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Welcome dinner for Mr. Jordi del Bas of the EU Monitoring Programme
The project "Internationalising the Operation of Spas in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia" has been included in the list of ten (10) projects in the Philippines that will be monitored by external consultants hired by EU headquarters in Brussels.
A dinner was held for the assigned monitor for the project , Jordi del Bas, at Greenbelt 2 Ayala Center, Makati last March 8, 2009. The agenda of the dinner included an initial discussion about the details of the itinerary of the monitoring visit and to arrange necessary logistics.
The project staff and officers of SAPI who were present during the dinner were the following: Jomar Fleras (Project Manager), Marjorie Lopingco (President), Cathy Turvill (Vice-President), Cherryl Kho (Assistant Project Manager) and Gertie Cay (Project Coordinator).
The EU monitor was able to visit the following: Spa Professionals International Development Center, The Haven, Bellevue Spa, Laxare Nail and Day Spa, Island Spa Medica, Le Petit Paradis, Nurture Spa, Biocare Skin Slimming Spa, Sanctuario Spa, The Spa at Cebu, Grand Royal Spa and Mogambo Springs Spa at Plantation Bay Cebu.
EU monitor visits the Haven
Jordi del Bas, the EU monitor assigned for the Philippines visited the Haven, a center for women in disadvantaged situations, as part of his monitoring visit. The Haven is where the 50 spa therapists funded by the EU Asia-Invest project conducted their practicum in body massage. The Haven is part of the outreach program of Spa Professionals International Development Center (SPIDC) where the clients and staff of the Haven are given free massages by CIBTAC -trained spa therapists as part of their required number of hands-on body massage for CIBTAC classes.
2ND Business meeting between TSPA and TCT
The Thai Spa Association (TSPA) and Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) launched the 2nd Business Matching on 5th March 2009 at Pacific 4-5, Pan Pacific Hotel. There were 3 travel agencies and 6 TSPA members, who attended the meeting.
Despite the less than expected numbers, the participants of the business meeting had a productive discussion wherein they all made appointments for spa inspections and discussed the contract in the near future.
TSPA plans to continue business matching meetings on an on-going basis, as resulting from the two meetings conducted so far, which served to highlight the lack of understanding of the Thai Spa industry in how to work with Travel Agents in an effective and profitable business partnership.
TSPA plans to conduct the next meeting in mid 2009 and then again in early 2010 with other dates to be confirmed after the new TSPA Board is finalized.
2nd batches of CIBTAC training concluded in the Philippines & Thailand
SAPI & TSPA has just concluded the 2nd batch of CIBTAC training last February and March 2009, respectively. For the Philippines, there are 27 spa therapists and 15 spa therapists for Thailand. Their CIBTAC examinations are scheduled on April 27-28 (Philippines) and April 29 (Thailand). Thailand will be having their 3rd batch of CIBTAC training on May 11-June 5, 2009.
AMSPA conducted membership drive
With the next batch of training due in May 2009, AMSPA has decided to conduct membership drives and EU Grant participant recruitments in Langkawi, Penang and Sabah.
Teratai Spa of Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Spa Langkawi, a member of AMSPA and 2008 EU Grant participant organised an HR meeting last February 11 with several other 5 star resorts in Langkawi. AMSPA was invited to introduce their Association and to present the EU Grant. Attendees include The Datai, The Andaman, Sheraton, Four Seasons (member of AMSPA) and Tanjung Rhu.
The resort spa operators of Langkawi were thrilled to learn about AMSPA and its objectives for the industry. The resort spas of Langkawi were so encourage with AMSPA's work for the industry that they have decided to start their own chapter in Langkawi.
Ms. Joanne Bruce also visited Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on 28th February 2009 to conduct a Membership
Drive and to promote the EU Grant Program.
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