Garrow and Widjaja received lifetime achievement awards for their spa industry endeavours
The 2026 APSWC Awards were held after the trade association's round table event in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Next year's event will take place in April in Vietnam
Not-for-profit trade association The Asia Pacific Spa and Wellness Coalition (APSWC) bestowed lifetime achievement awards on Julie Garrow and Lulu Widjaja during its latest annual awards ceremony. This is the first time the organisers have given more than one lifetime achievement accolade.
The association’s awards ceremony took place after the APSWC’s round table discussion event, at Tui Blue Ankor Grace Resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Julie Garrow is the managing director of industry research firm Intelligent Spas and Lulu Widjaja is a business development and spa consultant based in Indonesia.
Garrow is known for producing spa industry research across the greater Asia Pacific region, including approximately 100 surveys since 2001.
Garrow told Spa Business: “I’m truly honoured to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from APSWC. It was lovely to have my work recognised and I look forward to publishing more operations manuals and survey reports in the future.”
Widjaja has been recognised for her efforts to strengthen the professional foundations of Bali’s spa and wellness industry, as a founder and two-term president of the Bali Spa and Wellness Association.
Widjaja told Spa Business: “The real reward has been the journey of itself, by the seeds we plant for younger generations. Every milestone is built through collaboration, generosity and shared purpose. I hope it has shown that consistency, kindness, and commitment can make a difference over time”.
A total of 31 awards were presented across 30 categories, with the winners being:
1) Natural Product Line – Tanamera, Malaysia
2) Results-oriented Product Line – Rice Remedy, Australia
3) Sustainable Skincare Line of the Year – Of The Islands, Netherlands
4) Specialist Product Line of the Year – Tanamera, Malaysia
5) Product Innovation of the Year – Rice Remedy, Australia
6) Product Partner of the Year – I plus Q Co, Thailand
7) Equipment Partner of the Year – Beauty Innovation and Beyond, Thailand
8) Trainer of the Year – Reena Shrethsa, AIPA Academy, Nepal
9) Wellness Influencer of the Year – Francesca Canzano-Franklin, Hong Kong
10) Best Newcomer of the Year – Bangkok Life and Longevity and Bio Hacking Hub, Thailand (St. Regis Hotel, Bangkok)
11) Rising Star Personality of the Year – Cybille Barcebal, ARAW Hospitality Group, Philippines
12) Industry Personality of the Year – Heidi Grimwood, Atmosphere Wellness, The Maldives
13) Management Company of the Year – MSPA International, Thailand
14) Corporate Wellness Programme of the Year – Anantara Wellness (Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, Thailand)
15) Employer of the Year – Tui Blue Angkor Grace Resort, Cambodia
16) Wellness Business Innovation of the Year – Goyo TRX Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
17) Community Service Achievement – Martha Tilaar SPA
18) Sustainability Champion – The Retreat Spa Okada Manlia, The Philippines
19) Best Wellness Immersion Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa, Indonesia
(Pre and Post Natal Wellness Package)
20) Association of the Year – Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA), Malaysia
21) Day/Club Spa of the Year – The Facial Bar, Vietnam
22) Medi Spa of the Year – Anantara Wellness, Bangkok, Thailand (Anantara Riverside Bangkok, Thailand)
23) Hotel Spa of the Year – Kawah Puti Spa, Mason Pine Hotel, Indonesia
24) Resort Spa of the Year – Tui Blue Angkor Grace Resort, Cambodia
25) Wellness Centre or Clinic of the Year – Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village, India
26) Wellness Tourism Hotel of the Year – Furama Resort Danang, Vietnam (home of V-Senses Spa and Wellness)
27) Wellness Resort of the Year – Tui Blue Angkor Grace Resort, Cambodia
28) Fitness Centre/ Movement Studio of the Year – Fitranger Gym, Pune, India
29) Wellness Menu of the Year – The Retreat Spa Okada Manila
30) Lifetime Achievement – Lulu S Widjaja, Indonesia
31) Lifetime Achievement – Julie Garrow, Intelligent Spas, Singapore
Next year’s APSWC Round Table will mark its 20th anniversary and is expected to run between 7 and 9 April 2027 in Vietnam. The APSWC Awards will celebrate its fifth anniversary on the final day.
