Published: Nov 5, 2008
By Alicia Liotta

Intrigued by the fledgling spa industry in China, Fiona L. Gan, CFA, left her successful investment career behind and founded APSARA Spa, the first Cambodian-styled day spa in Greater China.

Q. How did you get your start in the industry?

A. When I moved to Shanghai, I was disappointed that I couldn’t find any spas that offered top-notch services and met international hygiene standards at a reasonable price. All that was available were either five-star hotel spas that charged an arm and a leg, or local Chinese massage parlors that paid no attention to hygiene, let alone the overall spa experience. I decided to create a cozy space where friends can hang out and enjoy affordable, high-quality spa treatments.

Q. How has the industry changed since you started?

A. There are certainly more spas than before and people have a better understanding of the concept of a spa due to growing affluence and frequent traveling. However, there is still a lot of room for growth in both the talent pool and spa concept development.

Q. What’s one thing you’ve done that has helped increase your business?

A. Treat all guests as your personal friends and offer them your best service.

Q. What is the most difficult part of your job?

A. Recruiting and training a team of spa professionals, given the lack of qualified and properly trained spa talents in China.

Q. What is an average day like for you?

A. I’ll normally start the day at the APSARA corporate office going through e-mails and holding internal meetings. In the afternoon, I meet with the design team or the renovation manager regarding our upcoming Pudong flagship. If there is still time left at the end of the day, I’ll swing by our existing APSARA in Puxi.

Q. Who are your mentors?

A. My parents are my mentors. They have inspired me to follow my dreams and never give up.

Q. What is your clientele like?

A. Eighty percent are expatriates and foreign travelers, 20 percent are local guests. It took us about three to six months after opening to cultivate a clientele.

Q. Anything else you would like to share?

A. We are in the midst of preparing for the second APSARA Spa in Shanghai. This Pudong flagship is a three-story facility and has a 200-square meter terrace where guests can relax and enjoy the beautiful river view after their treatment and enjoy light spa cuisine.

Fiona L. Gan, CFA
APSARA Spa
Shanghai, China

vocation: founder and director
age: 31
years in industry: 3
background: Gan was born in Hong Kong, raised in Singapore and holds a degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology specializing in environmental policies and engineering science.
favorite product: Our signature Cambodian Coconut Scrub
favorite spa service: Unique Cambodian Spa Ritual
advice for new spa owners: Love your work so you don’t have to work a single day in your life.
i’m inspired by: The ancient Cambodian culture and wellness philosophies that date back to the Angkorian civilization in the 9th to 12th Century AD.
i love my job because: It’s true satisfaction to see guests relaxed and serene after the pampering treatment at APSARA.




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