The best in hospitality
The Hotelier Awards, the annual competition that recognises hospitality excellence, recently announced the 87 finalists for its 2018 Asia competition.
For the first time since its launch five years ago, two separate competitions are being organised, one for Asia and one for Greater China. Applications for the Asia competition were accepted from the beginning of January and closed with a 117 per cent increase in the number of entries from 107 properties. Finalists for Greater China will be announced on July 16.
Five finalists from 16 categories and eight general manager finalists for Asia were announced recently in a ceremony held at the Park Hyatt Bangkok. The hoteliers were carefully selected by a panel of expert judges, who flew in from around the world to finalise their selection.
The judges include Alison Gilmore of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), Michel Lamuniere of Edipresse Asia, Christophe Laurent, of Ecole Hoteliere De Lausanne (EHL), Jenny Soo of Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants and Christine Gamarra of LRA by Deloitte.
Laurent, a newcomer to the judging panel, said he’d read though the testimonial of this year’s Hotelier Awards finalists with emotion.
“I am captivated by the high standards of the applicants and feel privileged to be a part of the judging panel for the first time. My task is challenging, proof that we are dealing with truly, committed hoteliers, regardless of their current professional activities, responsibilities and achievements.”
Thailand has four possible candidates for the awards. Nopparat Aumpa, area VP/general manager of Banyan Tree Bangkok, is among the finalists in the general manager category and Azizskandar Awang, executive chef of Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort is the representative for chef hotelier.
Theerasak Kumwong, chief of concierge at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and Benjaporn Wongsomboon, assistant director of food & beverage at The St. Regis Bangkok, will compete against other finalists in the same careers.
The winners will be announced at the Sofitel Singapore City Centre on May 23.
View the full list of finalists for The Hotelier Awards Asia 2018 at http://hotelierawards.com/the2018awards/2018finalists/.
