Mr. Hylton Lipkin is a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, and has been an expert in physical training and wellness in many countries around the world. With extensive knowledge and experience in Spa, Wellness & Hospitality in Europe, Scandinavia, Polynesia, Hawaii, the Middle East and Asian countries, Mr. Lipkin finally landed in Vietnam, as the General Manager of the wellness resort - Alba Wellness Valley By Fusion (Hue).
During World Wellness Weekend 2021 - an international event held annually since 2017, Mr. Hylton Lipkin was honored to become the program's first Ambassador in Vietnam. On this happy occasion, Travellive magazine had a short conversation with Mr. Hylton Lipkin.
The 5-star Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion Resort (Hue) features hot mineral springs, hydrotherapy services, and underwater meditation.
Hello, first of all, can you share what brought you to Vietnam, as well as Alba Wellness Valley By Fusion?
I started my journey with Fusion Group in 2015, when I participated in the opening and operation of Fusion Resort Phu Quoc for two years. After that, I worked in Laos, for a hotel in Vientiane. Not long after that, I received an offer to manage Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion - a resort with services, strengths, and natural advantages that satisfy the requirements of a Wellness Destination. Feeling that this place needed expertise and experience, as well as being suitable for my passion, I accepted and was very happy to return to Vietnam to work. For me, this was not only an opportunity but also a dream come true.
Since then, what outstanding activities have you and Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion had to turn the resort into an ideal wellness destination for tourists in Vietnam?
We have developed and introduced diverse and distinctive services such as Wellness Holidays, many activities to help balance the body and mind, intensive health care packages (Retreat Packages), specialized seminars, and now participating in the 5th World Wellness Weekend. With the World Wellness Weekend event, we coordinate with the tourism development agencies - health care in Hue and many places in Vietnam to call on everyone to respond and organize useful activities. Despite the difficulties and impacts of the pandemic, we have not stopped trying for more than 18 months.
So over the past 18 months, how has Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion been affected by the pandemic?
In 2020, Covid-19 broke out, although international tourism was temporarily closed, we were very fortunate that 80% of our business came from domestic tourists. However, now that domestic tourism has slowed down, like many other businesses and organizations in this difficult period, we are managing, calling for sharing from employees and considering salary reductions, reducing working days, and temporarily closing restaurants. Regarding room rates, we also offer preferential programs and prioritize service standards.
With the Covid-19 pandemic still ongoing, cost and staff cuts are inevitable. Despite these cuts, we still ensure 5-star service quality.
What are the biggest difficulties you face when operating the resort amid the pandemic?
We were facing many difficulties - business was slow, sales were down, and it was difficult to support and cover the costs. But we had no choice, we did not falter.
For the staff, everyone is worried about the future and how to secure stable jobs. My job is to keep everyone calm, motivated and positive to do what is possible for each member of the resort. Encouraging people to be positive and adapt to any situation, as well as making good choices for each person, is not always easy.
What was the biggest motivation for you and Alba Wellness Valley By Fusion when deciding to face the challenges of the pandemic to maintain operations?
We have a great team - like a big family. The resort itself has all the elements of a resort and wellness destination - what people are looking for, to be in nature to be healthier and happier. We call this Green Wellness, just coming here and walking around the resort, you will feel more comfortable and healthier. Seeing guests happy during their stay at Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion is a source of positive energy, joy and great motivation for me and the resort staff.
What does being chosen as the first Ambassador in Vietnam for World Wellness Weekend mean to you personally, as well as to the resort at this time?
For me, this is a great honor and opportunity to promote wellness tourism widely, contributing to putting Vietnam on the world's map of wellness and resort destinations, while also working to attract more local people to join in. There is no better time than now to encourage people to adopt a healthy, wellness-oriented lifestyle, and this will obviously also help to attract visitors back to Vietnam, Hue and our resort.
So as an Ambassador of an international health event, what are your plans and goals?
The Spa & Wellness Director of the resort, Mr. Nyoman Yastama, and I met with representatives from the Hue Department of Tourism. Everyone was very interested and excited about this health concept, and wanted to turn it into an activity that members and organizations operating in the tourism sector in the area should participate in.
In these challenging times, World Wellness Weekend wants to bring balance between mental health, physical health, nutrition and environment, bringing the Vietnamese Wellness community together and working towards one goal: “Happiness”.
At the same time, Nyoman and I sent out messages and called on many organizations to join the World Wellness Weekend. There are currently more than 40 events planned across Vietnam.
Some events in response to World Wellness Weekend in Vietnam:
- Alba Wellness Valley will organize a CrossFit forest challenge including a 500m ZipLine slide with more than 300 children on September 18 and Yoga, meditation, and planting 1,000 trees on September 19.
- Fusion Hotels and Resorts will offer Yoga, meditation and outdoor activities.
- Openasia ''Fun Run'' in Saigon and Hanoi with about 100 participants.
- 30 California Fitness & Yoga centers will host wellness classes.
- VnExpress Marvelous Nha Trang 2021, held for the first time in Nha Trang city, with thousands of domestic and international athletes.
- 17 Spas of Vinpearl Hotels & Spas will participate in the WWW event.
- Six Senses Con Dao & Six Senses Ninh Van Bay will organize beach walks, Hatha Yoga, singing bowl and beach yoga sessions for staff and guests.
- Reborn Fitness & Health Vietnam: organizes more than 20 different Fitness and health care classes online.
- Alyona Moves will be hosting a Yoga Dance Workshop on September 19. This 2-hour session will help you connect with your mind, body, inner wisdom and intuition through a combination of Yoga and dance.
- Vodung Beauty & Spa Int. Academy will organize a Thai massage course.
- Mandala Wellness will be offering sound therapy sessions (also known as sound baths), guided meditations, yoga & pilates classes as well as talks and discussions on nutrition, mental health, pre and post natal health, and movement.
- Vietnam Detox & An Nhien Garden will organize a 2-hour workshop and learn how to make vegetable/fruit juice, understand their benefits and health tips.
There will be no exact prediction about when the epidemic will end, so what do you think will be the direction for the Hospitality industry in Vietnam?
I think the first thing is to make sure everyone gets two doses of the vaccine, that way we will all be much safer. As time goes on and more and more people get vaccinated, tourism will come back and grow. We will learn to live with it. We need to stay positive.
Do you have any predictions about the development trend of the tourism and service industry after the pandemic?
Some hotels in Vietnam used to not focus on the domestic tourist market, but this has and will change, meaning hotels will offer more domestic-oriented services, as well as wellness tourism services - which makes me very happy.
Travelers are increasingly choosing to travel to explore, experience, and be healthy, so we will see more and more hotels offering Wellness packages with Health Care, Spa services, physical and mental balance activities, cuisine and more nature exploration.
So what can visitors expect at Alba Wellness Valley By Fusion, when the “safe travel season” returns?
As one of the resort's philosophies: "The journey back to your own self", we aim to become an ideal Wellness destination. We will organize more intensive health care resort programs, continue to provide the best possible services, and develop and promote resort services to everyone.
Thank you and wish you and your family peace and good health.
Join World Wellness Weekend in Vietnam:
The 5th World Wellness Weekend has begun in more than 130 countries, on September 18 and 19. Everyone can join the World Wellness Weekend according to their local time online, following on social networks.
Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion accompanies 14 professional units in the field of sports and health care, bringing more than 20 rich activities to motivate and inspire participants or followers. Activities include fitness, dance, yoga, meditation, exercises to activate natural healing energy from within the body, nutrition... taking place over 2 days. Register atThis.
Fusion Resort Phu Quoc will host yoga, meditation, Nidra yoga, tai chi and qigong sessions throughout September 18. The first session of the day will take place in the lush green garden of Maia Spa from 6am, followed by a Nidra yoga session in the gym at 3pm to help relax the mind and body, improving sleep. There will also be meditation, tai chi and qigong sessions until 7pm on the same day. Everyone can join and invite friends to practice together, all sessions will be recorded live onFacebookandInstagramof the resort.
Fusion Suites Vung Tau will spread the spirit of healthy living in the locality with basic yoga instructions, home exercise tips and spa therapists will introduce some relaxing massage exercises that you can easily do. At the same time, culinary experts will also guide you to make drinks that are good for health and detox. FollowFacebookandInstagramhotel for 2 days to watch.
