Best Spas and Wellness Centres in Malaysia Announced
24 Spas, Wellness Centres and Spa Product Brands Honoured in Oscar-styled Ceremony
PUTRAJAYA - In a star-studded ceremony reminiscent of the Academy Awards, 24 spas, wellness centres and spa product brands were honoured with the Malaysia Spa & Wellness Awards 2009 at the Putrajaya Marriott Hotel & Spa.
As each Award was announced the whole ballroom roared with applause from both winner and nominees alike.
The much awaited Awards, dubbed the most prestigious awards for spas and wellness centres in Malaysia are organised by the Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council. The Awards were presented by Dato’ Dr. James Dawos Mamit, Deputy Minister of Tourism Malaysia. Also present at the packed Awards ceremony were Datuk Dr. Victor Wee, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Hj. Ab. Ghaffar, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, William Ng, Chairman of Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council, and representatives from spa associations across Asia.
The winners were selected from a pool of 163 nominations, and were judged by a panel of independent judges comprising spa personalities, travel and lifestyle magazine editors and celebrities. The grueling nomination and adjudication process took over three months, and comprised of mystery visits and spa audits. In deciding the winner, the judges took into consideration both the ‘hardware’ component – ambience, design and equipment, and ‘software’ component – therapist skills and qualifications, treatment menus, and service quality.
Among the big winners of the night are YTL’s Spa Village Group, which took home four awards including the prestigious Best Spa Group. Built on a floating spa concept at Avillion Port Dickson, Avi Spa was awarded with Best New Spa and Best Traditional Treatment. Borneo Spa at Nexus Karambunai and Mandara Spa at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa were honoured as Best Resort Spa and Best Hotel Spa respectively. Spa Village’s Ayu Murdani and Serenity Spa’s Antony Dalani were named Best Spa Therapists.
Council Chairman, William Ng said that the industry players should rely on each other’s strength and know-how in a win-win collaboration, rather than see each other as a competition of one another.
“Through collaborative and co-operative campaigns, such as those promoted by the Council, we will be able to draw on our collective strength as an industry, and better promote and sustain our own businesses”, Ng said.
Since the introduction of the Awards in 2006, the industry has rallied behind this momentous annual event, and the Awards have raised the bar for the spa and wellness industry. At the same time, greater recognition both locally and internationally for our spas bodes well for Malaysia to become a regional spa destination.
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About the Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council
The Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council, or ASWPC is the regional coordinating body for the promotion of spas and wellness centres. We assist national and regional organisation in promoting spas and wellness centres both inter- and intra-regionally to an audience of wellness tourists, health practitioners and other stakeholders.
Our credo:
- Uphold the professionalism of the spa & wellness industry at all times
- Promote sustainability and respect for the environment in all we do
- Treat all practitioners and stakeholders as equal
For more info, visit www.aswpc.org
About the Malaysia Spa & Wellness Awards
The Malaysia Spa & Wellness Awards is an annual Awards ceremony organized by Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council to identify and promote Malaysia’s best spas, wellness centres and other industry affiliates. Winners are not only among the best in the country, they carry the Malaysian flag in our efforts to promote Malaysia as a regional spa destination.
For more info, visit www.spawellnessawards.com
Full List of Winners
Malaysia Spa & Wellness Awards 2009
| Spas and Wellness Centres | |
| Best Day Spa | The Asia Spa, Kuala Lumpur |
| Best Resort Spa | Borneo Spa, Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai, Sabah |
| Best Destination Spa | Spa Village Tanjong Jara, Tanjong Jara Resort, Terengganu |
| Best Hotel Spa | Mandara Spa, Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, Selangor |
| Best New Spa | Avi Spa, Avillion Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan |
| Best Family Spa | Pedas Springs, First World Plaza, Resorts World Genting, Pahang |
| Best Spa Design (Hotel/Resort) | CHI, The Spa at Shangri-la's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang |
| Best Spa Design (Day Spa) | Elysyle Spa, Kuala Lumpur |
| Best Spa Ambience | Serenity Spa, Bangi, Selangor |
| Best Spa Experience | M Spa & Fitness, Maxims Genting, Resorts World Genting, Pahang |
| Best Customer Service | JoJoBa Spa, Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur |
| | Sembunyi Spa, Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa, Selangor |
| Best Signature Treatment | Suam Suam Panas, Shiok Shiok Sejuk, Spa Village Malacca, Malacca |
| Best Traditional Treatment | Malay Strength, Avi Spa, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan |
| | Pulau Bayu Retreat, CHI, The Spa at Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Sabah |
| Best Wellness Treatment | RimBa Royal, RimBa Spa, Royale Bintang Hotel, Kuala Lumpur |
| Best Hair Care Centre | 101 Hair Care |
| Best Slimming Centre | Slimming Sanctuary |
| Best Yoga Centre | Yoga Club by Prabhu Yoga |
| | |
| People & innovation | |
| Best Spa Product (Home Spa) | Tanamera |
| Best Spa Product (Body Care) | Biossentials |
| Best Spa Therapist | Ayu Murdani, Spa Village |
| | Antony bin Dalani, Serenity Spa |
| Best Wellness Equipment | Zazen Far Infrared Thermal System, Zazen Health Solutions |
| Best Nail Art Academy | Y Snow Beauty |
| Best Beauty & Slimming Academy | Terimee International Beauty Slimming Academy |
| Best Spa Group | Spa Village Group |
| Best Consumer Choice | Thai Odyssey |