SUMMIT REVIEW
Competition winners from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, plus faculty advisor Dr Ada Lo and J Lee Rofkind of BUZ Design (third and second left)
T
he contestants in this year’s GSS Student Challenge Competi- tion came from four
outstanding Asian universities: T e Chinese University of Hong Kong; Cornell Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management, Sin- gapore; Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia; and Hong Kong Pol- ytechnic University. T e challenge was to develop
STUDENT CHALLENGE COMPETITION
The entries for this year’s Student Challenge Competition at the Global Spa Summit were of high-standard and the results were incredibly close. Mary Tabacchi, professor at Cornell University and GSS board member reports
a profi table spa concept and design in part- nership with a spa architect. T e students managed in-depth work and analysis of the concept, designed a spa – giving considera- tion to aesthetics and functionality – and its theme even as they fi nished fi nals. In addi- tion, this was the fi rst year that they were challenged to produce a strong fi nancial analysis of their proposals. T e conference room was incredibly quiet as
students and delegates awaited the announce- ment of the winning team. Privately the judges, which included leading spa operators, had deliberated at length as they praised the con- tent of each project. Clearly these were diffi cult choices – the competition was close.
T e fi rst prize of us$1,000 went to T e
Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel and Tourism Management. T e winning students created Yi Spa in
collaboration with J Lee Rof ind, founder of BUZ Design Consultants in Hong Kong, and under the guidance of professor Ada Lo. Members of the student team were Carol Zhang, Joyce Ng, Kitsun Lau and Tommy Gu. T e Yi Spa concept they created was, in their own words, “an intriguing urban day spa off ering de-stressing treatments in a relaxing and unpretentious environment to those who live a busy life”. The spa had movable cubicles, where the walls could be retracted and folded to
42 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital
merge the treatment rooms into a larger space or spa suites for more than one guest. According to the students: “T is concept is responding to the increase in the demand for spa parties and social gatherings with spa suites, lounge areas, private showers and changing cubicles.” T e unique selling point of
the Yi Spa proposal was the idea of having a mobile spa, which
could be parked near offi ce complexes or restaurants or even the beach – a business that literally goes to its customers. Second in line in the competition, receiving
us$500, was T e Chinese University of Hong Kong, closely followed by a tie between Gadjah Mada University and Cornell Nanyang Insti- tute which were both awarded us$250. Susie Ellis, GSS board member, adds: “T is
year’s competition was especially impressive and the ideas for a profi table spa concept of the future were very eye-opening... T e students turned out to be extremely good at fi elding the judges’ oſt en challenging questions. T is shows that the preparation of our future spa industry leaders is getting stronger all the time.”
SPA BUSINESS 3 2011 ©Cybertrek 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92