Attendees at the 2015 Thailand Property Awards gala honoured the real estate sector’s winners and highly commended at an exclusive, black-tie awards evening held at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok on Wednesday, September 16.
More than 500 VIPs and real estate industry leaders – including Jumpol Sumpaopol, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, who gave an insightful opening keynote speech – attended the event, which was the culmination of a nomination and judging process that spanned the past six months.
“For 10 years the Thailand Property Awards, and the entire Asia Property Awards programme as a whole, have demonstrated that adherence to excellence and quality never goes out of style,” said Terry Blackburn, CEO of event organizer 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.”
Established and up-and-coming developers in Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Khao Yai, Samui and the Eastern Seaboard vied for a total of 29 categories over three sections: Developer, Development and Design.
2015 Thailand Property Award category winners pose onstage at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok, Wednesday, Sept. 16.
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 award for 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) category for its Centric Tiwanon Station project.
Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media.
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.
William “Bill” E. Heinecke, CEO, founder and chairman Minor International, won the Real Estate Personality of the Decade award. (Photo/TAT)
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’ awards for Best Condo Development (Thailand), which went to Ivy Ampio.
MึVENPICK Residences & Pool Villas won the Best Luxury Condo award Eastern Seaboard.
Another big winner from Bangkok was 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 byAndamandara Development Co., Ltd. claimed four trophies, including Best Housing Development (Thailand) and Best Villa Development (Phuket), plus two design awards.
In the Eastern Seaboard categories there were big wins for MึVENPICK Residences & Pool Villas by Apex Development PCL, Sedona Villas by Sedona Villas Co. Ltd., and Amari Residences Pattaya by Nova Group in the Best Luxury Condo, Best Villa Development and Best Affordable Condo Development respectively.
Highly-commended awards were also presented to The Palm Wongamat Beach by Nova Luxury Developments Co. Ltd, The Riviera by The Riviera Group, 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, ACQUA Condominium by Jomthian 9 Condominium Co., Ltd, and Serenity Wongamat by Novana Wongamat Co., Ltd by Nova Group.
Amari Residences Pattaya by the Nova Group was the recipient of the Best Affordable Condo Development Eastern Seaboard award.
Holiday Inn Pattaya by The Erawan Group PLC also won a highly-commended award in the Best Hotel Development category.
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 will 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.”
For more information on the Thailand Property Awards, visit official website: www.asiapropertyawards.com.
(Source: Oasis Media)
