By LAWRENCE TAN

Thailand emerged the biggest winner at the AsiaSpa Awards 2008, taking home eight awards at a glamorous gala awards ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong last Sunday.

More than 400 industry VIPs were in attendance at this year’s awards to witness Thailand’s handsome trophy haul, with Hong Kong coming in at a close second with five awards, and Indonesia with three.

Traditional ‘big sisters’ like the Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group shared the limelight with smaller independent spas Sense of Touch and the Shinta Mani Spa.

Now into its fourth year, the AsiaSpa Awards, presented by AsiaSpa magazine, recognizes the best spas in Asia, competing in 26 categories and voted on by 29 independent judges.

“We are very proud to support the best businesses in the industry and to give them the recognition they deserve,” said Olivier Burlot, Managing Director of Blu Inc Media. “Despite the challenging times that lie ahead we are very optimistic about the strength of both the industry and our publication.”

Here’s the full list of winners at the AsiaSpa Awards 2008:

Destination Spa of the Year: Holistic Spa, Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand

Urban Spa of the Year:  The Oriental Spa, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand 

Day Spa of the Year:  Tamarind Springs, Koh Samui, Thailand

New Spa of the Year:  Spa Village Resort, Tembok Bali, Indonesia

Spa for Men of the Year:  The Mandarin Barber, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong

Spa Retreat of the Year:  The Farm, The Philippines

Eco-Spas of the Year: Six Senses Resorts & Spas

Socially Responsible Spa of the Year: The Shinta Mani Spa, Shinta Mani Hotel and Institute of Hospitality, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Medi-Spa of the Year: TRIA Integrative Wellness, Bangkok, Thailand

Asian Spa Capital of the Year: Bali, Indonesia

Spa Association of the Year: Australasian Spa Association

Spa Event of the Year: Cosmoprof Asia 2007, Hong Kong

Spa Personality of the Year: Catherine Feliciano-Chon, CatchOn & Company, Hong Kong

In-Spa Training of the Year: CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Spa Academy of the Year: Frederique Academy, Hong Kong

Spa Design of the Year: The Barai, Hyatt Regency, Hua Hin, Thailand 

Spa Treatment of the Year: Himalayan Tsangpo Ritual – CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

Holistic Treatment of the Year: Inner Flow Therapy, The Dheva Spa, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Men’s Spa Treatment of the Year: ‘Cheers to Beers’ Therapy, Sense of Touch, Hong Kong

Spa’s Therapist Team of the Year: Jari Menari, Bali, Indonesia

Spa Product of the Year: Comfort Zone

Anti-Ageing Product of the Year: Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream, Elemis

Natural Products of the Year: Aromatherapy Associates

Men’s Product of the Year: Optimale Refreshing Eye Contour Care by Payot Homme

Spa Cuisine of the Year: Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand

Spa Marketing of the Year: Pevonia