Category: Interview

An interview with Mr. Jack Lim, The General Manager of
Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort

With people’s increasing interest in and investment into wellness, China is witnessing a prosperous development of wellness real estate projects which fall into different types and themes and target distinctive groups. For Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort, it’s the perfect encounter of TCM and Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts that has set it apart from others. Located by the estuary of the Zhujiang River in Hengqin, Zhuhai, overlooking vast wetlands, Ruilian Wellness offers a pure getaway, with holistic wellness and hotel services.

SpaChina interviewed Mr. Jack Lim, the General Manager of Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort. He pulls back the veil on this newly-developed wellness destination. Mr. Lim has over 33 years’ experience in hotel operations, travel management companies, leisure travel operations as well as regional hotel sales & marketing across Asia Pacific. Before taking the post at Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort, he worked for many famous hospitality and travel management groups including The Langham Hospitality Group, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels and more.

Please introduce Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort to us.

Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort is a new wellness concept project owned by “The Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao”, and managed by Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts. This project led and invested by the Government of Macao is scheduled to open in Q2, 2020. 

Located in the new area of Hengqin, Zhuhai, Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort offers easy access to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Jiuzhou Port within “The Greater Bay Area”.

Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort features 214 wellness rooms/suites and 18 villas units, three F&B outlets focusing on varieties of wellness menu, and other wellness recreations and elements such as Rain Forest, Watsu / Water Taiji / Ayurveda, Singing Bowl and Pilates. The overall design layout adopts the modern contemporary concept of “energy awakening” to revitalize and relax the body and soul.

How do you integrate different facilities and services to give guests a smooth wellness experience?

Ruilian Resort features a holistic approach in wellness programs and activities that incorporate personalized services to enhance guests’ journey. We introduce different packages to target individual’s body conditions and health needs.

We take root in the culture of Traditional Chinese Medicine and our core service team is composed of a group of renowned TCM experts across China. To Chinese people, TCM is something engraved in their DNA. They can easily understand and accept this healing system that distinctively belongs to them. They can also benefit greatly from it no matter what period of their lives they are in. And to foreigners, obviously, nothing is more appealing than TCM in China’s culture. 

Aside from activities and personalized services, we also blend into our overall wellness concept a variety of organic and health F&B options, innovative Traditional Chinese wellness cuisine and authentic Southern China dishes.

Who are your target groups? What health needs and trends have you seen?

As government entities continue to support the wellbeing programs for the health of the citizens, wellness travel appeals to more and more people.

Our target audience are the people who embrace services from Science to Spirit, who seek wellness experience and who enjoy a transformation to healthy lifestyle.

As I know, hot spring retreat, spa, organic menu, mental healing, ancient Ayurveda and TCM are some of the main interests amongst people of all ages.

Is this your first time to manage such a holistic wellness program? During the management process, have you met any challenges or something special? How did you deal with them?

Yes. I am very excited about this opportunity to manage such an amazing wellness project. It’s very challenging and also very meaningful.

This project gives a full display of China’s traditional wellness culture. Traditional Chinese wellness concept advocates to stay health and prevent diseases through daily health improvement in terms of food, housing and transportation. In our resort, we integrate food, accommodation, treatments, and fitness activities together to deliver a holistic health journey.

Every wellness project has its distinctive offerings, but I think the unchangeable key is to find the proper resources and talents who have a clear sense to the market and right mindset. Not only to find them, but also to train them and let them grow. For this reason, I am actively guiding and training my team. They are all full of energy and creativity.

China’s wellness real estate industry is showing a flourishing outlook. What are the unique features of Ruilian Wellness for it to be differentiated?

I am sure there are various wellness projects across the country each carrying its unique offerings. At Ruilian Wellness, we innovatively integrate three core elements: Preventive care, TCM healthcare program and a full service wellness resort.

We deliver novel Oriental healing experience based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, with international hospitality services carried out by Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts.

According to your observation, what is the current situation and prospect of wellness real estate development in China?

Wellness real estate refers to the type of property that can help people improve health and prevent diseases. At present, the major forms in China include hot spring resort, resort at the forest or by the sea, spa resort and senior care property. But medical resort, which are common in foreign countries, are not yet so often seen in China. I believe that as China’s aging population keeps increasing, the government will pay even more attention and have higher requirements to the development of wellness real estate, which will inevitably result in more investment and personnel involvement.

How do you see the role of hotel groups in the development of wellness real estate?

I think hotel groups have the chance and privilege to become a forerunner in this field. In Ruilian (Hengqin) Wellness Resort, for instance, we not only address health improvement, but also present Chinese unique characters – let TCM shine in a better platform. Surely, we are still on the path of exploration. We need to further understand the market’s needs and try to introduce TCM to our guests in a more comprehensible way. Apart from establishing Ruilian as a successful wellness resort, we also want to practice social contributions.

An interview with Mr. Tony Cheung, Founder and President of
P&A Engineering Ltd. and PA Wellness Consultancy Ltd.

In recent years, China’s government has continued to launch policies in support of the big health endeavor. As a result, the real estate industry is witnessing a rise of wellness property projects. However, to develop wellness real estate is not an easy thing. It is different from traditional real estate developments in many aspects. SpaChina interviewed Tony Cheung, the Founder and President of P&A Engineering Ltd., to give us an insightful picture of the wellness real estate world in China.

 A graduate of Harvard University, School of Design and with a diploma in aircraft engineering, Mr. Cheung has 40 years’ experience in engineering design in the architecture world and has been a pioneer in developing high-quality health club facilities in China for more than 30 years. Under his leadership, PA Group and its subsidiary PA Wellness now form the most recognized technical spa consulting company for facilities in luxury hotels, resorts and other leading properties. e.g., Shangri-la hotels, Ritz-Carlton hotels, Four Seasons hotels, Mandarin Oriental hotels, and Peninsula hotels.

Wellness real-estate development has strongly emerged as a new trend in the industry. What are the reasons for this? Is state policy a significant support?

This trend is inevitable. As people’s living conditions continue to improve and be satisfied, they pay more attention to health and longevity, or healthy aging. In addition to health activities and lifestyles, they also need a place. Wellness property is that place. There are different forms of wellness properties, including wellness residence, villas, resorts, retreats and more.

The government’s laws and regulations on wellness real estate are still limited in the scope of real estate, meaning the developers are the one who decide the type and usage of the landed property-to build a medical resort, a wellness resort, a senior care property, a hot spring resort or others. Afterwards, they have to obtain relevant license according to the laws in order to begin the construction, such as medical license, hotel management license, hot spring water quality proof, and etc.

People’s health is a significant symbol of a nation’s prosperity and power. In 2019, the government issued The Healthy China Action (2019-2030) as well as some other documents centering on disease prevention and health promotion. They call for a shift from disease cure to health improvement, striving to reduce the onset of diseases. A range of health, sport and TCM programs have obtained great support from local governments in terms of venues and subsidies. In my opinion, the government’s attitude to the health industry’s development is very clear — fully supportive. So there is surely a huge potential for China’s big health industry.

How many corporate groups have you met with that are developing wellness real-estate programs? Why will they need to develop the wellness real-estate?

Almost all the big real estate developers in China have had some actions, such as Ping An Property, Evergrande Real Estate, Agile Property, Country Garden, KINGOLD, Silversun, as well as a few tourist project investment groups and management groups.

Of course, they actively follow the hot policies of the government and the government also generously offers privileges to them. Many big life insurance companies are beginning to set foot in wellness real estate as well, as a way to complement the company’s other businesses like insurance or medical business. Wellness real estate will soon become a strong trend in society. Those who have sensed it have already taken action in order to achieve long-term development and success in the big health industry.

Are the wellness real estate programs in China found everywhere or are they concentrated in certain areas? Why? Are they combining their regional character and culture concept of wellness?

To wellness real estate, surrounding environment is the first thing to be considered. There are many places in China which enjoy pleasant climate, rich resources and beautiful scenery. They are quite ideal sites to construct wellness properties. The famous tourism provinces, such as Yunnan and Hainan, and those with all-year-round warm temperatures are perfect choices as well. In addition, China boasts rich hot spring resources, which is a key element for wellness. In many regions in Japan and Taiwan, the wellness resort and senior care retreats by natural hot springs are always the most popular.

Concerning the location, another factor is the developer’s own advantages. It depends on which areas they are familiar with so that they can give full display of the regional characters and culture concept. Some developers have projects across the whole country and some others prefer particular regions. As far as I know, the former, usually big national brands, are better at getting and integrating resources nationwide. And the latter can also be very impressive if they do well. Bolian Resorts & Spa, the wellness resort company second-to-none in Yunnan, is a good model. Laying the foundation on integrating regional characters with wellness and culture elements, Bolian creates not only a wellness destination but also a culture destination, drawing a lot of guests from near and far.

Apart from the two factors above, I don’t think there are many limits or preferences on the locations. From the angle of attracting customers and running business, convenient transportation is also a key point. Without doubt, the properties nearer to large populated cities more easily draw guests.

What is the situation for wellness real estate in China now? What are the most popular types or themes of wellness real estate?

I have designed and developed the “wellness part” of SPA and Wellness projects for nearly 40 years. I find that wellness real estate in China is still in the starting phase. Why do I say so? Because many of the projects don’t have a clear theme. Sometimes, they want to get everything together, and the result is they fall into chaos without true content. Many others blindly invest in hardware, without professional knowledge and comprehensive planning. They even employ people who don’t have any health knowledge to help them do so.

This is what the investors and designers need to beware of. The industry needs experienced professionals, who understand the state’s conditions and China’s culture and traditions, and are good at giving the right guidance, to join in the project construction. They can tell how to choose, how to use, how to recognize the effect and how to design proper experience procedure that satisfy guests’ phycology. China’s traditional Feng Shui concept should be taken into account in the wellness real estate development. It is not superstitious. Rather, it benefits people by adjusting to the natural energy magnetic field, which is quite scientific.

Wellness vacation resorts that target affluent people is the mainstream form of wellness real estate in China during recent years, including the resorts focusing on hot spring, food therapy, spa, TCM, western holistic healing, kinesiotherapy, Taichi, yoga or others. They have been the most acceptable and popular ones so far. At such properties, we not only see the involvement of international management brands, but also discover the rise of many excellent national brands.

The emergence of senior care properties is another trend. Some of the good ones are combined with TCM, hot spring and food therapy. However, Chinese seniors between 60-70 years old who can move freely still hold to the old consumption habits that largely fall behind those in Europe and America. As a result, the senior care properties in China at present still fail to reach international standards in terms of scale and services. In addition, personnel cultivation is surely a key factor for the long-term development of wellness real estate.

Could you share with us one or two impressive cases? What are the unique characteristics of the best wellness properties?

Recently I was introduced to a project called “Alliance Cooperation of China’s Insurance Industry and Senior Care Industry”. It advocates that traditional real estate needs breakthroughs, transformations and new industry growth points. Statistics show that over 100 real estate enterprises in China have set foot in wellness real estate.

To me, the most attractive type is the senior care project combining real estate with insurance capital. Insurance capital is a long-term and steady source of funding and is always large in amount which is suitable for long-period value investing. Such senior care projects are greatly welcomed by the market. By the end of 2017, the total scale of life insurance capital in China was 1.3 billion yuan. The real estate projects invested by insurance companies occupy 30% of total. The China Insurance Regulatory Commission has issued articles many times to encourage and support insurance companies investing senior care real estate, and it even permits insurance enterprises to establish particular departments to manage senior care projects investment. At least, some insurance companies that I am familiar with have actively taken actions. I stay very positive to this trend. The insurance companies’ biggest advantage is that they already have a group of target customers, with their accurate data at hand. They may also offer packages that integrate medical services, senior care finance, and more.

A friend of mine is building a medical wellness community in Hangzhou. It is called Taikang Community·Daqing Valley which is in inside the West Lake Scenic Spot area, surrounded by Xixi Wetland and Zhijiang National Holiday Resort. It’s only 11 kilometers away from Hangzhou downtown. The project involves quality education resources like the China Academy of Art and the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music which give the region a profound art and culture atmosphere. In the future, he will build more characteristic towns, the first of their kind in Zhejiang province, including Yunxi Town, Longwu Tea Town, and Culture Town. He said Taikang would continue to innovate and deepen the concept of “cultural senior care” community. I believe they will soon become star projects in the Yangtze River delta region.

What are the difficulties and challenges during the development of wellness real estate projects?

From the perspective of a project consultant, I think the investors need to be far-sighted and develop long-term customers instead of following others blindly. The designers need to update themselves with international standards and learn from others’ experience. The marketing personnel should lead the public to establish stronger awareness in wellness lifestyle and wellness consumption habit.

What trends do you see in the big health field of China?

Big health will be the mainstream in the future’s real estate industry, travel industry and people’s daily living. This is not only a trend in China but in the whole world. With time, wellness real estate will dominate the real estate industry, transform the residence structure and even change the whole city appearance. Wellness will enter into every aspect and detail of people’s life.

“No bitter medicine, no smelly moxa sticks, no painful acupuncture,
but rather well-formulated recipe and pleasurable experience.”
An interview with Ms. Yvonne Cheung, Co-founder of YU SUM TONG

Bringing together the wisdom of three generations in Hong Kong, YU SUM TONG integrates Chinese and Western culture to provide daily life solutions to urban citizens who are too busy to take care of their mental and physical wellbeing. Through convenient yet effective products, YU SUM TONG aims to intervene on sub-health conditions, preventing chronic illnesses and early aging symptoms.

YU SUM TONG carefully chooses specialty herbs, natural and safe ingredients while rejecting those disturbed by heavy metals, chem-pesticides or polluted environments. Formulations are compatible with international standards without using harmful additives, unnecessary chemicals, artificial fragrances or colorings.

Ying and Yvonne, the co-founders of YU SUM TONG, are both from TCM and wellness families. From when they were young, they have learned about herbs and they possess rich practical experience in aromatherapy, spa and many other natural therapies. Since 2000, Ying has provided personal health management services to hundreds of celebrities and corporate leaders in mainland China and Hong Kong. Yvonne, with her family, has established a well-known consultancy and management company which holds an unwavering position in China’s hospitality and spa industry. The company has completed many big spa projects and provided branding and marketing services to clients as well.

For 15 years, psychology and marketing graduate Yvonne Cheung has been a specialist in the spa and wellness industry in Hong Kong and China, designing luxury spas and promoting holistic therapies and hydrothermal treatment experiences. While she is a believer in TCM and natural therapies, she is concerned that urban citizens are too busy to take care of their own wellbeing. They suffer from stress, fatigue, infertility and weak immunity. In 2018, she and TCM doctor Ying founded YU SUM TONG, a brand that integrates the wisdom of Chinese and Western culture to provide effective yet travel-friendly solutions to prevent the acceleration of marginal health conditions, illnesses or early signs of aging. 

In 2018, YU SUM TONG launched the first TCM range to provide mature, effective and convenient TCM solutions and natural dietary therapy to busy modern people, as well as to pamper women’s health. SpaChina interviewed Yvonne Cheung, the co-founder of YU SUM TONG.

Why did you choose to develop products using a TCM base?

First, I wanted to develop products that take a preventive approach to wellness; and wellness that blends in our daily lives – accessible (easy to buy) and adaptable (easy to understand). A lot of TCM concepts are very close to our minds. Second, we believe in the long-term benefits of using herbal soup, herbal bath, moxibustion, etc. but we are too busy to find out where to get all the ingredients, what is the right formula or how to use them correctly. There aren’t many ready products around or their quality is not stable.

Please tell us more about YU SUM TONG and the TCM doctor Ying.

Ying has been practicing TCM for more than 17 years, providing private treatments and health management advices to A-list celebrities and corporate leaders through acupuncture, herbal prescriptions and natural diet. Putting together her successful record in correcting weak physique, managing surgery or illness recovery, and treating infertility, YU SUM TONG launched its first TCM series in 2018 – Homology of Food & Medicine and Physique Conditioning.

What kind of product concepts and messages do you want to deliver?

Integrating Chinese and Western culture, and the wisdom of three generations in Hong Kong, YU SUM TONG provides daily life solutions for urban citizens who are too busy to take care of their mental and physical wellbeing.

Through convenient yet effective products, YU SUM TONG aims to intervene in marginal health conditions, prevent chronic illnesses and early aging symptoms.

YU SUM TONG carefully chooses specialty herbs, natural and safe ingredients. Formulations are compatible with international standards without using harmful additives, unnecessary chemicals, and artificial colourings.

How long have you and your team been working on YU SUM TONG, and how many products do you have now? Please share 3 star products with us, with their concepts, recipe and effects.

We started working on YU SUM TONG since 2017 and now we have around 30 products launched. And every month we are launching new products.

Rosa Rugosa is a very special breed of Damascus III Rose is our signature and the most popular product.

Among more than 7,000 species of roses, only Damascus Rose and Centifolia Rose can produce essential oil. Damascus roses are rich in botanic ketones that can regulate the menstrual cycle and menstrual flow. They can prevent premature aging of the ovaries, regulate endocrine, relieve pre-menstrual swelling chest and menstrual pain. Roses can also relieve liver Qi and regulate emotions, according to the Chinese medicine bible, Compendium of Materia Medica. Continuous consumption would result in smoother skin, brightened complexion and reduction of dark spots.

Damascus III Rose is a pure bred of the ancient Bulgarian Damascus, and the essential oil is certified by Bulgaria, France and Japan. Wholesome rose corollas are picked manually during the 25-day blooming period once a year. They go through a traditional drying process without the use of sulfur or any chemical additives. At the end, only 1 out of 6,000 roses is selected to become Rosa Rugosa of YU SUM TONG.

Saffron/Artemisia Argyi Moxa Therapy Patches are also very hot ever since their launch. A daily-applicable form of moxibustion treatment that do not require burning a moxa or visiting a clinic. YU SUM TONG selected Artemisia Argyi (Chinese mugwort) from Qiqing county which contains two times more medicinal content and much stronger warming effect than regular Chinese mugwort. Warmed Chinese mugwort can regulate the flow of Qi, relief joint and muscle pain and cast away abnormal cold and dampness in our body.

Ganoderma (Lingzhi) Steam Eye Mask is probably the most handy treatment for mobile eye syndroms. Without removing makeup or putting on topical skincare, this self-warming eye mask helps improve blood circulation around the eyes, relieve fatigue, dryness, and discomfort. It can also calm the emotions and promote quality sleep.

It seems that when you created these products, you had a clear sense of the final consumers’ needs and thought about their convenience in using these products?

Our targets are urban citizens who are too busy to take care of their health and body physique. Regular treatments can be difficult for their schedule and taking medicine may not be appropriate. Our customers range from 25-45, mostly women. They understand the importance of maintaining a strong immune system; they are concerned about fertility potential, or they are uncomfortable with their marginal health issues, and they are trying to minimize the risk of getting chronic diseases.

The products are already in retail channels and online channels. Are they also good for the spa as a professional range for treatments and also for spa retail?

These products are designed for easy application and convenience for travelling, and they can complement many spa treatments to enhance wellness result or can be sold as an add-on service. For example, moxa therapy patches can match any massage and as a recommendation to prolong the result before the next treatment. Ganoderma Steam Eye Mask and Shouwu Scalp Revitalizing Essence can upgrade almost any spa treatment without time extension.

Compared with 5 years ago, nowadays fewer spas want to include TCM treatments. What do you think the reasons for this are?

TCM is always a recognized wellness concepts among Chinese customers although it’s been quiet in luxury spas recently, leaving only the hand-on techniques incorporated in most massages. YU SUM TONG takes on a modern TCM approach – no bitter medicine, no smelly moxa sticks, no painful acupuncture, but rather well-formulated recipe and pleasurable experience. It can be a tool to remind customers that staying well can be just simple.  

What do you think about the future of TCM in China? How to educate the young generation to accept TCM?

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle uses acupuncture to rehabilitate, and the “Flying Fish” Michael Phelps uses cupping to remove excessive water content in the body from being in the swimming pool for long periods of time. In recent years, TCM methodology is recognized widely and used in many Western countries. TCM originated in China is not only part of our culture but it represents lots of wisdom and human-nature philosophies.