SPA CONFERENCE 12 November 2015, Rooms S226-S227, HKCEC

SPEAKER PROFILE

SPEAKERS:

JEREMY MCCARTHY Group Director of Spa, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Jeremy McCarthy is the Group Director of Spa for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group leading their internationally acclaimed luxury spa division which features 44 world-class spa projects open or under development globally. He has over 20 years of experience operating luxury spas in resort and hotel properties worldwide.

McCarthy teaches courses in the online certification program in Spa and Hospitality Management through the University of California, is the author of The Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing and hosts a blog about holistic wellbeing at http://psychologyofwellbeing.com.

DR. CHRISTOPHER TAY CEO, The DRx Group

Dr Christopher Tay holds a doctoral degree in International Business and he

co-founded and listed a China Pharmaceutical Company in the USA OTCBB.

His corporate experiences include senior appointments in Corporate

Development & Services, Hospitality and Resort, SME businesses, Healthcare

and Hospital and Logistics.

Dr Tay also held several non-business appointments (past and present)

including Councillor and Vice Chairman of Finance Committee of Town

Council, Business Adviser of Medical Tourism, Board member of the Centre

for Seniors, Chairman of Citizens Consultative Committee and Advisory

Council. He also conducts ad-hoc teaching in University and was also a board

member of the Johns Hopkin Singapore IMC and serving as a resource

member of the Singapore Group Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for health.

Due to his outstanding performance during 2003 SARS as Chief Operations

Officer of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, he was awarded the National Day Award,

Pingat Kepujian (Commendation Medal for SARS), and the Courage Medal,

Singapore Courage Fund for SARS and the National Military Long and Good

Service Medal, Pingat Bakti Setia.

LEE DAVID STEPHENS Manager Barber, Era Barbers

Leading the way in his industry for more than 25 years, Barber Lee Stephens is an absolute master of his craft and has resided in Hong Kong since 2003. Deeply passionate about his trade, Stephens brings the traditions and heritage of men’s barbering and grooming to Era Barbers Hong Kong, leading the way of men’s grooming today.

Stephens has circled the globe 7 times coiffing the elite on board the words best cruise liners before landing in Asia 12 years ago. Here he has successfully managed multiple luxury spa companies such as Elemis, Anantara and Mandara from Cairo to Korea and established his own spa product distribution company Sol Spa Services.

PANELISTS:

ALICE LEUNG Director of Spa, Ritz Carlton Macau

Alice Leung was born in Hong Kong and grew up in New Zealand, starting her Esthetician professional with Steiner Leisure Limited on board the Queen Elizabeth & Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2004. Alice then relocates back to Asia, part of the Spa opening team at The Peninsula HK in 2006.

Having heard a lot of motivating stories about the neighbor city known as Asia’s Las Vegas, Alice decided to expand her spa horizon to Macau – a destination of world entertainment, and a unique mix of European and Oriental beauty. Alice managed the Spa at Wynn Macau & the Spa at Encore Macau for six years and followed by The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel in Macau.

In 2015, Alice joined The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Macau as a Spa Director, be part of the hotel opening team for the most exquisite, exclusive, splendid and sensuous spa in Asia.

DAY LAGASCA Spa Manager, Mandarin Oriental, Macau

Genesis Day Lagasca is the Spa Manager at the Fitness and Wellness Centre and The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Macau: a role she took on in 2015, having previously worked at the legendary Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong for a decade.

With a decade of experience in operations, she knows how satisfied guests are when they receive an outstanding treatment and believes a treatment with a meaningful story rooted in culture and tradition is essential. Therefore, now she is looking at a new spa journey inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, with therapeutic effects that are tailor-made to each guest.

PROF. ARCH. KARL LANDAUER Managing Director, Atelier Landauer GmbH

Being the managing director of Atelier Landauer GmbH, the specialized planning office and general contractor for hotels, restaurants, innovative wellness and spa projects, swimming-bath and leisure-time adventure landscapes based in Austria, he has made a name for himself as a specialist for hotel planning and the respective interior design that is known far beyond the borders of Austria. He is endeavouring to create unique hotels, holiday resorts, mansions and creative wellness facilities at the highest level. With his ideas, he attracts customers from all over the world.

Mr. Karl Landauer is also a professional lecturer at international seminars and conferences dealing with hotel and spa planning where he gives specialized reports about functionality and guest-motivation in hotel processes and the wellness and spa sector.

HELEN NORMAN Senior Business Development Manager, Spa (Asia Pacific), Aromatherapy Associates

Helen Norman, with 22-year experience spanning in the Beauty, Spa, Health & Wellness Industries, started out as a Beauty Therapist and grew fast into the evolving Spa industry as Director of Spa in various award winning spas in Hotels and Resorts from the UK to then Regionally through Asia Pacific.

She has worked with hotel chains such as Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. With a passion for developing driven and knowledgeable teams, creating wholesome and preventative health experiences, with wellness spa concepts that focus on driving results, profitable and successful businesses, now leads Helen to joining the Aromatherapy Associates corporate team here in Asia Pacific, as their new Senior Business Development Manager - Spa.

JANE WANG Spa Director, Bliss Spa, W Hotel Hong Kong

Jane started her hospitality career as membership manager at Shangri-la group in which she started the relationship with Spa and Wellness from marketing and financial aspects, and had a deep understating that the perfect balance between wellness innovation and financial profitability is the very key to a successful and outstanding Spa.

Jane then managed the pre-opening and operation of Spa and Wellness projects all over the world in luxury hotel groups such as Park Hyatt, Mandarin Oriental, etc.

Having engaged with “ZEN” style Spa with different brands for many years

with the nurturing of multiple brands and the inspiration of industry expertise from diverse culture, she is currently settled with Bliss Spa at W Hong Kong.

JOHNNY CHANG CEO & Founder, Spa Solutions Training & Management Consultancy Ltd

Being the founder and CEO of Spa Solutions Training & Management Consultancy (Shanghai) Limited, an official judge for AsiaSpa and SpaChina Awards, Johnny has more than 20 years international hotel spa and spa product brands business strategy, concept, branding, management and marketing experience in China. He acts as a bridge of East and West, offering all-round spa and product brands strategic business plan, marketing and development consultancy and training services to turn the customers’ passion into reality.

LILY TAN Vice President, Asia Pacific, WTS International Asia Pacific Ltd Lily Tan has been in the beauty, spa, fitness and wellness industry for the last 30 years. As WTS’ Vice President, Asia Pacific, she oversees the development and operations for WTS Asia. Ms. Tan is a fully qualified therapist from Champneys Tring in the United Kingdom and studied architectural and interior design at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. She has worked for several international retail brands such as Estée Lauder, Lancôme and Guerlain in sales, development and staff training. She joined the Royal Brunei Jerudong Park Medical Centre to manage, train and develop numerous spas, medical spas, rehabilitation centers and fitness facilities in Asia. She has also worked to develop markets in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea and China. Lily joined the Minor Group in 2009 as the Regional Director of Operations overseeing Northern Asia. She has worked on conceptual branding, spa designs, spa menu development, and operations with Accor, Starwood, Marriott, Urban Group properties, and many more. She was awarded Director of the Year in 2011 by Spa China, The Achiever award from Minor Group, The Best Spa of the Year from Travel & Leisure, Shanghai Daily, Spa China and many more for Mandara Spa, Anantara Spa and Aequalis Spa.

LUCIA CUNHA Director of Spa & Fitness, The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong Mrs. Lucia Cunha has been the Spa & Fitness Director of the Ritz Carlton Shanghai Pudong since November 2011. Prior to her appointment in Shanghai, for nearly two years Lucia oversaw the strategic direction of 3 luxury spas of the five-star hotel chain Blue & Green Hotels and Resorts in Portugal.

Lucia started her career in Portugal as early as 2003 with ESPA for the opening of Four Seasons Spa. She specialized in Spa Manager at the Academy of Chiya-Som in Thailand. Afterwards she managed 2 Six Senses Spas, one in Ritz Carlton Penha Longa in Portugal as well as one at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Arts in Barcelona in Spain for nearly 5 years in total.

In 2008 & 2009, she was Scientific Coordinator of the course - Operations Management and Spa Openings which is a high-degree course of the Faro University in Portugal. During that period of time she was also invited for giving lectures in Spa Management Conferences in Spain.

SARA CODNER Director of Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou

Sara joined Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou in 2012 as part of the pre-opening management team. With over 25 years of spa and fitness industry experience, Sara has successfully launched spa programs in several luxury hotels, clubs and resorts.

Sara began her career in 1994 as a Beauty Therapist at the Aqua Sana, Centre Parks, Sherwood Forest, Rufford, Nottinghamshire in Britain. She then developed her experience through various senior assignments in Europe and joined sister hotel, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Knightsbridge as Spa Manager in 2001.

Sara truly advocates the spa way of life connecting the body and mind. Over the years, her transition from a spa therapist to operations, staff training, sales management, customer service and eventually managing a team of therapists and fitness instructors, has contributed to her deep love for overall wellness. It is her passion and dedication that led to The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou winning multiple International awards and accolades.

In addition to overseeing the management direction and development of the retail, massage, aesthetics and reception staff, Sara constantly monitors and reviews all scheduling, facility operations, supply procurement, revenue management, safety training, standard operating procedures and guest service satisfaction.

SEAN O’CONNOR Group Spa Manager, Design & Development, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Sean O’Connor is Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Group Spa Manager - Design and Development, responsible for the design and development aspects of all current spas & wellness facilities within Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, plus those currently under development.

Part of Sean’s role is to identify new trends and developments in the spa and wellness industry that fit well with Mandarin Oriental’s overall spa philosophy. Another role is to promote and implement the Group’s Product Standards & Guidelines in order to maintain brand positioning and brand integrity - and to remain at the forefront of the industry.

TONY CHEUNG Owner, PA Wellness Consultancy Ltd

Being a Hong Kong Chinese, Mr. Cheung has been a pioneer in developing high-quality health club facilities in China for more than 30 years. He has been endeavoring to bring to China the latest technologies and products from Europe and America. Under his leadership, PA Group and its subsidiary PA Wellness now form the most recognized technical spa consulting company for facilities in luxury hotels, resorts and other leading properties, e.g., Shangri-la hotels, Ritz-Carlton hotels, Four Seasons hotels, Mandarin Oriental hotels, and Peninsula hotels.

MODERATOR:

MELINDA YON Senior Academic Staff Diploma in Wellness, Lifestyle & Spa Management, Republic Polytechnic

Melinda is currently working with Republic Polytechnic’s School of Hospitality in Singapore where she is a Senior Academic Staff member and part of the Spa, Leisure and Wellness Diploma team.

Melinda’s passion for spa and wellness began 20 years ago in her native Australia, following a desire to attain and maintain a healthy and well balanced lifestyle. Having lived in Asia for 10 years, she has been a Spa Consultant, Spa Manager, Spa business owner, lecturer for spa management courses and spa writer.

Melinda has also been a frequent guest speaker at many of the region’s spa and wellness conferences, including serving as the emcee for several of them. She also authored and edited the first three annual editions of Asia’s first spa publication dedicated to men, AsiaSpa Men.

Melinda was a board member of the Asia Pacific Spa and Wellness Coalition (APSWC) for three years, and for several years has been a judge for the region’s most prestigious, AsiaSpa Awards.