PHUKET'S iconic Banyan Tree Spa Academy has picked up a prestigious 2010 Pacific Asia Travel Association Grand Award, sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office.

PATA Grand Awards are presented to entries in the four categories: Marketing, Education and Training, Environment, and Heritage. This year, the Grand Awards go to Tourism New Zealand in the marketing category; Banyan Tree Spa Academy for education and training; AlamKulKul Boutique Resort, Bali for environment, and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in the heritage category.

Here's the citation for the Banyan Tree Spa Academy

''When the Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Phuket was opened in 2001, it developed a fully trained, talented therapist base that helped to enter new markets and grow the chain from one Banyan Tree Spa in 1994 to more than 61 Banyan Tree and Angsana Spas today. The Therapist Training Program at Banyan Tree Spa Academy was developed and implemented to train new recruits, and encompasses all areas of spa therapy. This includes knowledge of the human anatomy and important pressure points, modern and traditional massage techniques, variation of body weight for different techniques, knowledge of skin epidermis and facial applications, properties of different herbs and spices, preparation of spa ingredients, setting up of treatment rooms and spa pavilions, and standard greeting procedures. To date, the Spa Academy has trained over a thousand therapists for all the Banyan Tree Spas and Angsana Spas globally. The special emphasis on Banyan Tree Spa's service concept to empower trainees to deliver the Banyan Tree Spa experience with consistency, finesse and sensitivity has enabled it to garner over 100-awards and accolades globally, making the Banyan Tree Spa one of the most renowned spa brands around the world.''

The awards ceremony will take place at the Venetian Macau Resort Hotel on September 17 2010 during the PATA Travel Mart 2010.

PATA Gold Awards 2010

Marketing - Primary Government Destination Eco Tourism Marketing Campaign Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Marketing - Secondary Government Destination Hong Kong Food and Wine Year Destination Campaign Hong Kong Tourism Board
Marketing - Hospitality - Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas Opening Campaign Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Asia
Marketing - Industry - Let your Mind Travel - Kuoni Travel India, India
Ecotourism Project - ABS-CBN Foundation-Bantay Kalikasan - Iwahig River Community- Based Ecotourism Project, Philippines
Corporate Environmental Programme - Promote Ecology and Conservation on Lantau Ngong Ping 360 Limited, Hong Kong SAR
Environmental Education Program - Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Qantas Airways Ltd, Australia
Heritage - The Launch of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Sofitel Luxury Hotels Asia Pacific, Thailand
Culture - Baan Mae Kampong - Tourism Authority of Thailand
Education and Training - Child Protection Workshop - Kuoni Destination Management, India
Marketing Media - Consumer Travel Brochure Revamping Consumer Travel Brochures of Sri Lanka Tourism Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka
Marketing Media - Travel Advertisement Broadcast Media Thailand Talks to the World Tourism Authority of Thailand
Marketing Media - Travel Advertisement Print Media Mahatma Gandhi Creative Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Marketing Media - Travel Poster - LIVE LOVE Campaign Poster and Quick Screen Series Hong Kong Tourism Board
Marketing Media - Promotional Travel Video A Trip to the Heart-Warming Country of Korea Korea Tourism Organisation
Marketing Media - Public Relations Campaign How to Launch a Large Hotel in a Challenged Market and New Brand ibis Accor Asia Pacific and ibis Singapore on Bencoolen
Marketing Media - Web site - keralatourism.org: The Best Tourism Website in India Kerala Tourism, India
Travel Journalism - Destination Article Feasts of Hong Kong Christian Kerber Travel +Leisure Magazine, September 2009, USA
Travel Journalism - Travel Photograph Whale Shark, Ningaloo Reef Rolex Awards/Jurgen Freund Qatar Airways In-Flight magazine Oryx, December 2009 Agency Fish, United Kingdom
Travel Journalism - Travel Guidebook Kayak Philippines Primer Group of Companies and Philippines Department of Tourism