bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

John Cremer

Director of a luxury spa enjoys helping people turn from 'an ugly duckling into a swan'
Some people's memories seem to malfunction when they are asked what originally impelled them to follow their chosen career path. From an early age, apparently, they had a passion to perform as an overpaid equity analyst; they were inspired to make a lasting difference in the world of audit and accounting; or they were fascinated by the prospect of revealing the mysteries of an integrated global supply-chain solution to customers.
Luckily, Thea Wong suffers from no such confusion. She can recall exactly what first interested her in the spa and beauty business and has no hesitation admitting it.
'Oh, it all started out of vanity,' said the director of  Spa at the InterContinental Hong Kong. 'I was quite self-conscious growing up and wanted to get some knowledge about grooming and beauty to make myself look good. So, I enrolled in a course while at school in Singapore and, shortly after that, started giving advice to my friends and cousins about skincare and make-up.' Those initial 'clients' were so impressed they suggested Ms Wong think about going full-time. After due consideration, she decided to do just that by signing up for a two-year course at a professional beauty college in the early 1990s, and putting aside thoughts of taking a degree in English literature, Asian history or law and perhaps becoming an academic.
'I love to read and share ideas, but I did not follow that track,' she said.
As she mastered the techniques and treatments then available for beauty, slimming and anti-ageing, what brought her the most enjoyment was helping people turn from 'an ugly duckling into a swan'. While working at beauty parlours and fitness centres, she also learned the importance of taking care of clients 'from the inside'.
'You have to look for what's inside them and what makes them confident,' Ms Wong said. 'Some people are stressed, tired or not feeling well and that affects their whole appearance. Beauty is both internal and external, so you should look into diet, work and sleep patterns, exercise and lifestyle, before thinking about their make-up, clothes and hair, or different spa treatments.' For this reason, it was important to be on the alert for signs of a poor work-life balance, inadequate exercise, and the basic failure to realise if you want to look good, you have to feel good first.
Over the next few years, as Ms Wong moved up from supervisor to trainer and then manager, she continued to acquire formal qualifications, accredited by professional bodies in the United States, Britain and Switzerland. These allowed her to keep pace with the latest technology and thinking, and to see how the whole industry was evolving.
The focus was shifting towards spas, with a greater emphasis on relaxation and pampering, and clients, both men and women, were becoming more interested in taking proper care of themselves. Therapists therefore had to keep extending their expertise to offer everything from body wraps and acupressure to aromatherapy and deep-tissue massages, while also knowing how to create 'an oasis of tranquility' in a hectic world.
Ms Wong likened the courses to studying to become a nurse. They covered basic physiology, muscle groups, the lymphatic and digestive systems, hair, skin and internal organs. It was also necessary to understand contra-indications caused by medical conditions or allergies, and to write a dissertation, and pass practical tests and oral exams in order to qualify.
Despite all this knowledge and experience, Ms Wong could sense something was missing.
'You can have the best product or service, but at the end of the day it has to make money,' she said. 'I saw how the industry was changing and felt I needed to understand about financial management, budgeting and strategising.' In 2000, she began a two-year master's programme in international business at the  University of Technology in Sydney. It provided the management skills and all-round perspective she needed and, once back in Singapore, subsequently opened the door to a job as group general manager, overseeing eight outlets and roughly 120 employees for  Haach Beauty, Spa and Wellness International.
Recruitment issues were sometimes a challenge, but the most rewarding aspect was the chance to act as mentor to other beauty therapists and help them move forward in their careers.
'I would tell them there are no ugly women in this world,' Ms Wong said. 'Every woman is beautiful in her own way, but she must know how to dress and present herself.' The move to Hong Kong happened in 2007 when her husband, who works in finance, was asked to relocate. Ms Wong soon found what she regards as an ideal position with I-Spa and now oversees a team of 20, tending to clients who are a mixture of business visitors, leisure travellers and local residents, split roughly 50/50 between men and women.
Some of the team specialise in facial treatments, manicures and pedicures. Others focus on such things as body scrubs, reflexology, jet-lag recovery and lymphatic drainage massages.
'They are trained in both facial and body therapies, but usually have a preference, and my experience says it is better to let them focus on what they are best at,' Ms Wong said. 'For a body therapist, the hands are stronger, while other people are better with the little muscles of the face.' She added that, even if a client was just having a quick massage, it should begin with a few questions to determine if they were, for instance, trying to overcome jet lag or having trouble sleeping. This information makes it possible to recommend the best treatment, choose the most suitable oils, and create the right ambience.
'In the spa, we make sure everything is calm,' Ms Wong said. 'We pay attention to the music, aroma, lighting and even the taste of the tea because we want people to enjoy the whole spa experience.' One of her targets is to create an 'oasis in the city', which local residents can visit regularly to get the type of pampering they might associate with a spa resort in Thailand or elsewhere.
With the industry set for further growth as lifestyles change, Ms Wong said it was relatively easy to get good training in Hong Kong. However, there was still room for improvement compared to Singapore, where the government made a point of supporting spa academies for the past 10 or 15 years. In career terms, it was also important to pick up some international experience, obtain widely-recognised qualifications, and to genuinely care for people.
'You must have the heart and a passion to serve. If you have the right attitude, the technical parts can be learned,' she said.
As an avid collector of books - she owns about 10,000 volumes on art, history, philosophy, oriental studies and cats - Ms Wong occasionally has thoughts of becoming an antique-book dealer, but nothing is imminent.
'I am very happy with my career,' she said. 'I always tell my staff we can't make a new beginning in our lives, but we can make a new ending. Where we are right now may not be where we finish up.'
Stages in Ms Wong's career in the beauty therapy industry
Thea Wong trained at a professional beauty school in Singapore, deciding against an academic career
She obtained further internationally approved qualifications and a master's degree in business for an all-round view of the industry
Now running I-Spa at the InterContinental Hong Kong, she plans to create an 'oasis in the city'
Stepping Up
Spa director
HK$60,000 to HK$65,000
10 years or more
Spa manager
HK$25,000 to HK$30,000
Four to six years
Spa supervisor
HK$18,000 to HK$21,000
Three to five years
Therapist
HK10,000 to HK12,000
Entry-level position



The feel-good factory