Sorapoj Techakraisri, CEO of PACE Development Corporation, has been selected as winner of the prestigious Thailand Property Awards Real Estate Personality of the Year Award 2013.
Unlike the rest of the awards, which are chosen by an independent panel of judges, the editors of Property Report Magazine select the recipient of the Real Estate Personality of the Year award. Each member of the team puts forward a candidate and the winner is selected based on the nominee’s overall impact and influence on the quality and development of the Thai property market, his/her ability to innovate and introduce creative approaches to real estate growth, and a demonstrable commitment to philanthropy.
Sorapoj Techakraisri.
“We chose Sorapoj as the Real Estate Personality for 2013 due to his vision for modern Bangkok, which is bold and contemporary,” said Jules Kay, managing editor of Property Report Magazine. “MahaNakhon is already known throughout the region as an iconic new development for the Thai capital and he followed this with an equally ground breaking concept -MahaSamutr – for the Thai resort sector in Hua Hin.”
Sorapoj has been the driving force behind PACE’s bourgeoning success in the upper echelons of the Thai market over recent years, supervising some of the developer’s most successful projects – Ficus Lane, Saladaeng Residences and, of course, the flagship MahaNakhon. His passion for architecture and design stemmed from his time studying and travelling abroad before he returned to Thailand and subsequently took up the reins at the family company.
“Sorapoj’s projects challenge conceptions and therefore inspire progress, which in our view makes him a very worthy recipient of this award,” added Kay.
Awards winners shortlisted
After another intense nomination, entry and judging process, the full shortlist of winners for the eighth annual Thailand Property Awards was announced recently at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Center, Central World.
Notable Bangkok developments in the shortlist of winners this year include 185 Rajadamri, which is joined on the list by The Ritz-Carlton Residences Bangkok at MahaNakhon and Royce Private Residences, while elsewhere, Siam Royal View Pattaya, Kata Rocks and Mandalay Villas were amongst the developments selected for awards in the Easter Seaboard, Phuket and Koh Samui categories, respectively.
“As is the case every year, the judges decisions were based on strict and extensive criteria,” said Paul Ashburn, senior partner at BDO Advisory, which oversees the entry and judging process. “For the development categories, local teams visited shortlisted developments to undertake site inspections before the central judging panel submitted their final decisions.”
Non-development categories include regional awards for Best Residential Agent, with Colliers International Thailand, Exotiq and Premier Homes all shortlisted winners, while in the Best Property Consultancy category, Colliers International appear once again, alongside Jones Lang LaSalle.
For the much anticipated Best Developer award, top real estate brands Sansiri, Raimon Land, Pace Development and Magnolia Quality Developments Corporation have all made the shortlist, while last year’s biggest winner, Kalara Developments, has been selected once again in the prestigious Best Boutique Developer category, alongside resort specialists Absolute World Group.
“The high standard of projects on the shortlist of winners, combined with the solid reputation of the companies represented this year adds up to an impressive display of real estate achievements,” said Terry Blackburn, CEO, Ensign Media, the organisers of the awards.
Presentation of the awards will take place at The Thailand Property Awards 2013 Gala Dinner, which will be held at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld on September 19.
