Banyan Tree Spa reaches out to Sichuan with 'silent auction'

Banyan Tree Spa is remembering the families and children affected by the Sichuan earthquake as the tragedy nears its first anniversary on May 12.

Under the banner Auction with Love, Banyan Tree Spa has raised over 20,000 yuan to contribute to ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in the southwestern Chinese province. The funds will be donated to the Banyan Tree Sichuan Recovery Fund on May 12 with the goal of continuing to reach out to the thousands of people affected by last year's earthquake.

Through a nationwide silent auction that closed to bidders on May 1, Banyan Tree Spa donated various spa and accommodation bidding items. The top auction selection was a spa treatment and accommodation package for its Lijiang resort valued at 18,600 yuan. The Banyan Tree Spa package in the country's breathtaking Yunnan province includes a two-night deluxe stay and one day of unlimited spa treatment.

Other attractive items on offer included five Yin Yang treatment packages valued at 1,900 yuan each. Bidding started at 1,000 yuan and the highest bid topped out at 1,750 yuan. The three-hour packages comprise a deluxe massage, spa bath, as well as a body conditioning and polishing. Inspired by traditional Chinese practices, these sessions are meant to revive one's inner energy.

Auction with Love also included a two-hour Feng treatment package at Banyan Tree Spa Shanghai. Made up of a body scrub and massage, the two-hour session aims to ease anxieties. Valued at 1,380 yuan, 10 of these packages were made available to bidders starting at 700 yuan. The highest bid for this package went for 1,250 yuan.

This year's auction is intended to help the people of Sichuan reclaim their lives while drawing attention to their plight and the social implications of last year's disaster - both present and future. The auction is in line with Banyan Tree Group's corporate social responsibility role. One of the company's key founding values, it is a belief borne from its efforts to embrace the environment and empower individuals. Established 14 years ago, Banyan Tree Group seeks to be an agent of social and economic development while fostering a better world through innovative and responsible business practices.

For more details, please visit the Banyan Tree's Auction with Love website at www.banyantreespa.com/auction. For further enquiries, please call Banyan Tree Spa Shanghai at (86-21) 6335-1888 ext. 7271/2, or email spaops-shanghai@banyantree.com. For a complete listing of the results from the Silent Auction, please visit the company's homepage at www.banyantreespa.com

Banyan Tree Spa

Pioneer of the tropical spa, Banyan Tree Spa first opened in 1995 in Phuket, Thailand. As the first luxury oriental spa in Asia, it reintroduced an exotic blend of health and beauty remedies passed down through generations. Banyan Tree Spas are found in all Banyan Tree resorts worldwide, and at standalone locations including Banyan Tree Spa Shanghai, China (2003), Banyan Tree Spa Phoenix Seagaia, Japan (2004), Elements Spa by Banyan Tree Royale Hayat, Kuwait (2006), and The World Spa by Banyan Tree (2007).

Banyan Tree Spa therapists are graduates of the Banyan Tree Spa Academy, located in Phuket, Bangkok and Lijiang. The dedicated training facilities ensure therapists deliver the consistent high-quality service guests have come to expect from the brand. It also helps feed the group's global expansion agenda.

(China Daily 05/08/2009 page14)