2011 AsiaSpa - Urban Spa

Urbanspa

maintain your equilibrium in the city

With breathtaking views in nearly every one of its 15 treatment suites, Banyan Tree Spa at Marina Bay Sands is an elegant Asian homage further enhanced by its prestigious location at the top of Singapore’s elegant integrated resort. Designed around the idea of the Tree of Life, the spa features both classic and modern Asian renderings of this symbol with art ranging from Cambodia to China. The spa walkway lined with creepers and woody vines adds a forest element. In addition to 10 single suites, there are three deluxe doubles with bathtub, shower and steam, and two royal doubles with Rainmist experience and Vichy shower facilities.

Each room is named after a species of orchid – Singapore’s national flower – as are the treatments. The Harmony Banyan is a 180-minute indulgent massage performed by two therapists accompanied by an orchid scrub, head and foot massage and a therapeutic orchid bath. www.banyantree.com

photographed by Marina Bay Sands

photographed by Marina Bay Sands

homecoming queen

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Urbanspa up, up and away

Situated in the centre of the action, the W Taipei is minutes away from Taipei 101 and conveniently located above Taipei Main Station.

Eclectic and funky, the hotel’s hip vibe mellows out at the AWAY ® Spa, which features one couples’ room with Jacuzzi and steam as well as two single suites. Therapies are all about results, results, results, with detoxing and recharging the main focus. Each spa experience begins with a detox mocktail and lounge time in the relaxing changing room area that features three soaking tubs, steam and sauna. The signature Ultimate Extreme Makeover is a full-body experience that includes a slimming and firming wrap by Rodial as well as a relaxing facial for an all-over recharge. www.wtaipei.com

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Urbanspa tantalising treat

Bringing a feel of French Provence to Guangzhou, China, So Spa with L’Occitane at the Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich promises treatments that will make the stresses of daily life fade away with a menu inspired by gastronomy. With seven treatment suites that combine modern Chinese and French styles, the spa also specialises in So Hammam, its Middle Eastern styled treatments.

Try Scrunch, which combines the Hammam experience followed

by L’Occitane body scrub or So Exhilarating massage and a healthy lunch to finish. www.sofitel.com

outstanding outback

Hilton brings its eforea spa concept to Australia with its opening at Hilton on the Park Melbourne. The spa features six treatment rooms sandwiched between exclusive arrival and transition lounges for a complete journey of relaxation. Facilities include a pool, sauna and steam room which encourage guests to undergo a total transformation. Using Australia’s own organic product line LI’TTYA, the Escape Journey harnesses the power of native plants for total rejuvenation. www.hilton.com

swiss satisfaction

The newly revamped Purovel Spa at the Swissotel Nankai Osaka takes inspiration from the natural freshness of Switzerland’s local herbs such as lemon balm, wild bergamot, lavender and douglas fir. There are five treatment rooms separated into two for men, two for women and one for couples, as well as sauna, indoor pool and Jacuzzi. The Purovel Swiss Mountain Massage inspires natural vitality and stimulates blood flow using alpine spring essential oil to clear the mind and breathing passages. A medium pressure massage also relaxes the muscles. www.swissotel.com

fit for a saint

Housed in an elegant High Victorian Gothic building in London, the St Pancras Spa at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel is a Victorian journey blended with eastern traditions. The sanctuary features six luxurious treatment rooms including a couples’ suite as well as a Victorian-tiled pool with hydro loungers, relaxation room, as well as steam and sauna facilities. The indulgent Journey of the Silk Route is an around-the-world wonder, combining treatments from India, China and Japan It begins with an aromatic spice scrub, followed by the Udvartana slimming ritual massage that stirs the lymphatic system and finishes with a Ko Bi Do Precious Youthful Facial from Japan. www.stpancrasspa.co.uk

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Urbanspa tao of spa

royal treatment

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Divana Virtue Spa in Bangkok has introduced a royal new treatment called Queen of the Night.

Combining eight flowers recognised for their long-lasting fragrance including night jasmine, ixora and lily, the treatment begins with a detoxing foot cleansing of mineral charcoal powder and rice milk, followed by a massage using the oil of the eight flowers, which soothes the skin and boosts circulation. This is followed by a bee pollen scrub and a hair and scalp massage. The lengthy treatment continues with an herbal steam treatment using a warm blanket wrap.

The Four Hands Abhyanga Body Shaping massage then brings the body to ultimate relaxation and the treatment finishes with the Oriental White Flowers milky bath. www.divana-dvn.com

Offering a breath of fresh air and wellness therapies in the busy Central district of Hong Kong, Amarantine Spa is dedicated to transporting guests away from it all with their quiet and luxurious spacious atmosphere including seven treatment rooms, two private spa suites with steam room, rainshower and hydrotherapy baths, relaxation lounges and Vichy shower facilities. Their indulgent Scentao of Asia is two and a half hours of Asianinspired treatments to soothe both body and soul. It begins with the rolling strokes of a traditional bamboo massage to stimulate the flow of Qi and relieve muscle tension. Aromatic oils using purely plant-based ingredients further enhance the experience, which is finished with a Shiatsu-based face massage to awaken energy points. www.amarantine.com.hk

fly fly away

China’s much-loved Dragonfly Therapeutic Retreats has opened its latest spa in Shanghai with a full range of massage, nailcare, waxing and facial services. Featuring two spacious foot massage rooms with 10 massage sofas, six single spa rooms and two doubles, the spa stays open until midnight seven days a week for the night owl types. Give it to Me One More Time is a treatment that’s as fun as it sounds. One hour aromatherapy oil massage is followed by a unique combination of an hour-long foot massage and head and shoulder massage, administered at the same time.

Perfect to relax those muscles before more shopping. www.dragonfly.net.cn

wushu wellbeing

Newly opened, the Spa at Kerry Hotel Pudong in Shanghai is a 275 square-metre wellness day spa with nine treatment suites specializing in health, beauty and physiotherapy, including traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The Signature Wushu Body Wisdom Massage is inspired by the martial arts practice and includes stretching and restorative post-active body care.

Each massage includes guided stretching, breathing exercises and movements that open the meridian points for long-term wellbeing. www.shangri-la.com

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Urbanspa canadian care

The Urban Sanctuary at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto basks in natural light on the all-glass fifth floor podium. It offers 23,000 square feet of relaxation and fitness and is dressed in warm rosewood with rooftop skylights. The spa is inspired by Canada’s great outdoors and offers 16 treatment rooms including two executive suites as well as separate ladies’ and gentlemen’s wet lounges including vitality pool, dry relaxation den and steam and sauna.

The signature Cloud 9 Massage uses locally-grown flowers and herbs such as Niagara lavender and Quebec sage for a literally homegrown relaxation experience. www.ritzcarlton.com

plateau perfection

Plateau Residential Spa at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong has introduced a new signature treatment for a youthful glow. The Instant Luminous Lift facial is powered by clinically-proven TriPollar technology from Israel and offers a non-invasive treatment that instantly tightens face and neck to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It also stimulates collagen production for smoother, softer and more radiant skin. Enjoy in one of the spa’s 10 spa suites or 13 treatment rooms complete with bed, bath and all the amenities to make this one perfect stay. www.grandhyatt.com

life expectancy

The new Corinthia Hotel in London is the first in the world to offer spa giant ESPA’s brand new concept, ESPA Life – a fully integrated approach to wellness combined with the luxury spa experience. The spa is designed in rich and opulent dark warm tones with curved walls and soft contours that enhance energy flow. The Spa Lounge offers delicious spa cuisine and healthy “shots” while the spa itself includes complementary and alternative medicine, fitness and rehabilitation services and targeted treatments and programmes, which focus on detox, sleep, weight loss, pregnancy and overall vitality. www.corinthia.com

the key to paris

With stunning high ceilings and a lengthy indoor pool, the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental Paris is 900 square metres of relaxation and bliss spread out over two levels. Seven spa suites encircle the pool including two for couples, each with its own steam shower and private changing room. Paris Passion, as the name suggests is all about bringing out one’s best with an anti-ageing body scrub combining pomegranate and honey followed by a replenishing body wrap. This is followed by an Orchidée Imperiale Prestige Treatment by Guerlain, a specialised facial treatment that contours the face and quenches the skin, leaving you with a top-to-toe perfect finish. www.mandarinoriental.com

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