CITY FOCUS: SIEM REAP
Sokha Angkor Resort S Amansara W
hen you consider this is where Angelina Jolie
Unique experiences themed around the spa give Amansara an edge over other resorts
and her family stayed in Siem Reap, the US$1,250 (€912, £751) per night fee at Amansara makes more sense. Originally the King of Cambodia’s guesthouse, the 600-year-old property was bought by the Aman Group in 2002 and its 12 bedrooms were converted into suites. In 2005, a spa and 12 spacious pool suites were added. The resort’s exquisite minimalist and
masculine design carries through to the 461sq m (4,962sq ft) spa, which features lots of dark wood and black furnishings. There four treatment suites (all with relaxation areas), plus a room for yoga. Annual resort occupancy is between 40
and 50 per cent and the spa has a capture rate of 30 per cent. The US$95 (€69, £57) 60-minute oil massage is the most popular but there are a number of treatments by Sodashi and alternative therapies, delivered by visiting international healers.
There’s also a blind therapist on call for massages. What guests get for the high-end price are experi- ences that can’t be bought
elsewhere. It off ers a water cleansing ceremony by monks, yoga in the temples of Angkor Wat or a night in a Khmer village house which includes a traditional meal and spa treatment that would be hard to fi nd without local know-how. It’s these unique experiences themed around the spa that gives this resort its edge. Facilities have been kept to a minimum
on purpose – aside from the spa, there’s a pool and a dining area. General manager Sally Baughen explains that most guests visit the temples in the day then relax at the spa afterwards. She feels Siem Reap has all the right ingredients to become a leading spa destination: “The temples of Angkor already add a spiritual and energetic dimension, and combining this with [equally mindful] spa treatments such as meditation and yoga will be its USP.” Details:
www.amanresorts.com
okha Hotels & Resorts is the biggest hotel operator in Cambodia and is owned by
petroleum group Sokimex. In total, it owns and operates four hotels, with a fi fth due to open this year. Each site includes a Jasmine Spa, which Sokha owns and manages in-house. Sokha Angkor in Siem Reap is the
company’s second resort and has 275 rooms. It’s about the same price point as La Résidence (see p70) but attracts a predominantly Asian market – most guests come from Japan and China – rather than a western one. At 60 per cent, annual occupancy is higher than other resorts in the city. The Jasmine Spa has 18 treatment
rooms and employs 16 therapists to work under Cambodian-born spa manager Mok Reksmey. As one of the biggest spa employers in the city, it prioritises training which is provided by both in-house trainers and product house Pevonia. Throughout the resort, marketing
Flame for you Ex spa manager, Beck Scougall is an Australian based in Siem Reap whose company Saarti makes all-
natural soy candles and body products for Cambodia’s spa industry. Saarti uses soy wax and sustainably-harvested beeswax in its candle and essential oils to scent body products. The company works with local artisans to create unique, biodegradable and reusable packaging. Clients include Sojourn Boutique Hotel, Amansara and Shinta Mani Hotel in Siem Reap as well as Song Saa Resort in Sihanouk Ville. Details:
www.saarticambodia.com
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collateral sells the spa and you get the feeling this is an operator that wants its spa to make money, not simply be an hotel adjunct. The price point of US$40 (€29, £24) for a 60-minute massage is lower than other hotel spas and take-up of treatments among guests is ‘good’, according to Reksmey. It places a particular emphasis on professional facial products as this is something Chinese spa-goers value. “We have a clear focus on our
WAT ELSE?
Other day spa operators in Siem Reap include: ■ Bodia Spa Runs two day spas
in Siem Reap plus one in Phnom Penh. Bodia also makes its own spa products for consumer and
commercial use.
www.bodia-spa.com ■ Sokkhak Spa Offers treatments as well as training and consultancy
for spas.
www.sokkhakspa.com ■ Body Tune The fi rst Cambodian day spa for this well-established Thai spa operator.
www.bodytune.co.th
market and we’ve tailored a spa that appeals to the majority of our client base,” explains Reksmey. “We know that the Chinese market will grow even bigger over the next few years and we’re perfectly placed to reach out to them.” Details:
www.sokhahotels.com
Jennifer Harbottle is a leisure industry writer based in Asia Email: jennifer@
harkcommunications.com.au Tel: +86 1888 9846196
Spa Business 2 2014 ©Cybertrek 2014
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