Mandala Spa owner and Managing Director Karen Villarica-Reina accepted the top awards for Mandala Spa, as well as the Spa Association of the Year award, as president of The Spa Association of the Philippines.

Recognition from the BASA awards brings well-deserved recognition and thanks to spa owners, trainers and designers, product manufacturers and spa associations, and encourage them to keep aiming as high as possible in their quest to create the best spa experiences, says Adkom CEO and Publisher Olivier Burlot. "And after the success of this year we are delighted to announce that 2005 is just the first of many years of annual awards to come."

With 16 categories and over 100 nominees, the BASA focused on excellence in several fields including overall spa expertise, atmosphere and professionalism. The awards also highlight quality innovation in the specific categories of events, academies, training, design, treatments, products, cuisine and marketing, making them the most comprehensive awards in Asias spa industry.

A panel of 18 Asia-based judges consisted of experts who have covered and experienced Asia’s flourishing wellness industry. Carefully hand-picked by Asia Spa Magazine, one of the region’s leading luxury health, beauty and spa magazines, editor-in-chief Catharine Nicol adds, "All the spas we report on are worthy of one award or another, so our judges had a tough time choosing them. "

Nominees for the top award for Destination Spa of the Year alongside Mandala Spa were Asia’s finest contenders: Ananda in the Himalayas (India), Banyan Tree Ringha Resort (China), Chiva-Som Luxury Health Resort (Hua Hin, Thailand), The Datai (Langkawi, Malaysia), Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi (Chiang Mai, Thailand), Ritz-Carlton bali Resort & Spa, Evason Hideaway and Six Senses Spa at Ana Mandara (Vietnam), Empire Hotel and Country Club (Brunei), Uma Paro (Bhutan), and from the Philippines, The Farm at San Benito and Chi Spa Village, Shangri-La Mactan.