ON his his maiden visit to Penang, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair stayed at the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa in Batu Ferringi.

"There were rumours that a British VIP was here, but few knew of the Blairs' presence or where they stayed. It was kept low key for security reasons," said director of communications Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman.

"They enjoyed spa treatments at CHI The Spa, took a jungle walk to the Penang National Park, picnicked at Pantai Kerachut and cruised along the coastline," Suleiman added.

"The Blairs loved the ambience and Continental cuisine at the Feringgi Grill, where they dined for three consecutive nights."

CHI The Spa was named one of the best brands at the BrandLaureate Awards 2007-2008 held in Kuala Lumpur recently. The spa scooped the "Best Brands in Wellness-Spa" award for its excellence in product branding.

The BrandLaureate Awards, billed as the Grammy Awards for Branding, is organised by The Asia Pacific Foundation (APFB), a non-profit organisation dedicated to the improvement of branding standards in Malaysia and the Asia Pacific.

Inspired by the legend of Shangri-La, CHI The Spa adopts traditional healing philosophies from the Himalayas, where treatments are based upon the principles of restoring balance and harmony to the body and mind.

The spa features some of the largest and most lavish private spa suites and villas in the region, housed within a tropical garden sanctuary.