Posh resort boosts wellness offerings

CEBU, Philippines — Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa is beefing up its health and wellness offerings, as it sees a growing number of travelers seeking for health-nurturing services.

In an interview with the resort's resident manager Joost Folkers, he said that leading the pack of wellness travelers are the Japanese.

"They (Japanese) love spa packages and enhancements of their spa treatments," said Folkers during the resort's celebration of Global Wellness Day over the weekend.

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa operates one of the largest spa outlets in Asia, the Chi Spa Village hosts 15 villas and one grand villa. This wellness facility is situated in a 10,000 square meters space surrounded with gardens, pools and baths, making it the biggest of its kind across Asia.

The resort's director for communications Cassandra Cuevas said the property is working on offering the grand villa at the Chi Spa Village for overnight package.

Chi Spa also highlights its water shiatsu or Watsu treatment, which is a form of aquatic bodywork used for deep relaxation and passive aquatic therapy.

Aside from Chi Spa Village, Cuevas said the resort also has a wide array of healthy snack and meal options, fitness activities, herb choices, among others.  While the definition of wellness, she added is not only taking care of one's sanity and well-being, but it is a holistic approach to a balanced lifestyle, the resort is also promoting mindfulness in the way people inter-act with environment.

She said wellness tourists are also interested in activities concerning the environment, such as ocean clean-up, coral planting, among others.

According to Global Wellness Institute (GWI), in its 2017 Global Wellness Economy monitor, the global wellness sectors now represent a $3.7 trillion economy.

GWI indicated that wellness tourism continues to grow faster than global tourism, as more consumers aspire to higher levels of wellness and incorporate this intention into their travels.

The 25-year-old Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, is (so far) the largest five-star resort on the island in terms of accommodation.

Shangri-La’s occupancy rate of nearly 100 percent indicates robust tourism business in Cebu. (FREEMAN)