Ingo R. Schweder
Managing Director, Spatality, Colorado/Germany/Thailand
With more than 20 years experience in the field, Mr. Schweder is considered to be one of the foremost spa experts in the world. Having established the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Spa Division from the ground up, he was responsible for the worldwide operation, design and development of 30 spas on four continents during his tenure. The Group’s creation of its unique leisure hospitality concept-a concept of providing wellness centers with strong holistic roots-is credited to him.
Prior to establishing Mandarin’s Spa Division, Mr. Schweder was managing director of the Monaco-based Rafael Hotel Groups’ activities in South Asia. Under his guidance “Ananda in the Himalayas,” The globally recognized destination spa, was established. The Rafael group was bought in 2001 by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group at which time, Mr. Schweder was asked to set up the global wellness business for the group. Prior to that, the Oberoi Group appointed Mr. Schweder as group director of operations from 1996-1998.
Mr. Schweder also has worked in senior managerial positions as Westin Hotels and Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, and Shangri La International.
He was recognized in 2005 with the "Spa Personality of the Year" award for his visionary approach to the integration of wellness and leisure services in the hospitality industry. In addition, under his leadership the Mandarin Oriental Spa Division was voted “Best Spa Company” at the European Spa Summit-Monte Carlo, January 2006, and again from the readers of SpaAsia Magazine in August 2006.
Mr. Schweder's design and concept work for the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong was honored with the prestigious Gold Key Award at the "Excellence in Hospitality Design" event in New York City.
Mr. Schweder also has been voted "Most Distinguished Industry Leader" at the Asia Spa summit in Thailand in 2006 and his division at Mandarin was again honored with various industry awards from Spafinder Magazine, Spa Asia Magazine, Conde Nast Magazine and several others.
Mr. Schweder is a frequent speaker at Cornell University-New York, ISPA events, The Lifetime Congress in Frankfurt, Turning Point Seminars in Singapore, and other wellness related symposiums around the world.
Mr. Schweder is as well the co-owner of Bodhi Dhama, Samui, A Destination Lifestyle Yoga retreat on Koh Samui, Thailand.