10th Thailand Property Awards crowns the Kingdom’s best developers

The landmark 2015 ceremony – its most illustrious and competitive event to date – celebrated Thailand’s real estate industry’s successes

BANGKOK, Thailand – 16 September 2015

Marking its first decade as an institution that helped put Thai real estate on the radar, the Thailand Property Awards 2015 honoured the Winners and Highly Commended in an exclusive, black-tie awards gala held at the prestigious Plaza Athenee Bangkok (a Royal Meridien hotel) on Wednesday evening, 16 September.

Established and up-and-coming developers in Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Khao Yai, Samui and Eastern Seaboard vied for a total of 29 categories over three sections: Developer, Development and Design.

Three-time nominee SC Asset Corporation PLC claimed the biggest award of the evening for Best Developer, beating ‘MQDC’ Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited, which received a Highly Commended certificate in the same category and was also presented a Special Recognition in Corporate Social Responsibility.

Completing at least 50 successful projects in the last five years that are focused on creating sustainable and “lively neighbourhoods”, SC Asset was a shoo-in for the year’s top honour, as well as for the Best Housing Development (Bangkok) award, which was given to its Granada Pinklao project that features practical design and friendly amenities. The Chatuchak-based developer also became a Highly Commended winner in the Best Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok) for its Centric Tiwanon Station project.

Another three-time nominee Absolute World Group emerged victorious, this time in the Best Boutique Developer category. Considered one of the current leaders of the vacation club ownership industry in Thailand, the company is also known and respected for building an impressive boutique collection of forward-thinking resorts with an environmentally-conscious approach. The firm also bagged two Highly Commended honours for current developments on Phuket and Samui.


It was also an exciting evening for Minor International Plc, which was the most nominated developer of this year with five nods for the company and its subsidiaries. The group won the judges’ approval for Best Residential Interior Design for The Residences by Anantara, a project undertaken by its Hua Hin Resort Company Limited unit, and also took home four Highly Commended certificates: two in Design, and one each for villa and hotel developments.

In a departure from the various award categories, the evening held a moment to honour Minor International’s founder, CEO and chairman, WIlliam “Bill” E. Heinecke, who was presented the Real Estate Personality of the Decade award by the editors of Property Report, Ensign Media’s industry-leading publication, for being a shining example of a true leader in Thai luxury real estate. It was the only award not selected by the independent panel of judges.

“It is a great honour to have been chosen to receive the ‘Real Estate Personality of the Decade’ award and I think this recognition showcases Minor Hotel Group’s position as a pioneer in overseeing luxury property developments in Thailand,” said the 66-year-old luxury hotel magnate.

While the Thai market has been affected by political tension and changes, a fluctuating economy, and concerns of a potential bubble in the last few quarters, the industry has remained solid, particularly the high-end, luxury, villa and retail segments in the Thai capital.

Bangkok-focused Pruksa Real Estate Public Company Limited certainly has had a great year. The developer received two highly coveted development awards – Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok) for Ivy Ampio, and Best Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok) for Chapter One: The Campus Kaset – as well as one ‘Best of the Best’ award for Best Condo Development (Thailand), which went to Ivy Ampio.

Another big winner from Bangkok is the recently completed AIA Sathorn Tower by AIA Company Limited, which won a three-peat for Best Commercial Development (Thailand), Best Green Development, and Best Office Development. The 29-storey Grade-A office tower located in the Sathorn central business district is touted to be another iconic addition to the capital’s ever-evolving skyline. Elsewhere, Andara Signature Resort and Villas by Andamandara Development Co., Ltd. claimed four trophies, including Best Housing Development (Thailand) and Best Villa Development (Phuket), plus two design awards.

Attended by more than 500 real estate VIPs and top industry leaders – including Dr. Supachai Tantikom, Advisor to Governor of Bangkok, who gave an insightful opening keynote speech on behalf of Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra – the event, organised by Ensign Media, was the culmination of the fair and transparent nomination and judging process spanning the last six months.

“For 10 years the Thailand Property Awards, and the entire Asia Property Awards programme as a whole, have demonstrated that excellence and adherence to quality never go out of style," said Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media. “The high quality of developments in Thailand has allowed the industry to transform itself from being an emerging market in 2006, to becoming one of the stars of Southeast Asian real estate today, despite certain economic or socio-political challenges.”

“Real estate is too vital for the future of the Kingdom, and the Asia Property Awards wouldn’t exist without Thailand,” he added.

The top winners in Thailand will move on to compete with their ASEAN peers in the grand finale – the South East Asia Property Awards 2015, which will take place at The Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on Wednesday, 21 October. The awards gala be preceded by the inaugural Property Report Congress, a high-level forum featuring the region’s top industry leaders and experts, and present and past Winners of the Asia Property Awards series.

“It is so fitting that our last event before the much-awaited Asia Property Awards grand finals in Singapore is our 10-year celebration in Thailand, where it all began,” said Blackburn. “We believe in what Thailand real estate has to offer and the Thailand Property Awards is the best possible venue for it to be showcased to the rest of the world via our independently audited, free-to-enter awards system.”

Presented by Property Report magazine, the Thailand Property Awards 2015 was supervised by BDO, one of the largest accountancy networks in the world, and assessed by a highly respected central judges panel, headed by chairman Sunchai Nuengsit, managing director of BuilderSmart Public Company Limited.

Acknowledging the efforts of Thai developers in the past ten years, Nuengsit commented: “The developers have more experience and continually improve their projects. They understand the need of the customers and adapt themselves very well despite many obstacles such as instability caused by the political situation in Thailand.


“Winning at the Thailand Property Awards is an immense achievement in itself and should definitely benefit the developers and design firms who entered because the Awards is a widely respected and known platform for rewarding high benchmark of quality that is at par with international standards,” he continued.

“The whole judging process is just and fair. In addition, it should give prospective customers who are interested in the nominated and winning projects the assurance of quality and peace of mind that they’re investing in the best properties out there.”

To ensure the credibility of the Awards, Ensign Media had assembled a central judges panel consisting of the who’s who in the Thai real estate, architecture and design sectors, which also included the biggest number of female judges in any of the Asia Property Awards events. The central panel judges were: Bill Barnett, managing Director, C9 Hotelworks Company Limited; Teresa Biesty, managing director, Access Property Limited; Sokoun Chanpreda, managing director, HMD Asia Co. Ltd.; Mark D. Remijan, partner and CFO, Khiri Travel Group; Anchalika Kijkanakorn, managing director, AHMS; Suphin Mechuchep, managing director, Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Ltd.; Dr. Theerathon Tharachai, CFO, Project Planning Service Public Co. Ltd.; and Amanda Ng, technical manager, Langdon & Leah (Thailand) Ltd.

Meanwhile, the regional panel heads were: Keith Humphreys, managing director, Keith Humphreys & Associates (for Chiang Mai); Clayton Wade, managing director, Premier Homes Real Estate (for Eastern Seaboard); Russ Downing, managing director, HOT Hua Hin Co. Ltd. (for Hua Hin); Robert Kuprica, senior partner, Huges Kuprica (for Phuket); and Robert Pestello, director of sales, Beach Republic (for Samui).

For its milestone tenth anniversary, the Thailand Property Awards was supported by an array of gold sponsors: JLL Thailand, Hansgrohe, BSG Glass, Rococo Flooring, TMDC Construction, and Condo Butlers, which launched its latest virtual concierge product exclusively during the gala night. Sanpellegrino, Official Supplier of the Asia Property Awards 2015, graced the four-course dinner with their mineral waters and softdrinks.

The gala event was also heavily promoted throughout the Kingdom and across Southeast Asia through various advertising campaigns in multiple formats, as well as through media partners such as Town & Country Thailand, LuxurySocietyAsia.com, Pattaya Today, Hot Magazine, The Phuket News, DDProperty.com, Zagranitsa.com, Mango, and Living Etc. In addition, the Awards received further boost from the Kingdom’s top business associations, including the highly active British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, the Irish-Thai Chamber of Commerce, and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on the Thailand Property Awards, visit official website: AsiaPropertyAwards/ThailandPropertyAwards or email: info@asiapropertyawards.com. Follow also #AsiaPropertyAwards to join the conversation about the Asia Property Awards series on social media.

Full list of Winners and Highly Commended at the Thailand Property Awards 2015:

DEVELOPER

Best Developer
Winner: SC Asset Corporation PLC
Highly Commended:
‘MQDC’ Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited

Best Boutique Developer
Winner: Absolute World Group
Highly Commended:
Emerald Development Group Co., Ltd.

Special Recognition in CSR
‘MQDC’ Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited

BEST OF THE BEST

Best Commercial Development (Thailand)
Winner: AIA Sathorn Tower by AIA Company Limited

Best Villa Development (Thailand)
Winner: Andara Signature Resort and Villas by Andamandara Development Co., Ltd.

Best Condo Development (Thailand)
Winner: Ivy Ampio by Pruksa Real Estate Public Company Limited

Best Green Development
Winner: AIA Sathorn Tower by AIA Company Limited

DEVELOPMENT

Best Retail Development
Winner: Central Plaza Westgate by Central Pattana Plc.

Best Office Development
Winner: AIA Sathorn Tower by AIA Company Limited

Best Hotel Development
Winner: Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa by MHG Phuket Limited, Minor International PCL
Highly Commended:
Akyra Manor Chiang Mai by Manor Group
Holiday Inn Pattaya by The Erawan Group PLC.
Sala Ayutthaya by SALA Hospitality Group
Thames Valley Khao Yai by Thames Valley Khao Yai Hotel Co., Ltd.

Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok)
Winner: Ivy Ampio by Pruksa Real Estate Public Company Limited
Highly Commended:
Menam Residences by Menam Residences Co., Ltd.

Best Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok)
Winner: Chapter One: The Campus Kaset by Pruksa Real Estate Public Company Limited
Highly Commended:
Centric Tiwanon Station by SC Asset Corporation Public Co., Ltd.

Best Residential Development (Hua Hin)
Winner: Veyla ChaAm Residences by Ideas 1606 Co., Ltd
Highly Commended:
Mali Residence by – Mali One by SLM Real Estate Co Ltd – trading as Orchid Palm Homes
Red Mountain by Red Mountain Hua Hin
Smart House Valley by Suppagarn Real Estate Service Co. Ltd

Best Condo Development (Phuket)
Winner: The Emerald Terrace Condominium Patong by Phuket Future Development Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended:
Absolute Twin Sands Resort & Spa - PHASE 2 & 3 by Absolute World Group


Best Affordable Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)
Winner: Amari Residences Pattaya by Nova Group
Highly Commended:
ACQUA Condominium by Jomthian 9 Condominium Co., Ltd.
Serenity Wongamat by Novana Wongamat Co., Ltd by Nova Group

Best Housing Development (Bangkok)
Winner: Granada Pinklao by SC Asset Corporation Public Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended:
District Sriwara by AP (Thailand) Public Company Limited

Best Villa Development (Phuket)
Winner: Andara Signature Resort and Villas by Andamandara Development Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended:
Anchan Villas by Pearl Island Property Co.,Ltd.
The Residences by Anantara by Hua Hin Resort Company Limited, subsidiary company of Minor International PCL

Best Villa Development (Eastern Seaboard)
Winner: Sedona Villas by Sedona Villas Co. Ltd.
Highly Commended:
Huay Yai Villas by Pattaya Traditional Homes (Trading as Huay Yai Villas)
Santa Maria by Real Wood Co., Ltd.
The Vineyard, Phase Three, La Residence by Bravothai Lifestyle Co., Ltd

Best Residential Development (Samui)
Winner: Aqua Samui by Luxury Living
Highly Commended:
Azur Samui by Azur Samui Co., Ltd
Horizon Residence by Residence gold Company Ltd
The Ridge by Panoramic Estate Company

Best Residential Development (Chiang Mai)
Winner: Peaks Avenue Condominium by Saha Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended:
The Prominence by Regal Asset Co., Ltd.


Best Residential Development (Khao Yai)
Winner: Provence Khao Yai by Provence Khao Yai Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended:
Toscana Valley’s La Casetta III by Toscana Valley Co.,Ltd

Best Luxury Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)
Winner: MÖVENPICK Residences & Pool Villas by Apex Development PCL
Highly Commended:
The Palm Wongamat Beach by Nova Luxury Developments Co. Ltd
The Riviera by The Riviera Group

DESIGN

Best Residential Architectural Design
Winner: Andara Signature Resort and Villas by Andamandara Development Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended:
Aqua Samui by Luxury Living
Menam Residences by Menam Residences Co.,Ltd.
The Residences by Anantara by Hua Hin Resort Company Limited, subsidiary company of Minor International PCL

Best Residential Interior Design
Winner: The Residences by Anantara by Hua Hin Resort Company Limited, subsidiary company of Minor International PCL
Highly Commended:
Menam Residences by Menam Residences Co.,Ltd.
The Vineyard, Phase Three, La Residence by Bravothai Lifestyle Co., Ltd

Best Hotel Interior Design
Winner: Akyra Manor Chiang Mai by Manor Group
Highly Commended:
Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa by MHG Phuket Limited, Minor International PCL
Sala Ayutthaya by SALA Hospitality Group
The Beach Samui by Absolute World Group


Best Retail Architectural Design
Winner: Central Plaza WESTGATE by Central Pattana PLC
Highly Commended:
Central Plaza Rayong by Central Pattana PLC

Best Office Architectural Design
Winner: G Tower by Grand Canal Land Public Company Limited
Highly Commended:
AIA Sathorn Tower by AIA Company Limited

Best Hotel Architectural Design
Winner: Sala Ayutthaya by SALA Hospitality Group
Highly Commended:
Akyra Manor Chiang Mai by Manor Group
Anantara Vacation Club, Phuket Mai Khao by Samui Beach Club Owner Limited
Thames Valley Khao Yai by Thames Valley Khao Yai Hotel Co., Ltd.

Best Landscape Architectural Design
Winner: Andara Signature Resort and Villas by Andamandara Development Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended:
Thames Valley Khao Yai by Thames Valley Khao Yai Hotel Co., Ltd.

About the Thailand Property Awards:
Returning for a historic tenth year, the Thailand Property Awards (Malaysia) are part of the regional Asia Property Awards programme organised by Ensign Media. It is the biggest and most credible industry awards in the Kingdom, with the top and emerging names in real estate celebrating the best developers, projects and designs in Thailand’s top-tier markets of Bangkok, Phuket, as well as emerging destinations of Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Khao Yai, Samui and Eastern Seaboard.

About the Asia Property Awards:
Free, fair and transparent, with a professionally run and fully audited judging system, the Asia Property Awards offer an unrivalled showcase of the region’s real estate industry, boosting awareness and highlighting top quality developers, projects and services.

Started in Thailand in 2006, the Asia Property Awards have since grown to reward developments, consultants, architects and designers in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, and this 2015 have expanded into Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.


http://www.asiapropertyawards.com/thailandpropertyawards/