Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has achieved a remarkable year at the 2024 World Spa Awards, securing 19 awards, a significant increase from the 11 it received last year. This recognition underscores the Group's unwavering commitment to delivering luxury wellness experiences and exceptional service.

For the third year in a row, Mandarin Oriental was named the "World's Best Hotel Spa Brand," a title that reflects its dedication to raising the bar for global luxury wellness. The recognition highlights the Group's ability to blend local culture with a holistic approach to wellness, ensuring that each spa offers a unique and tailored experience for its guests.

Jeremy McCarthy, Group Director of Leisure and Spa Wellness, expressed his gratitude, saying, “We are honored to see so many of our spas recognized in this year’s World Spa Awards. This is a reflection of the incredibly talented wellness specialists that we have in each of our spas and the passion and authenticity with which they deliver these experiences that help our guests to feel and be their best.”

Some standout wins include Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, which was named the "World's Best Resort Spa," and Mandarin Oriental, New York, which earned the title of "World's Best Spa Service Excellence." These accolades further emphasize the Group's focus on providing personalized and high-quality wellness experiences.

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino made an impressive debut in its first year of full spa operations, winning several awards, including "World's Best New Resort Spa," "Europe's Best Resort Spa," and "Greece's Best Resort Spa." This achievement showcases the Group's ability to expand into new destinations and deliver wellness services that resonate on a global scale.

Additionally, the recently renovated spas at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental and Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como also received notable recognition. Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental was named "Abu Dhabi's Best Resort Spa 2024," while Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como was awarded "Italy's Best Hotel Spa 2024." These honors highlight the Group's commitment to continually enhancing its wellness offerings in response to growing demand from luxury travelers.

In today's fast-paced world, ensuring the well-being of our aging loved ones is becoming increasingly difficult. Athulya Senior Care, a pioneer in India’s eldercare landscape, bridges this gap by offering premium senior living solutions that go far beyond medical assistance. Athulya's unique approach, blending comprehensive healthcare services with the warmth and attentiveness of hospitality, makes it a standout in the field. From assisted living to dementia and palliative care, Athulya brings comfort, dignity, and care to seniors' lives in a way that resonates with the heart of hospitality.

Their philosophy revolves around making senior years not just comfortable, but enriching and joyful. The personalized attention provided to each resident is comparable to the luxury services offered by high-end hospitality brands. Seniors at Athulya experience not just care but a life of distinction, where they are treated with the same dedication and respect that defines the best of hospitality services. Athulya Senior Care sets the bar by treating elders like esteemed guests in their twilight years, ensuring they feel celebrated, safe, and emotionally fulfilled.

Excellence and Innovation in Elder Care

Athulya Senior Care has transformed the landscape of eldercare in India by delivering world-class services across various verticals like assisted living, home care, transition care, dementia care, and rehabilitation. What sets Athulya apart is the attention to every stage of a senior’s life, providing continuum care that meets their evolving needs.

Their facilities, strategically spread across South India, house over 1000 senior-friendly rooms, staffed by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals who are trained to cater to the physical, emotional, and social needs of their residents. Athulya’s homes are more than just living spaces; they are vibrant communities where seniors find companionship, engage in meaningful activities, and lead fulfilling post-retirement lives.

In an era where elderly care is often marginalized, Athulya steps up by breaking the stigmas associated with senior living. Their commitment is to provide a nurturing environment, reassuring families that their loved ones are in the best hands. This holistic approach has earned them recognition not just as a senior care provider but as an innovator in creating luxurious, engaging senior living environments.

While Athulya Senior Care operates in the healthcare sector, the core principles of hospitality—service, care, and comfort—are deeply embedded in their operations. Like luxury hotels, Athulya ensures that its residents experience a seamless blend of comfort, security, and dignity. Their approach mirrors the hospitality industry's focus on client satisfaction, with services tailored to meet individual needs and preferences.

In fact, Athulya's efforts in senior care can be seen as an extension of hospitality itself—creating environments where residents feel at home, appreciated, and supported. Whether it's offering home-like meals or engaging seniors in daily social activities, Athulya combines the best of medical care with the personal touch of hospitality. Their goal is not just to care for the body but to nourish the soul, ensuring that each resident enjoys their golden years to the fullest.

Spotlight on Dr. Karthik Narayan R.

At the helm of this exceptional organization is Dr. Karthik Narayan R., Founder and Managing Director of Athulya Senior Care. A trained physician and healthcare strategist with over a decade of clinical and administrative experience, Dr. Karthik has been a visionary force behind Athulya's growth. His ability to blend healthcare expertise with process improvement has made Athulya a trusted name in senior care.

Dr. Karthik's leadership extends beyond Athulya, as he also serves as a Board Member of the Association of Senior Living India (ASLI) for 2024-25. His deep knowledge of geriatric care and commitment to enhancing the quality of life for seniors has earned him recognition across the healthcare industry. Under his stewardship, Athulya continues to innovate, ensuring seniors receive not just care, but the respect, compassion, and dignity they deserve.

A New Standard in Senior Living

Athulya Senior Care is more than just a service provider—it is a movement that seeks to redefine senior care in India. Their integration of hospitality-level comfort into healthcare solutions stands as a model for what senior living can and should be. In a society where senior care is often an afterthought, Athulya brings it to the forefront, offering seniors a second home filled with warmth, respect, and joy.

Athulya’s vision extends far into the future, with ongoing innovations like technology integration and expanded services to meet the growing needs of India’s senior population. As they continue to grow, Athulya Senior Care remains committed to providing an environment where every elder is honored, cherished, and provided the highest level of care. The organization’s dedication to improving the quality of life for seniors makes them an essential player in both the healthcare and hospitality sectors, setting new benchmarks for senior living in India.

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI), has announced a global partnership between its Citadines brand and ClassPass, a popular subscription service that provides access to a wide network of fitness studios and gyms. This is Citadines' first global collaboration with a fitness service since launching its "activ∞" initiative in 2022, and it marks the largest partnership for ClassPass in the hospitality industry.

The partnership is aimed at promoting active living for guests of Citadines properties. "activ∞" offers curated amenities and programs designed to support guests in staying active and exploring city life. With a rising focus on wellness, the wellness tourism market is projected to grow substantially, according to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). The institute forecasts that spending in the wellness tourism market will grow from $651 billion in 2022 to $1 trillion by 2024, and the physical activity industry is expected to grow annually by over 6.7%, reaching $1.4 trillion by 2027.

From October 15 to December 14, 2024, guests staying at Citadines properties and members of Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), Ascott's loyalty program, will enjoy enhanced benefits from ClassPass. During this campaign, new ClassPass members can get a complimentary one-month membership to access fitness classes at different gyms and wellness centers across various markets, including Asia Pacific, France, and the United Kingdom. In China, the campaign, which began on September 26 and runs until November 30, offers ASR members discount codes for ClassPass sessions. Additionally, new ClassPass members in China who join ASR will receive a 75% discount on their first stay at participating properties.

Following the promotional campaign, Citadines properties in Asia Pacific will gradually be added to the ClassPass app, allowing ClassPass members to book fitness facilities like pools and gyms. This partnership aligns with the activ∞ initiative, giving guests convenient access to wellness amenities as they live, work, and relax.

Ms. Tan Bee Leng, Chief Commercial Officer at Ascott, said, "In line with its brand tagline 'For the Love of Cities,' Citadines aims to delight guests by showcasing the best of urban living and inspiring them to live, work and play in infinite ways through curated, unique stay experiences. As Ascott celebrates 40 years of hospitality in 2024 with our 'Ascott Unlimited' campaign, we are excited to announce this inaugural global brand partnership between Citadines and ClassPass to promote 'activ∞ Unlimited.'"

Expanding Fitness Options Through activ∞ Unlimited

In addition to the ClassPass partnership, Citadines properties worldwide hosted more than 200 fitness activations from August 1 to September 30, 2024, as part of the activ∞ Unlimited campaign. Each property curated activities to suit the unique character of its city. Examples include the ColorFest Electric Night Run at Citadines Bay City Manila, water sports packages at Citadines Qingshanhu Hangzhou in China, and foosball tournaments across Germany.

Properties in various locations, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, partnered with fitness studios to offer classes such as yoga, Pilates, and body combat. Hiking and cycling tours were also offered in the UK and Vietnam.

For the Love of Coffee

Another major initiative under the Citadines brand is the "For the Love of Coffee" campaign, celebrating International Coffee Week, starting October 1, 2024. More than 210 activities across Citadines properties are inviting coffee lovers to experience themed events.

- Unlimited Connections: Activities like free coffee for local drivers at Citadines Connect Georgetown Penang and latte art training sessions with certified baristas in Indonesia aim to foster connections among guests and locals. Other activities include coffee painting and culinary sessions in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore.

  - Unlimited Experiences: Citadines properties will work with local coffee shops to give guests an authentic local coffee experience. For instance, properties in Singapore and Cambodia will offer complimentary local coffee to guests each morning.

- Unlimited Discoveries: To encourage exploration, properties in Vietnam, Singapore, and China will serve free local coffee to help guests start their day. Guests at Citadines properties in Vietnam can also participate in activities like using coffee grounds for potted plants.

For more information visit website. 

About Ascott

Ascott, founded in Singapore, has become a trusted hospitality company since the launch of Asia Pacific’s first international-class serviced residence, The Ascott Singapore, in 1984. Today, the company has a global presence, with more than 950 properties in over 230 cities across 40 countries.