propertyawards
And the winner is ...
Winners all ... every major award winner was invited on stage for a group photograph.
T
hailand’s real estate industry came together on Thursday 19 September to acknowledge the best of the best at the 2013 Thailand Property Awards gala dinner and awards presentation ceremony held at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld. An engaging keynote address on sustainable design by awardwinning architect and professor, Jason Pomeroy, followed opening remarks by Terry Blackburn, CEO of organisers Ensign Media, setting the tone for an exciting evening of celebration. Now in it’s eighth year, the awards organisers welcomed a new chairman to the judging panel this year, Khun Sunchai Nuengsit, managing director of Buildersmart Public Company Limited, and recognising the evolving nature of the industry, introduced four new awards: Best Residential Development (Khao Yai), Best Villa Rental Agent, Best Villa Architectural Design and Best Villa Interior Design. In total, 33 awards were on offer including regional awards for best condominiums and villa developments on the Eastern Seaboard, in Hua Hin, Phuket, 34•REm•Issue 149•10/2013
l Jones Lang LaSalle scoop five major awards l Colliers win best local agent for third time l The Palm voted best Eastern Seaboard condo l 66 Condominium is ES best boutique condo l Silk Road Place is named best ES villa project Samui and Chiang Mai, as well as arguably the two most sought after awards: Best Developer Thailand and Best Boutique Developer Thailand, and for the third consecutive year Kalara Developments was crowned Best Boutique Developer Thailand. Best Developer Sansiri Public Company Limited scooped the prestigious Best Developer Thailand award, and acknowledging Sansiri’s success, the judging panel stated: “With 257 projects since 1984, Thailand’s Sansiri has introduced numerous innovations and advancements in the luxury villa and condominium sector, with customer satisfaction and lifestyle always at the core of the company’s impressive achievements.” Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) took home five trophies in the Real Estate Services categories,
winning Best Commercial Agent, Best Property Management Company (Bangkok), Best Property Management Company (Resort), Best Property Consultancy and Best Agency Deal for the sale of Laguna Phuket Beach Resort. “The quality of nominations and entries this year was exceptional and have pushed the bar ever higher, showing the growth and diversity of Thailand’s robust real estate industry,” said Terry Blackburn. A thorough and rigorous judging process by an independent panel of judges, with overview by BDO Advisory, evaluated a record number of nominations and entries this year. Those developments shortlisted were then subject to site inspections before the judging panel submitted their list of Winners and Highly Commended developments and businesses to
The team from Jones Lang LaSalle were biggest winners with five awards. They came top in every class they were commended in. BDO Advisory for safe keeping. “That the judges and the judging process is independent is paramount for us and has been the cornerstone to success for the awards since their inception eight years ago. BDO Advisory have again overseen the entire process from start to finish ensuring the judging process was undertaken fairly, without bias or favour,” added Blackburn. Best Developer The services categories were dominated by brokerages with an international dimension although prominent agents CBRE (CB Richard Ellis) were conspicuous in their absense. The biggest winners on the night were JLL who won each of the classes they were commended in plus one more for best deal. It was a big week for JLL as on the same day they also picked up four other prizes in the Euromoney Real Estate Survey 2013. JLL was voted as number one Overall Real Estate Advisor and also won top votes for Research, Valuation and Agency/ Letting. Results from the Euromoney survey were based on votes from companies involved in the real
estate sector that were invited to submit information about their activities, achievements and market opinions. Mrs Suphin Mechuchep, managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle in Thailand, said: “The nine awards our firm has won this month represent well the recognition we have received from Thailand’s real estate industry, and testament to our commitment to providing an excellent service to our clients. They also reaffirmed our leading position in real estate services in Thailand.” Earlier this year, Jones Lang LaSalle was named Thailand’s Best Property Consultancy at the International Property Awards Asia Pacific 2013. Best Residential Agent As has been the case over the past few years Colliers International fared brilliantly in the Best Residential Agent class in the Thailand Property Awards winning both in Bangkok and on the Eastern Seaboard. For Mark Bowling, Colliers associate director, Sales & Leasing, based in Pattaya the ES win was especially pleasing as the branch he heads has won each year since he joined them
(with the exception of 2011 when the category wasn’t included). Mark said: “Obviously I’m delighted our office once again won the Best Agent (Eastern Seaboard) this year, having also previously won the accolade in 2010 and 2012, making it a hat-trick for us. In 2011 when the category wasn’t included we were Highly Commended in the Best Agent (Resort) category. “Without question this award would not be possible without the hard work, dedication and professionalism displayed by our entire team over the years and I’d personally like to congratulate and thank them all for ensuring that Colliers International remains at the forefront of the Pattaya real estate market.” He added: “The recognition that this award gives us is immense and to have won three times gives us a distinct edge over our peers without
a shadow of doubt. I see big things happening in Pattaya in the future and we’re delighted to be playing a major role in the changing face of the city. “I should also congratulate my friends and colleagues at Town & Country, Premier Homes and Savills for securing the Highly Commended accolades, which is also a huge tribute to their professionalism over the years. “Can we make it a fourth year? I didn’t think we’d win it this year, so, who knows, anything is possible.” Magnificent position Also on the Pattaya scene the best Eastern Seaboard condo award went to The Palm which occupies a magnificent position in Wongamat. Winston Gale, founder and co-developer of The Palm, said: “We are delighted to accept this
award. It’s taken us five years to get to where we are today. So much hard work by so many good people has been done, this award is also for all of those people who are part of our team.” For more of Winston’s reaction please turn to the cover story on pages 12 and 13. The Palm edged out Major Developments’ Reflection project at the south end of Jomtien Beach and last year’s winner, The Cliff on Pratumnak Hill which was developed by Nova Group. The best boutique condo on the ES went to 66 Condominium in Soi 1, Pattaya Beach, which features just 32 residential units. In the Eastern Seaboard villas class the top prizes went to Silk Road Place in Soi Chaiyapruk 2. It pipped three other top notch projects to the first prize – Sedona Villas, Siam Royal View and the Vineyard’s La Résidence whose company was commended for the third year running. Local tourist attraction – Mimosa – was highly commended in the Best Commercial Development class. Local brokerage Premier Homes was highly commended in the Best Villa Rental Agent class. l For a fuller list of winners please see overleaf. 10/2013•Issue 149•REm•35
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Colliers International also made an excellent showing. Associate director in Pattaya, Mark Bowling (right) received a third ES trophy. Partial list of Winners and Highly Commended AT the 2013 thailand property awards Best Developer Thailand Sansiri Public Company Limited – Winner Magnolia Quality Development Corporation – Highly Commended Pace Development Corporation PLC – Highly Commended Raimon Land PLC – Highly Commended Best Boutique Developer Thailand Kalara Developments – Winner Absolute World Group – Highly Commended Best Commercial Development Thailand Megabangna, Super Regional Shopping Centre by SF Development Company Limited – Winner Mimosa Pattaya by Mimosa Co Ltd – Highly Commended Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai by ECC Chiang Mai Project 1 – Highly Commended Best Villa Development (Eastern Seaboard) Silk Road Place by Better Home Development Co Ltd – Winner Sedona Villas by Sedona Villas Company Ltd – Highly Commended Siam Royal View by Keereekham Co Ltd – Highly Commended The Vineyard, La Résidence by Bravothai Lifestyles Co Ltd – Highly Commended Best Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard) The Palm, Wongamat Beach by Nova Luxury Developments Co Ltd – Winner Reflection Jomtien Beach Pattaya by Major Development PCL – Highly Commended The Cliff Residence Pattaya – Highly Commended Best Residential Agent (Eastern Seaboard) C.I.T. Property Consultants Co Ltd (trading as Colliers International Thailand) – Winner Best Residential Agent (Eastern Seaboard) continued Premier Homes Real Estate Co Ltd – Highly Commended Savills (Thailand) Limited – Highly Commended Town & Country Property Co Ltd – Highly Commended 36•REm•Issue 149•10/2013
Best Boutique Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard) 66 Condominium by Thalay 66 Co Ltd – Winner Novana Residence by The Nova Group – Highly Commended Best Commercial Agent Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Limited – Winner C.I.T. Property Consultants Co Ltd (trading as Colliers International Thailand) – Highly Commended Best Property Management Company (Bangkok) Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Limited – Winner Property Care Services (Thailand) Ltd – Highly Commended Savills (Thailand) Limited – Highly Commended Best Property Management Company (Resort) Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Limited – Winner Luxury Villas and Homes Ltd – Highly Commended Best Property Consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Limited – Winner C.I.T. Property Consultants Co Ltd (trading as Colliers International Thailand) – Highly Commended Best Overseas Property Agent Savills (Thailand) Limited – Winner C.I.T. Property Consultants Co Ltd (trading as Colliers International Thailand) – Highly Commended Best Villa Rental Agent Luxury Villas and Homes – Winner Premier Homes Real Estate Co Ltd – Highly Commended Best Agency Deal Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels re Sale of the Laguna Phuket Beach Resort – Winner For more information on the judging process, visit www. thailandpropertyawards.com/process. For more information on the awards, visit www.thailandpropertyawards.com.