no longer seen as just a weekend or evening relaxation activity. It has now become a popular choice for couples on their date, for businessmen to entertain clients, even a must-visit place for foreign tourists. Another popular trend in the South Korean market is day spas and salons. As the awareness of self-appearance grows in the South Korean consumer, so does the number of day spas and salons that offer facial treatments as well as hair and nail services. South Korea’s fast-developing medical tourism is also a great boon for the country’s wellness industry. South Korea has solid IT infrastructure and revolutionary medical technology as well as skilled and experience medical practitioners. All these are contributing factors that could help improve the services and increase the number of medi-spas in the country. The South Korean consumer now is also more health-conscious, preferring to rely on preventative medicine, traditional medicine, and consuming naturally healthy or organic food. With the South Korean government taking measures to support the growth of the wellness industry as it has, the future looks bright and promising for investors, developers, and consumers alike. [WT] What are the website & contact points for GOCO? Our contact details are: GOCO Hospitality 2/4 Nai Lert Tower, Suite 47, 3F, Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: +66 2 655 2323 E-mail: GOCO@GOCO.co URL: www.GOCO.co

  • In English
  • Feature

  2012-06-05