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 past 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 October 21. 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 Co Ltd; 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 the full list of Winners and Highly Commended at the Thailand Property Awards 2015, visit the official website here.
This event was proudly sponsored by The Phuket News.