Conrad Spa Manila merges wellness and relaxation — and a sunset view

One of the best things about Conrad Manila is its location — right on the banks of Manila Bay. The hotel’s architecture and design never let you forget this. With the lobby located on the third floor, beautiful views of Manila Bay greet you before you even check in and get into your room.

The first time I went to Conrad, a few months after it opened last year, I rode the elevator with a very tall guy in glasses and a suit. When the elevator doors opened, I said, “Wow,” shocked by the gorgeous, sweeping views.

“That’s what we want our guests to say each time,” the guy said. It turned out he was Conrad Manila general manager Harald Feurstein.

Every time I’m at the hotel — lunch with the staff or with friends — I am still awed by Manila Bay especially at sunset — and it’s different each day, according to Harald. Throw in the hotel’s specialty chefs, comfortable and stylish modern rooms, and you’re in a place you wouldn’t want to leave.

Now, there’s another way to indulge yourself: the newly launched Conrad Spa Manila. On a recent weekend, we found out just how special the spa is during a media preview.

Conrad Manila Spa promises to take its customers on a “journey to a better you” with its treatments. “We are confident that Conrad Spa Manila will delight our guests with our signature treatments, combined with exceptional spa services in a warm and luxurious setting that’s deeply rooted to local culture and the healthy cuisine curated by executive chef Daniel Patterson to complement the journey,” says Harald.

The experience is pure indulgence, starting with the minimalist space designed by the Singapore-based firm Wow Architects. The interiors feature dark wood, earth tones and very spacious therapy rooms, each with their own steam room, shower and toilet. There are four single rooms and two couple’s rooms, the latter equipped with a Jacuzzi and facing the bay so there’s that added bonus of watching the sunset should you book your massage during that time.

Conrad Spa consultant Tanja Talreja, president and founder of GSD Spa and Wellness Development Corporation, says Conrad Spa is abreast of the latest developments in wellness. She has helped set up spas and gyms around the world, from Europe to the Middle East and Asia.

Tanja has a team of seven massage therapists who got their training from Espa in the UK. In recent years, she says, spa trends have been shifting to a holistic, integrated approach.

“Every year, there is always something new, but the one that sticks the most is the integration of fitness, wellness and spa because it’s now about the whole body feeling that sense of wellness — it’s not just about where you are getting touched for pain relief, it’s also about prevention, what you eat, the actions that you do, are you doing good things for your body?”

The wellness industry is $563 billion worldwide and the three industries — wellness, fitness and spa — are now merging.

“It hasn’t always been like that. Now, people are aware of their bodies, they want longevity,” she says. “There’s something special about a massage, it brings you a certain inner calm and peace — and relaxing is a path to well-being. Remember, stress is the cause of many health issues, so it’s good to take a moment and relax.”

For our weekend, we experienced three hours of pure indulgence, starting with a few minutes in the steam room followed by a 60-minute Moringa and Body Turmeric Body Wrap, a locally inspired detox wrap and exfoliation that combine moringa powder and oil with turmeric powder, both known for their anti-aging and purifying properties. Next was a shower followed by a 60-minute aromatherapy massage using a blend of Espa oils to suit your specific needs. You can choose which specific benefit you’re after, such as detoxifier, de-stresser, muscle relaxer, jet-lag reviver, immune booster or energizer.

Not only was I totally relaxed after the spa experience, I smelled damn good, too, from the Espa oils.

Conrad Spa deliberately marked down the prices of the services so that more people can experience its facilities and spa menu. An aromatherapy massage, for instance, starts at P2,800 for 60 minutes.

“Filipino customers love to be pampered,” Tanja says. “They want to indulge, they want to spend their time here. It’s not just Filipinos, but all men and women who come here, they want to go into a different world.”

Other massages are deep muscle, shiatsu, reflexology, and back, neck and shoulder. “We also have the traditional hilot, which is really amazing and is one of my favorites. We want to promote indigenous ingredients like turmeric and moringa, a certain kind of green powdered tea that’s also used in food and body scrubs. We do want to promote our Espa brand, of course, but we are in the Philippines and we have amazing things here.  I love the hilot with banana leaves, it reminds you that you’re on vacation.”

“We have a lot of American customers who are very familiar with the Conrad and Hilton brands, we also have Korean and Chinese groups.  These are clients who come in tired from their long travels, so you have people who want to relax and sleep, and you have those that want the energy boost for their meetings when they arrive in Manila.”

We also got to experience spa cuisine at Brasserie on 3 and at China Blue by Jereme Leung. At Brasserie, executive chef Daniel Patterson served light and scrumptious selections such as Australian Wagyu carpaccio with feta cheese crumbs, tomato lemongrass tea, and mint-infused Norwegian salmon fillet and lobster medallion. The dessert was a gorgeously constructed dark chocolate shaped like a coconut shell and inside were coconut jelly, mango drops and honey yogurt gelato.

If this is healthy cuisine, I’m in!

At China Blue by Jereme Leung, executive Chinese chef Eng Yew Khor cooked up a healthy Chinese lunch as well. That seems like an oxymoron — a healthy, light Chinese meal? — but in his creative kitchen, he whipped up steamed moringa chicken and shrimp dumpling, marinated cherry tomatoes and flower tea. For me, the best dish was the soup — a double-boiled chicken and peach gum with vegetable in young coconut (literally served in a coconut shell). The main course was steamed snow fish with ginger, garlic and coriander soya sauce, braised soft tofu, spinach noodle in broth with beef and mushroom.

China Blue has sweeping views of Manila Bay as well. Maybe it was the fantastic food, or maybe it was the relaxing spa treatments, but on that spa weekend everything was peaceful and calm. 

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Visit the author’s travel blog at www.findingmyway.net. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @iamtanyalara.

Conrad Manila is located at Seaside Boulevard corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. For inquiries and reservations, call 833-9999.