PHUKET was the big winner at this year’s annual Thailand Property Awards, which were announced at a lavish gala dinner at the Conrad Hotel in Bangkok earlier this month.
The Thailand Property Awards, now in their third year, saw a record turnout for the dinner, with more than 550 real estate and business executives representing more than 92 companies keen to see who won this year’s 21 awards.
The large group of Thailand’s major movers and shakers in the property market included developers from Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Hua Hin and Bangkok.
Phuket was a big winner on the night, with local firms taking six of the major awards, as well as the top gong for ‘Real Estate Personality of the Year’.
Phuket developer, Gulu Lalvani, won the coveted top prize in recognition of his ‘influence and impact’ on the island’s real estate industry since the launch of his Royal Phuket Marina.
This is the first time someone from Phuket has won the award.
Property Report Thailand established the award to recognise the contributions and impact any one person has had on the real estate industry in Thailand.
Mr Lalvani, the chairman of the Royal Phuket Marina, has helped to establish Phuket as one of the world’s leading marine leisure destinations through his development’s international marketing and his personal drive.
He has promoted Phuket and his luxurious Royal Phuket Marina throughout the world.
Mr Lalvani built one of the biggest marinas on the island, along with luxury residences to go with it, on a site where people with boats could easily access Phang Nga Bay, which is one of the world’s most pristine sites for sailors.
The Royal Phuket Marina is home to the annual PIMEX boat show, which is held in December every year to coincide with Asia’s largest sailing event, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.
Unlike the other awards, this one was decided by Property Report magazine’s editorial team and no outside judging was considered and no entries were taken.
The Thailand Property Awards are the most prestigious of their kind for the real estate industry in the Kingdom.
Duncan Worthington, the managing director of Ensign Media Co Ltd, the company which organized the awards, said this year had been even more competitive than previous years.
“More than 360 companies were nominated and we had more than 250 entries,” he said.
“And this year, we separated the villa and condominium categories into five distinct regions: Bangkok, Phuket, the Eastern Seaboard, Koh Samui and Hua Hin, and we also introduced the Best Print Advertisement award.
“These changes recognise the unique characteristics of each regional market in Thailand,” he said.
This year’s winners included eight from Bangkok, six from Phuket, two from the Eastern Seaboard, two from Koh Samui and three from Hua Hin.
The Best Villa Development award, which highlights the quality of new real estate, was won by The Cape Residences, one of Phuket’s most elegant private communities set on a wooded peninsula overlooking the limestone islands of the Andaman Sea.
The Best Condo Development award also went to Phuket for Raimon Land’s The Heights, which overlooks Kata Beach.
Raimon Land was on a winning streak and also took out the award for Best Developer.
Indigo Real Estate Co Ltd, which has a large presence on the island, won the award for Best Thailand Agent.
The all-important Green Development award also went to Phuket, and West Sands took top honours for its 44-acre site on a 500-metre beach front.
The Yamu, one of Phuket’s most luxurious developments, scooped the prize for Best Print award.
The luxury resort on Phuket’s upmarket east coast is one of the classiest places on the island and boasts a 63-room, five-star resort designed by one of the world’s leading architects.
The Thailand Property Awards are designed to create awareness, to showcase the best of Thailand’s real estate, and to promote the quality of Thailand’s real estate, construction, architectural and interior design industries.
The awards night is also a valuable networking night for Thailand’s real estate professionals.
“It’s great to see so many worthy winners from around the country, and many new winners this year,” said Mr Worthington.
“And to ensure complete impartiality in the nomination, entry and judging processes, we engaged BDO Richfield Advisory Limited, a leading international accounting and consultancy firm, to oversee the entire process.
Paul Ashburn, a senior partner of BDO Richfield Advisory Limited said his firm’s role was to ensure the nomination stage was carried out within the rules and that nominated companies and subsequent entries fitted the eligibility criteria.
Judging by the number of winners from Phuket, the island is still the best place in Thailand to invest in bricks and mortar.
For more information on the Thailand Property Awards, visit www.thailandpropertyawards.com