Within the first three quarters of 2008, Banyan Tree Group garnered over 50 international awards and accolades, surpassing the number of awards won the same time last year and increasing the total number of awards received to over 400 since the group was established 14 years ago. With a steadily increasing inventory of over 40 resorts in the pipeline, the awards support Banyan Tree’s successful growth and expansion as a leading manager and developer of premium resorts, hotels and spas in the Asia Pacific and beyond.
Snagging its first award since soft opening in April 2008, Banyan Tree Sanya’s Presidential Complex has been recognised as one of Top 101 Suites by Elite Traveler Magazine. Located at Luhuitou Bay, Hainan, Banyan Tree Sanya is the first all-pool villa resort in China, with two sprawling Presidential Complexes offering luxury and privacy of unparalleled standards.
Banyan Tree Seychelles is a proud recipient of The Best in the Travel Industry - Silver Award presented by Travel Weekly magazine’s annual Magellan Awards, which seeks to honour and pay tribute to the best in travel and travel professionals. Fusing modern luxury and ecological sensitivity, Banyan Tree Seychelles offers all-pool villas with award-winning Asian hospitality and the famous Banyan Tree Spa.
Not to be outdone, Banyan Tree Phuket has been conferred the Best in the Travel Industry - Gold Award at the Magellan Awards. Banyan Tree Phuket was also named as the 6th Best Spa in an Overseas Hotel in the 2008 Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Travel Awards. Located at Bang Tao Bay on the North Western Coast, Banyan Tree Phuket recently introduced the DoublePool Villa ‘quintessensual’ experience. The perfect embodiment of sensuality, inspired by Banyan Tree’s signature tagline ‘Sanctuary for the Senses’, where guests can expect to be transported to a magical world of intimacy.
Located at the doorsteps of the world’s longest coral reef and oldest rainforest, Angsana Great Barrier Reef has been recognised as one of the best Overseas Leisure Hotels by the 2008 Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Travel Awards, while Angsana Spa in the hotel has been named the Best Hotel Day Spa of the Year for the fourth time by 2008 HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence.
Maintaining Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Officially launched in September 2007, Banyan Tree Bintan Conservation Lab celebrated the 2008 PATA Gold Award win in the Ecotourism Project category which recognises exceptional achievements and highlights the best Asia Pacific’s travel industry has to offer. The Conservation Lab contributes to on-going conservation efforts in Bintan Island, Indonesia to develop alternative livelihood programs that will ease pressure on natural resources.
In 2008, judges at the Thailand Tourism Awards evaluated nominees’ efforts in areas such as the environment, corporate governance and social responsibility. Banyan Tree Bangkok received the prestigious Award of Excellence for City Hotel Tourist Accommodation: Bangkok. The 61-storey tall Banyan Tree Bangkok edged out similar urban hotels with its focus on partnerships within the local communities.
Adding to its stock of recent awards and accolades for environmental achievements, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts was recognised at the Condé Nast Traveler (USA) 2008 World Savers Award in both the Education Category (Runner up), for the group-wide Seedlings initiative, which offers opportunity and support to children considered at risk of societal exclusion, as well as in the Wildlife Category (Honourable Mention). This earned Banyan Tree the highest accolades bestowed upon any hotel operator headquartered in Asia. The Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Awards acknowledge companies that are actively involved in improving the world, with finalists seen as setting standards for the entire travel industry.
Banyan Tree Spa was also recognised for being an Outstanding Establishment 2008 for Labour Relations and Welfare by the Ministry of Labor, Thailand. Banyan Tree Spa is the only Spa company in Thailand this year to have won this award and for the third time as well. Banyan Tree strongly believes in the wellbeing of its associates, which is intrinsic to the award-winning Banyan Tree service culture.
2008 Awards and Accolades
Following recent awards announcements in June this year, Banyan Tree Group has since received the following commendations:
Travel
‘Best Hotel in Thailand’
~ Golden Meridian Russian Travel Award 2008
Banyan Tree Phuket
“Resorts with the Best Private Plunge Pools”
~ Modern Bride magazine
Banyan Tree Seychelles
“Top 101 Suites”
~ Elite Traveler Magazine
Banyan Tree Sanya
“Best Hotel Day Spa”
~ HM (Hotel & Accommodation Management) Awards for
Hotel & Accommodation Excellence 2008
Angsana Great Barrier Reef
“Top 25 Leisure Hotels & Resorts”
“Top 25 Spa Hotels & Resorts”
~ Best In Travel Poll 2008
Banyan Tree Phuket
“Overseas Leisure Hotels - Australia & the South Pacific – 6th”
~ Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers' Travel Awards 2008
Angsana Great Barrier Reef
“Gold Awards - The Best in the Travel industry”
~ Travel Weekly Magellan Awards 2008
Banyan Tree Phuket
“Gold Awards - The Best in the Travel industry”
~ Travel Weekly Magellan Awards 2008
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
“Silver Awards - The Best in the Travel industry”
~ Travel Weekly Magellan Awards 2008
Banyan Tree Seychelles
“Spa in Overseas Hotels – 6th”
~ Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers' Travel Awards 2008
Banyan Tree Phuket
Corporate
“Leader-Mentor Award”
~ Research University on Leadership
Mr Ho Kwon Ping
