Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 69

perspectives

interview

andrew gibson
By Alia Akkam Photography courtesy of Mandarin Oriental

1
1. A relaxing tea lounge is one of the highlights of the new third floor spa at Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco.

MOTIVATION MAN

Attention to detail keeps Mandarin Oriental spas at the top of their game

Mandarin Oriental has helped redefine the luxury hotel spa experience. How so?
The two factors that spring to mind are understanding and motivation. From development to operations, the teams are able to understand how a spa should work, identify market expectations, and deliver consistently great service. This requires motivation and a itude and we try to nd people who inherently have these qualities and want to do their best to satisfy both their colleagues and guests. At a very early stage, the CEO of Mandarin Oriental, Edouard E edgui, identi ed spa and wellness as a core competency for the company. Mandarin Oriental has invested in a talented and experienced team that can create the concepts, supervise the development, and guide the operations for all Mandarin Oriental spas. There

is no need to outsource any of these requirements to a third party. The recruitment and pre-opening training is intensive and extensive with every detail studied and supported by the corporate team.

As group director of spa for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Hong Kong-based Andrew Gibson oversees the design, development, and operations of nearly 30 luxury spas in properties across the globe. An alum of Six Senses Resorts & Spas and Raison d’Etre Spas, Gibson’s secret to running successful, nourishing oases can be distilled to working with the right people. Here, he discusses the importance of embarking on imaginary journeys, working with Shaolin monks, and why a massage will never go out of style.

Let’s look at the spas in New York, Miami, and Las Vegas specifically. What do you think makes them stand out from those cities’ saturated spa scenes?

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York has become a agship of urban spas across the U.S. This has been achieved through the exceptional team that works there. Many of the therapists are natural caring healers, although we do not claim to provide any medical bene ts. The simplicity of the design is combined with the fantastic views overlooking the Hudson River, and use of light

hospitalitydesign.com December 2012

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - December 2012

Hospitality Design - December 2012
Contents
Online TOC
From the Editor
From the Show Director
People
Perspectives
Sketchbook
Sustainable Studio: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Sustainable Studio: Courtyard by Marriott Denver Downtown
Trends: Healthcare Design
Trends: Spas
Trends: Making Cities Well
Interview: Andrew Gibson
Interview: Claire Chiang
5 Questions for Ray Williams
Products
Profile: Suzanne Tick
Trends: Healthy
Spa
Bedding
Projects
Backstage Hotel Vernissage
Spa Tokione
Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa
Bask Spa by Exhale
Hanarenoyado Yomogino Hot Spa
Ad Index
Back Space
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Intro
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Hospitality Design - December 2012
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Cover2
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 1
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 2
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 3
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 4
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 5
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 6
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 7
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 8
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 9
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 10
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 11
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 12
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Contents
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 14
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 15
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 16
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Online TOC
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 18
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 19
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - From the Editor
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 21
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 22
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 23
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - From the Show Director
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 25
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 26
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 27
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - People
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 29
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 30
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 31
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 32
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Perspectives
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 34
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Sketchbook
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 36
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 37
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 38
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 39
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 40
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 41
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 42
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Sustainable Studio: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 44
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 45
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 46
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Sustainable Studio: Courtyard by Marriott Denver Downtown
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 48
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 49
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 50
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Trends: Healthcare Design
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 52
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 53
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 54
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 55
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 56
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Trends: Spas
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 58
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 59
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 60
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 61
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 62
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Trends: Making Cities Well
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 64
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 65
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 66
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 67
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 68
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Interview: Andrew Gibson
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 70
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 71
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 72
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 73
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 74
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Interview: Claire Chiang
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 76
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 77
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 5 Questions for Ray Williams
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 79
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 80
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Products
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 82
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Profile: Suzanne Tick
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 84
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Trends: Healthy
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 86
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Spa
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 88
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 89
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 90
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Bedding
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 92
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 93
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 94
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 95
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 96
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Projects
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Backstage Hotel Vernissage
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 99
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 100
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 101
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Spa Tokione
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 103
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 104
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 105
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 107
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 108
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 109
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 110
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 111
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Bask Spa by Exhale
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 113
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Hanarenoyado Yomogino Hot Spa
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 115
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 116
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 117
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Ad Index
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - 119
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Back Space
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Cover3
Hospitality Design - December 2012 - Cover4
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