Chi Spa "Village" opens at Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort, Cebu

Jun 30, 05 | 7:47 am

"But here, at Shangri-La, all was in deep calm."

-          from Lost Horizon, by James Hilton        

Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort Hotel opened its CHI Spa Village, the first and largest spa resort of its kind in the Philippines last June 22.

The 10,000 square metre facility was launched with a rousing ceremony with the Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the guest of honor together with officers from the Shangri-La Group, including Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts executive director Kay Goon and chief operating officer Symon Bridle.

A secluded sanctuary inspired by the mystical legend of “Shangri-La” captured in James Hilton’s book Lost Horizon the Chi Spa Village covers an expanse of over 10,000 square metres. Located within the hotel’s sprawling gardens, the CHI Spa Village features a variety of luxurious treatment pavilions: expansive private villas measuring 135 square metres complete with private patios, sunken bathing tubs and relaxing lounges; and eight garden suites. The CHI “water garden” features  a range of wet facilities like infinity edge vitality pool, herbal steam rooms, body scrub salas, a spa pool and Asia’s first genuine Chi’atsu (water shiatsu) pool.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Philippines chairman Tomas Zita said, “with a project cost of US$4 million, we are confident that the Chi Spa Village will elevate Cebu as the premier resort destination not only in the Philippines but in Southeast Asia.”

CHI spa draws inspiration from the origin of the Shangri-La legend, set amidst the Himalayan landscape. Secrets from this magical world are revived and recreated for a spa concept developed in collaboration with a team of recognised experts in traditional Chinese medicine and Himalayan healing philosophies. CHI’s extensive treatment menu offers over 35 specialised body, water, massage, and facial therapies. An exclusive product range has been created based on the Chinese philosophy of the five elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth working in balance with the yin and yang energy within the body.

The Chi Spa Village features signature therapies like Chi Balance, Ying Yang Couple’s Massage, Himalayan Healing Stone Massage and Mountain Tsampa Rub use indigenous ingredients and techniques drawn from the ancient healing practices of the Himalayan region. Drawing inspiration from the Philippines’ healing traditions, the menu features Hilot (Filipino touch therapy) which is a healing massage based on time-honoured folk medicine that has survived the ages. It also includes traditional touches like the Barako Coffee Bean Scrub and the Tropical Linen and Leaf Wrap.  

The CHI spa village at Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort, is the second CHI spa to open since the brand was launched in 2004. The first CHI spa opened in Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok in June 2004.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will open nine other CHI spas, which include Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort, Yanuca; Shangri-La Maldives Resort & Spa, Villingili Island; Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat, Oman; Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai; Shangri-La’s Sunny Bay Resort, Sanya; Shangri-La Hotel & Spa, Haikou; Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing; and the Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin.       

The 547-room Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort located in Lapu Lapu City is the first ISO-14001 certified resort in the country. It has garnered various recognitions including “Hotel of the Year” and “Environmental Tourism Award” in the Kalakbay Awards given by the Department of Tourism, “Favourite Resort” by TIME Magazine for two consecutive years and the “Five Star Diamond Award” given by the American Academy of Hospitality Science for four consecutive years. 

PHOTO CAPTION

With the sound of a gong, Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort was officially opened by guest of honor Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assisted by (L to R) Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort & Spa general manager Timothy Wright, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Pilippines chairman Tomas Zita, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts executive director Kay Kuok Goon and Shangri-La International Management Ltd. Chief Operating Officer Symon Bridle.