If there could be one watchword for the 7th Thailand Property Awards it would possibly be diversity, with most of those on the nomination shortlist able to leave happy after having picked up at least one award in recognition from their industry peers.
Nearly 500 guests from all around Thailand were in attendance to congratulate the winners and highly commended companies in 36 award categories at the awards ceremony held at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 13.
A relative ‘who’s who’ of the kingdom’s real-estate industry gathered at the Dusit Thani in Bangkok last month for the 2012 Thailand Property Awards.
Included in the winners categories were awards for best developer, development, real estate service, architecture and interior design, plus a publisher’s choice award, the ‘Property Report Real Estate Personality of the Year’ award that went to Tipaporn Chearavanont of Magnolia Quality Development Corporation.
Winners pose on stage with their awards at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok.
The VIP guest of the event was Korn Chatikavanij, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, who in his witty but thought-provoking keynote speech assured the stability and global economic viability supporting the real estate industry. “As developers, you should be comfortable in the knowledge that the two main political parties are aligned in their policies regarding the property sector. The property sector is important for the economy as well as for the dreams of the Thai public to own properties,” he said.
Property management company CB Richard Ellis won in 2 categories and were highly commended in 4 others.
With a change to the format from previous years and with more awards up for grabs, the Eastern Seaboard saw deserved recognition this time with a best development award going to The Cliff condominium in south Pattaya, which was collected jointly by the co-developers and project partners, Rony Fineman of the Nova Group and Kobi Elbaz of the Tulip Group.
David Simister (CBRE Thailand), Kobi Elbaz (Tulip Group), Rony Fineman (Nova Group) and Suphin Mechuchep (Jones Lang Lasalle Thailand) pose with their awards.
After picking up the award Kobi outlined the hopes for his company’s latest projects in Pattaya. “I’m now looking forward to the awards in 2013,” said the Tulip CEO. “None of our (Tulip’s) amazing projects qualified for this year’s awards, but next year I hope the voters recognize how special our projects are, and you never know I may be standing on stage with my team again holding some more of these prestigious awards.”
Mark Bowling (left) receives the Best Residential Agent (Eastern Seaboard) award on behalf of Colliers International.
Also garnering success for the region at this year’s ceremony was the Hilton Pattaya which topped the judges’ list in the ‘Best Hotel Architectural Design’ category. Peta Ruiter, director of business development, Hilton Pattaya said afterwards: “This highly coveted design award bears testament that Hilton Pattaya will stand out as a distinctive, best in design & architecture and luxurious hotel that will excel in the keenly competitive hospitality industry in Thailand and Asia Pacific region.”
Tipaporn Chearavanont, CEO of Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (left) was named as this year’s ‘Real Estate Personality of the Year.’
Other local winners at this year’s awards ceremony included Siam Royal View Marina (Best Villa Development – Eastern Seaboard), South Beach by Beach Properties (Best Boutique Condo Development – Eastern Seaboard), and Colliers International, who picked up the Best Residential Agent (Eastern Seaboard) award along with the same award for Hua Hin region and the overall Best Property Consultancy award.
Tony Malhotra, Deputy Managing Director of Pattaya Mail Media (left) greets VIP guest speaker Korn Chatikavanij, deputy leader of the Democrat Party.
Commenting on his company’s success this year, Simon Landy, the Colliers’ Executive Chairman, remarked, “Each year we have picked up more awards, but this year truly marks our coming of age. We are very proud of our continued success at the Thailand Property Awards. To win these awards is an outstanding achievement for us, proving that we have emerged as a major player in the Thai property market with a solid reputation for our professional services.”
Piaras Moriarty, Vice President Client Management, Sales and Marketing at Raimon Land is all smiles after picking up awards for The River condominium in Bangkok.
Luxury developer Raimon Land once again featured in the winners’ circle and the company was deservedly awarded the Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok) title and overall Best Condo Development Thailand for their long awaited flagship project The River. In a touch of irony not lost on the man himself, ex-Raimon Land chief Nigel Cornick, CEO of Awards sponsors Kingdom Property, was next up on stage to present an award to the developers of The Cliff. No doubt Nigel will have designs on featuring next year as a contender with his own company’s Southpoint Pattaya project.
Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels received awards for Thailand’s Best Best Commercial Agent & Best Agency Deal.
The biggest winner on the night was undoubtedly Kalara Developments, who picked up no less than 9 awards for their prestigious projects throughout the kingdom.
Wrapping up the show was Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media, the organisers of the awards who said, “Over 1,400 nominations where received (this year) and the evening was a huge success and it was good to see so many major players in Thai real estate in attendance. I was particularly pleased to see two of the most successful woman in Thai property – Wallapa Traisorat and Tipaporn Chearavanont – receive awards in what is traditionally a male dominated industry.”
Kalara Developments won 9 awards on the evening.
Commenting on the overall winners in the ‘Best Villa Development Thailand’ and ‘Best Condo Development Thailand’ categories respectively, Mr. Blackburn added: “The Banyan Tree’s win is a very positive sign of how big brands can get it right in the Phuket market and the success of The River shows that very ambitious projects that take a long time to complete are well worth persevering with. The River is clearly up there with the best in Asia and thoroughly deserves its two big wins here tonight.”
For more information on the Thailand Property Awards, go to www.Thailand PropertyAwards.com.
Nigel Cornick (right), CEO of Kingdom Property, presents the ‘Best Condo Eastern Seaboard’ award to Rony Fineman (center) and Kobi Elbaz (left).
Tony Malhotra (left) presents the ‘Best Hotel Architectural Design’ award to Peta Ruiter of the Hilton Pattaya.
Winners of the Thailand Property Awards 2012
Best Developer
Charn Issara Development PLC
Best Boutique Developer
Kalara Developments
Best Commercial Development Thailand
Asiatique The Riverfront
Best Housing Development (Bangkok)
Perfect Masterpiece Rattanatibett
Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok)
The River
Best Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok)
Hyde Sukhumvit
Best Affordable Condo Development (Resort)
CODE Samui
Best Boutique Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)
South Beach, Beach Properties Thailand Co., Ltd.
Best Boutique Condo Development (Phuket)
Bluepoint Condos
Best Villa Development (Phuket)
Banyan Tree Residences
Best Villa Development (Eastern Seaboard)
Siam Royal View Marina
Best Residential Development (Samui)
CODE Samui
Best Residential Development (Hua Hin)
The Orchid Palm Residence
Best Residential Development (Chiang Mai)
Jirung Residences
Best Condo Development (Phuket)
The Nchantra @ Sirey Beach
Best Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)
The Cliff Residence Pattaya
Best Shared Ownership Development
Anantara Vacation Club Phuket Mai Khao
Best Residential Agent (Bangkok)
CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Best Residential Agent (Phuket)
CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Best Residential Agent (Eastern Seaboard)
C.I.T. Property Consultants Co., Ltd.
(Colliers International Thailand)
Best Residential Agent (Hua Hin)
C.I.T. Property Consultants Co., Ltd.
(Colliers International Thailand)
Best Residential Agent (Samui)
Kalara Real Estate
Best Independent Agent
Kalara Real Estate
Best Commercial Agent
Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels
Best Property Management Company
Jones Lang LaSalle
Best Property Consultancy
C.I.T. Property Consultants Co., Ltd.
(Colliers International Thailand)
Best Overseas Property Agent
Savills (Thailand) Ltd.
Best Agency Deal
Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels for the sale of Mövenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach Phuket
Best Residential Architectural Design
Brennan Beer Gorman Architects (BBG), New York for The Residences at The St.Regis Bangkok
Best Commercial Architectural Design
Contour Company Limited for Rain Hill
Best Landscape Architectural Design
Bunnag Architects Int’l Consultants Co., Ltd. for Residences at Four Seasons Resort, Chiangmai
Best Hotel Architectural Design
Department of Architecture Co., Ltd. for Hilton Pattaya
Best Residential Interior Design
Kalara Developments for CODE
Best Villa Development Thailand
Banyan Tree Residences Phuket
Best Condo Development Thailand
The River
Property Report Real Estate Personality of the Year
Tipaporn Chearavanont, chief executive officer, Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
