KOH SAMUI, Thailand (Nov. 6, 2019) — Countless hours of kneading muscles appears to have paid off for the team at Banyan Tree Spa Samui after they won a Kinnari Gold Award at the Thailand Tourism Awards in Bangkok recently.

The prestigious awards — recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and overseen by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) — are held every two years and offer recognition to the Thai travel industry’s best and brightest performers.

“We are thrilled to win this award,” said Naphasawan Badklang, spa manager at the resort. “Our staff come from all across Thailand and each brings unique skills. It was truly a team effort.”

Specializing in holistic treatments and health-giving products, including locally sourced coconut oil, the spa at Banyan Tree Samui is perhaps most renowned for its signature hydrotherapy lodge known as The Rainforest, which takes guests on a bamboo-themed journey through a series of water jets, saunas and steams, ice facials and whirlpools.

Banyan Tree Spa Samui and its sister spa at Banyan Tree Phuket were among 13 gold prize winners in the Health & Wellness category at this year’s Thailand Tourism Awards. Banyan Tree Bangkok was also recognized at the ceremony, winning a Hall of Fame trophy to mark its third year of gold awards. The presentations reflect an overriding corporate ethos at Banyan Tree to exceed in wellness, as well as sustainable tourism.

Last year, Banyan Tree Samui became the first and only hotel in Thailand to be awarded “Gold Certification” at a single-property level by Earthcheck, the world’s leading benchmarking and advisory group for environmentalism within the travel and tourism industry.

Banyan Tree Spa Samui was the recipient of TAT’s ‘“Award of Outstanding Performance” in 2013 and 2015, as well as an “Award of Excellence for Best Resort Spa – Southern Region” in 2017.

Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with infinity pool, start from US$550 per night.