A spa visionary talks about the future of Philippine tourism

The wellness and spa industry is developing at a pace that rivals the mobile telecommunications industry of the mid 1990’s and there is no sign that the appeal of luxury, health, holism and urban escape is abating.

However, with the territory comes intense competition, and long before any new spa opens, there is a need to demonstrate that this spa and its concept is unique and different.

Top spa consultants work in leisure’s fast lane where money is no object; it is a demanding world of consumers who see money as a commodity to be used and enjoyed. And these consumers are demanding more, better and trendier spas.

The philosophy among many of the region’s leading spa consultants is that it is good experience that makes new spa concepts work – not only for the people who run them, but for those who regularly enjoy spa visits. A spa’s design and concept is immensely complex and a high degree of expertise is necessary to create a quality product that both functions well and satisfies its guests.

Marjorie Lopingco is regarded as one of the Philippines’ foremost spa consultant – a conceptualist who has created more spas around the country than any other consultant related to her field. The founder and president of BHY Corporation, she has spearheaded the Filipino brand of spa during the last six years, including the ground-breaking, stand-alone Mabuhay Spa complex at the Makati Sports Club and Bellevue Spa Club, Alabang’s urban spa retreat. In addition, Marjorie was the first to realize the need to rediscover Filipino healing modalities and the necessity to highlight the worldrenowned Filipino massage locally known as "hilot."

"Marje," as she is fondly called, is having yet another busy year. Much of her time is being occupied preparing for the Philippines’ participation in the SPA Asia Pacific Conference in Singapore this May. "Cathy Palma (the president of the SPA Association of the Philippines) entrusted us the organizational management of the whole presentation," she explains. "And the association is so thankful to the Department of Tourism (DoT) for backing us up 100 percent in helping develop the ‘global’ perception that will put the Philippines back in the map. After all, the Philippines will be seen in a different light. Matter of fact, during the conference we’re launching the Filipino brand of spa concept to the international market highlighting the Filipino ‘hilot.’

When Marje first ventured into the spa and wellness industry some ten years ago, she was tagged a spa revolutionary. However, ten years is a very long time in the spa world.

"Learning from my various travels, a lot has happened in the spa industry across Asia and its about time for the Philippines to lead the way by introducing new concepts unique to the spa world. After all, the country is blessed with all the abundant natural resources at hand, with lots of amazing natural scenery, innate hospitality, diverse culture and some very interesting innovations. Despite the problems that we face, I do believe in moving forward. The concepts and designs that I implement is geared to reflect the beauty, excellence, and soul of the Filipino."

If Marjorie sounds like a spa guru, then you’ve got the wrong perception. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Her approach is logically creative and she is quick to demystify the so-called "magic" of unique spa concepts.

"Just like in anything you do, there are non-negotiable fundamentals that you have to follow otherwise you’ll soon realize that being in the spa business is not as easy as it may seem.

And if you’re thinking of being in this business for the long haul, the investment and the learning curve can be very complex. Yet, there’s nothing magical or instant about it."

Marjorie says that she’s always been "cosmopolitan at heart" and open to what the Philippines has to offer. "I believe that our country is blessed with all the natural resources and this blessing is here to be enjoyed and that life without joy is no life at all. So that is what I do with my concepts. I work with beauty, design and nature’s simplicity while fully utilizing all elements native to the country. It’s that simple and it works so well that I can keep doing what I enjoy doing best – loving the country and serving a purpose for the benefit of my countrymen. At the end of the day, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that you are impacting people’s lives."

When she’s not working in the spa industry, Marjorie gets a kick playing her favorite pastimes: Golf and diving. "Sports is like life. It gives you the discipline, drive and passion to compete for excellence. It gets my creative juices flowing."

Marjorie’s name shot into prominence as the spa concept director when she metamorphosized the ground floor of the Makati Sports Club from a plain driving range to the country’s first Filipino concept spa. The Mabuhay Spa Experience received instant rave reviews and is currently considered as the Philippines’ largest urban spa complex. "Mabuhay was a radical idea when it was completed. We were able to create a unique Filipino-themed spa, and every detail was meticulously hand picked to resemble the Filipino-Spanish era of the 19th century."

After Mabuhay, Marjorie turned her attention to the South and conceptualized the Bellevue Spa Club in Alabang, along with the cosmopolitan spa complex at Celebrity Sports Club.

"Each and every spa I do gets the same close attention to detail. I don’t like to compare my work with any artist but I would imagine the sense of satisfaction an artist gets when completing their artwork – its like what I feel when I see my designs completed."

What this lady has accomplished in little more than a decade is defining where the local spa industry is heading – boosting the industry upmarket and changing the impression of popular spa."

"Spa uplifts the quality of life," she enthuses. "It enables people to cope with the pace of the modern day living."

So what’s the future for the Philippine spa industry?

"Although it’s a sunrise industry, the growth is phenomenal if we do it right and if we have the mental resolve to do it right, we can be a major player. Now that the government has looked into this industry with enthusiasm, it will inspire everyone involved to see it through. We have all it takes to make this vision happen."