I SPA expands beyond China into Thailand

In response to demand for boutique spa operations, I SPA Thailand has launched the boutique "I SPA life" brand for hotels with a small-scale spa that operate with a flexible setup and treatment range.

I SPA, the leading operator of 15 luxury Thai-inspired spas in China, is expanding into Thailand with the opening of two new spas in five-star hotels in Bangkok and Phuket and the launch of the boutique "I SPA life" brand in August.

Sirirat Fungkhajon, co-founder of I SPA China and Thailand, said that after seven years as the operator of traditional Thai spas in China and enjoying a rapid growth from just one spa in Beijing in 2005 to 15 spas to date, it was high time the company brought the brand back to its origin. I SPA currently operates in Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Tangshan, Nanjing, Xian and Sanya,

In China, she said I SPA pioneered the traditional Thai spa concept with a focus on Thai health and beauty treatments and the use of imported Thai herbal and natural skin products, complete with Chinese and Asian body therapies.

"In Thailand, I SPA brings a range of ancient health and beauty therapies from China, India, Indonesia, Japan and Thailand to create a sanctuary of well being in line with our slogan, 'I SPA Thailand, where legendary Asian therapies live on,'" said Sirirat.

I SPA opens the first spa in Thailand at The Landmark Bangkok on Sukhumvit Road on August 1, 2012. Occupying a 750 square meter section of the hotel's ninth floor, I SPA at The Landmark Bangkok takes on a Thai-inspired architecture and design and features 10 treatment rooms with 12 spa beds and four foot therapy rooms with five loungers.

In response to demand for boutique spa operations, I SPA Thailand has launched the boutique "I SPA life" brand for hotels with a small-scale spa that operate with a flexible setup and treatment range.

Sirirat said Bangkok and Phuket are the perfect locations to launch the first spas under the I SPA and I SPA life brands in Thailand. "We are under negotiations with other hotels in Thailand and Cambodia, and we look forward to continuing to expand the I SPA and I SPA life brands to major destinations in Thailand and its neighboring countries."

To support its expansion in Thailand, I SPA opened a training centre in Bangkok in August 2011 and has already sent a few batches of Thai therapists for on-the-job training at various I SPA outlets in China. I SPA therapists must pass 10 weeks of theoretical and practical training and two weeks of practice with model guests.