Twelve Southeast Asian luxury properties wooed judges at this year’s Boutique Hotel Awards, with properties in Thailand, Indonesia and Laos garnering prizes
By Lauren Vardy
Properties in Southeast Asia featured heavily at this year’s Boutique Hotel Awards with hotels in the region bagging a total of twelve prizes. Hotels in Thailand won half of those. In their fifth year, the awards showcase the world’s most prestigious boutique establishments.
Edward Gabbai, director and founder of the World Boutique Hotel Awards said the advent of the internet had provided transparency in standards. This has led many discerning travellers to seek hotels that offer integrity, individuality and character to their guests, in addition to the standards of luxury they desire, according to Gabbai. “Above all, the [awards] look for hotels that are undeniably, irrefutably unique,” he said.
The luxurious Viceroy Bali in Ubud, Indonesia came out a double winner and scooped up the awards for Asia’s Best Boutique Hotel – as one of six Best in Region winners – and Asia’s Best Honeymoon Boutique Hotel.
Viceroy Bali was established in 2005 and has already won a host of awards for its sumptuous surrounds and restaurant offerings. Crowning a secluded ridge above Bali’s Valley of the Kings, the hotel offers sensual privacy and tropical romance. You can read about the hotel here.
Zeavola Resort on Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi was another main category winner, taking home the title of World’s Best Sustainable Boutique Hotel.
Southeast Asian hotels dominated a long list of winners in their respective Regional Category Awards. In Thailand, Melati Beach Resort and Spa on Koh Samui took home Asia’s Best Beach or Coastal Boutique Hotel, while tantalising food at Hansar Samui on Koh Samui was enough earn it recognition as Asia’s Best Culinary Boutique Hotel in the Culinary Excellence section.
The inspired design of the Riverside Boutique Resort in Vang Vieng, Laos was the catalyst for grabbing the top spot of Asia’s Best Design Boutique Hotel. The enchanting, traditional dwelling of Buri Rasa Village on Koh Phangan, Thailand was named Asia’s Best New Boutique Hotel, while Thailand’s Hansar Pranburi took home Asia’s Best Relaxation Retreat.
Romance must be reigning supreme at The Ubud Village Resort and Spa in Bali, Indonesia, as the resort took home Asia’s Best Romantic Retreat. Top notch body scrubs and beauty treatments helped The Pavilions Phuket win Asia’s Best Spa Boutique Hotel, making six awards for hotels in Thailand.
You can read more about the awards here.
The region’s best:
Asia’s Best Boutique Hotel/ World’s best honeymoon boutique hotel/ Asia’s Best Honeymoon Boutique Hotel – Viceroy Bali (Ubud, Indonesia) viceroybali.com, tel: +62 361 971 777
World’s best sustainable boutique hotel – Zeavola Resort (Koh Phi Phi, Thailand zeavola.com, tel: +66 75 627 000
Asia’s Best Beach or Coastal Boutique Hotel – The Melati Beach Resort & Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand melatiresort.com, tel: +66 77 248 140
Asia’s Best Culinary Boutique Hotel – Hansar Samui, Koh Samui, Thailand hansarsamui.com, tel: +66 77 245 511
Asia’s Best Design Boutique Hotel – Riverside Boutique Resort, Vang Vieng, Laos riversidevangvieng.com, tel: +856 20 55 558 500
Asia’s Best New Boutique Hotel – Buri Rasa Village, Koh Phangan, Thailand burirasi.com/phangan, tel: +66 (0) 7744 5211
Asia’s Best Relaxation Retreat – Hansar Pranburi, Thailand hansarpranburi.com, tel: +66 90 441 7789
Asia’s Best Romantic Retreat – The Ubud Village Resort & Spa, Bali, Indonesia theubudvillage.com, tel: +62 361 978 444
Asia’s Best Spa Boutique Hotel – The Pavilions Phuket, Thailand thepavilionsresorts.com, tel: +66 76 317 600
Asia’s Best Sustainable Boutique Hotel – Zeavola Resort, Koh Phi Phi, Thailand zeavola.com, tel: +66 75 627 000
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