? MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation wins top honours including Best Developer
? Waterfront projects in Bangkok, Phuket, Samui and the Eastern Seaboard dominate the Awards
? Major Development's head honcho Dr Suriya Poolvoralaks is named 2016 Real Estate Personality
? Property Report Congress Thailand debuts with local and international experts on the panel
The long wait is over – MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation, which collected a total of eight awards, waltzed away with the year's highest honour for Best Developer at the 11th annual Thailand Property Awards 2016, an international event presented by Hansgrohe and organised by PropertyGuru, Asia's leading online property group.
It is the Kingdom's biggest and longest-running annual real estate event, attended by more than 600 guests and leading figures including VIP guest and speaker Khun Suwat Liptapanlop, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand.
Top winner MQDC's mega-developments along the Chao Phraya River won several gongs, including Best Ultra Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok) for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, and Best
Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok) for Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM. The former also received the Best Condo Development (Thailand) award.
According to the judging panel presided by Dr Manop Bongsadadt, renowned professor of architecture at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, MQDC's riverfront ventures "will forever change waterfront living in the capital."
A few more accolades went to other Chao Phraya River-based projects, proving once again that the super prime location is among the top draws for Bangkok's luxury real estate segment. Menam Residences received the Best High-Rise High End Condo Development (Bangkok) trophy, while Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel by multiple nominee Minor Hotels made a clean sweep with four gongs, including three awards for design and one for Best Hotel Development – a category which had no other contenders.
Elsewhere, PACE Development's MahaSamutr, which features the largest man-made crystalline lagoon in Thailand, took home three awards for Best Residential Architectural Design, Best Luxury Villa Development (Hua Hin) and Best Villa Development (Thailand). "MahaSamutr has brought a level of luxury living to Hua Hin unlike the city has ever seen before," the judges noted.
Suphin Mechuchep, managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) and chairperson of the judging panel, said that the 2016 Winners – whether land-based or located near a body of water – received the Judges' approval because they understood what the market expects from quality real estate. "These award-winning developments help raise the bar and set an example of standards for future developments to follow," she said.
The second decade of the Thailand Property Awards introduced eight new categories, reflecting the resilience and continued growth of the Thai real estate market. Among the new awards was a Special Recognition in Sustainable Development, which was presented to Best Developer winner MQDC.
"The company's 'Sustainnovation' campaign clearly has made sustainability both a cornerstone and a unique selling point not only in the development and design of their projects but in changing customers' attitudes, behaviors and practices to ensure a project remains sustainable for many generations to come," said the judges.
MQDC also earned the Best Green Development accolade for the Whizdom Avenue Ratchada – Ladprao high-end project, a two-time winner this year.
Official supervisor BDO, one of the world's largest accountancy and auditing firms, supervised the Thailand Property Awards 2016's entire nomination and judging process to ensure fairness, transparency and credibility. The BDO team was led by co-managing partner Paul Ashburn.
A total of 33 award categories were presented at Thursday night's black-tie gala at Plaza Athenee Bangkok (a Royal Meridien hotel) to the Kingdom's best developers and developments, plus one special award for the Real Estate Personality of the Year, Dr Suriya Poolvoralaks, managing director of Best Ultra Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok) finalist Major Development, who was chosen by the editors of Property Report for leading one of the country's top names in the luxury segment.
"Vision without action is just a dream. I dedicate this prestigious Real Estate Personality award to all the young men and women at Major Development who have contributed their efforts to the MJD brand and for making our collective vision come true," he said.
Thailand's top winners are now eligible to compete in the 6th South East Asia Property Awards 2016 grand finals to be held in Singapore on 24 November for the Best of the Best honours in South East Asia. They will be facing national winners from seven other ASEAN countries.
"Congratulations to all the Winners and Highly Commended companies at the industry's biggest annual event, the Thailand Property Awards, which now celebrates its second decade, making it the longest-running and most recognised international real estate awards programme in the country," said Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of the Asia Property Awards.
"As always we are delighted to reward the finest boutique and up-and-coming developers in Thailand along with the Kingdom's biggest and established developers for the 11th consecutive year," he added. "Their efforts to elevate the standards of the Thai property industry have been recognised and are admired around the ASEAN region."
The 11th Thailand Property Awards 2016 was presented by title sponsor Hansgrohe and supported by gold sponsors Kuppersbusch and JLL Thailand, the country's top media and business associations including Thailand's No. 1 property portal, DDproperty.com, and official media partner Property Report, Asia's leading luxury real estate, architecture and design magazine.
Property Report earlier hosted the high-level real estate networking conference Property Report Congress Thailand 2016, which debuted in Bangkok right before the annual Gala Dinner featuring local and international experts such as JLL's Mechuchep, iconic designer Thomas Lesser of LESSER Architecture, and Thailand Property Awards returning judge Clayton Wade, managing director of Premier Homes, who served as the conference chairman.
For more information about Thailand's biggest real estate event, contact [email protected] or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com/thailandpropertyawards/
The complete list of Winners and Highly Commended at the 11th Thailand Property Awards 2016:
DEVELOER
Best Developer
Winner: MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Best Boutique Developer
Winner: Siamese Asset Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Global Top Group Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Lucky Living Properties Co., Ltd.
Best Green Development
Winner: Whizdom Avenue Ratchada – Ladprao by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Special Recognition in CSR
Winner: Sansiri PLC
Special Recognition in Sustainable Development
Winner: MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
BEST OF THE BEST
Best Commercial Development (Thailand)
Winner: Siam Discovery by Siam Piwat Co., Ltd.
Best Villa Development (Thailand)
Winner: MahaSamutr by PACE Development
Best Condo Development (Thailand)
Winner: The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
DEVELOPMENT
Best Ultra Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok)
Winner: The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Highly Commended: Marque Sukhumvit by Major Residences Company Limited
Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok)
Winner: Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Highly Commended: Saladeang One by SC Asset Corporation PLC
Best Low-Rise High End Condo Development (Bangkok)
Winner: LIV@49 by Lucky Living Properties Co., Ltd.
Best High-Rise High End Condo Development (Bangkok)
Winner: Menam Residences by Menam Residences Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Whizdom Avenue Ratchada – Ladprao by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Best Low-Rise Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok)
Winner: Villa Lasalle Sukhumvit 105 by Origin Property Public Company Limited
Highly Commended: Proud III Condominium by Tri Property Co., Ltd.
Best High-Rise Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok)
Winner: Whizdom Station Ratchada – Thapra by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited
Highly Commended: Knightsbridge Sky River Ocean by Origin Property Public Company Limited
Highly Commended: The Stage Taopoon Interchange by Real Asset Development Co., Ltd.
Best Housing Development (Bangkok)
Winner: 749 Residence by Pannaphat Development Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Setthasiri Charan – Pinklao by Sansiri PLC
Highly Commended: VILLAZZO 10 by A-List Development
Best Condo Development (Phuket)
Winner: Twinpalms Residences MontAzure by MontAzure
Highly Commended: Saturdays Residence by The Attitude Club Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: The Beachfront Oceanfront Condos and Villas by Blue Horizon Developments
Best Residential Development (Phang Nga/Krabi)
Winner: The Cleat Condominium by Krabi Boat Lagoon Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Phu Dahla Residences by Phu Petra Development Co., Ltd.
Best Villa Development (Eastern Seaboard)
Winner: Baan Dusit by Dusit Group
Best Luxury Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)
Winner: The Riviera Wongamat Beach by The Riviera Group
Highly Commended: Aeras Condominium by The Urban Property
Highly Commended: One Tower Pratumnak by 1 Group Development
Best Affordable Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)
Winner: Dusit Grand Park by Dusit Group
Highly Commended: The Cloud by Global Top Group
Best Residential Development (Hua Hin)
Winner: La Bua Resort & Residence by Nordic Home Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Falcon Hill by Falcon Hill Development Limited
Highly Commended: Smart House Valley Development by Suppagarn Real Estate Service Co., Ltd.
Best Luxury Villa Development (Hua Hin)
Winner: MahaSamutr by PACE Development
Best Residential Development (Chiang Mai)
Winner: Astra Condo by North Home Co Ltd
Highly Commended: The Spring Condominium by NTS Property Co., Ltd.
Best Residential Development (Samui)
Winner: UniQue by Q71 Development Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Azur by Beach Republic Group
Highly Commended: Villa Karpe Diem by Sea Bright View Limited
Best Hotel Development
Winner: Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel by Minor Hotels
Best Community Retail Development
Winner: theCOMMONS by The Commons Co., Ltd.
Best Retail Development
Winner: Siam Discovery by Siam Piwat Co., Ltd.
DESIGN
Best Residential Architectural Design
Winner: MahaSamutr by PACE Development
Highly Commended: Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Highly Commended: The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Highly Commended: VILLAZZO 10 by A-List Development
Best Residential Interior Design
Winner: The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Highly Commended: Best Western Premier BayPhere Pattaya by Habitat Group Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Highly Commended: X2 Vibe Pattaya SeaPhere by Habitat Group Co., Ltd.
Best Landscape Architectural Design
Winner: Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel by Minor Hotels
Highly Commended: Hyde Sukhumvit 11 by Grande Asset Hotels & Property Public Company Limited
Highly Commended: LIV@49 by Lucky Living Properties Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: VILLAZZO 10 by A-List Development
Best Hotel Architectural Design
Winner: Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel by Minor Hotels
Best Hotel Interior Design
Winner: Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel by Minor Hotels
Best Retail Architectural Design
Winner: theCOMMONS by The Commons Co., Ltd.
Highly Commended: Whizdom 101 by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
PUBLISHER'S CHOICE
Real Estate Personality of the Year
Dr. Suriya Poolvoralaks
Managing Director, Major Development PCL