More than 1,350 developers, developments, property agents, architects and real estate companies were nominated by the public and their peers in 31 categories including Best Developer, Best Villa Development and Best Condo Development in regions and cities such as Bangkok, the Eastern Seaboard, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Samui and Phuket. There were over 350 entries and the judging process has concluded with a shortlist of 80 developers and developments representing the best of Thailand’s real estate industry.

Mr. Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media Co., Ltd. said: “The shortlist showcases the high level of quality on offer in Thailand’s real estate, construction, architectural and interior design sectors as well as the professional services available. The objective has always been to celebrate the best of Thai real estate and this year’s shortlist confirms Thailand’s place amongst the best in the world in terms of innovation, quality and aesthetics.”

The Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards are highly coveted by real estate agents, property developers, interior designers and architects in Thailand’s residential real estate industry and the Gala Awards Dinner attracts more than 600 CEOs, Managing Directors, Presidents and other senior management figures in the real estate and related industries every year. The Gala Dinner will be held at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok Hotel on the 6^th of December 2011.

For more information and tickets, visit www.thailandpropertyawards.com

Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards 2011 Shortlist:

Best Developer

-Asian Property Development PLC

-Laguna Resorts & Hotels PLC

-Minor International PLC

-Raimon Land PLC

Best Boutique Developer

-Absolute World Group

-Kalara CODE Co., Ltd.

-Six Senses Resorts and Spas

Best Villa Development (Eastern Seaboard)

-Palm Oasis

-Sedona Villas

-Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Resorts and Spas

-The Vineyard

Best Residential Development (Samui)

-Code

-Mandalay Villas

-Panu

Best Residential Development (Hua Hin)

-Baan Ing Phu

-Orchid Palm Homes

Best Residential Development (Chiang Mai)

-Azaya Villas

-OnePlus Condominium

-Residences at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Best Villa Development (Phuket)

-Banyan Tree Residences

-Malaiwana

-Villa Onyx

Best Housing Development (Bangkok)

-Perfect Masterpiece Rattanatibett

-Setthasiri Chaiyapruk-Chaengwattana

Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok)

-AEQUA Residence Sukhumvit 49

-The River

-Siamese Gioia

-The Residences at The St. Regis Bangkok

Best Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok)

-Rhythm Ratchada

-Supalai Premier Ratchada-Narathivas-Sathorn

-Supalai Park @Tiwanon

Best Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)

-The Cliff Residence

-Nova Ocean View

-The Tropical Dream Condominium

Best Condo Development (Phuket)

-Alanna

-Kamala Falls Residential Resort

-Mandala Condominiums

Best Shared Ownership Development

-Anantara Vacation Club Bophut

-Beach Republic The Residences

-The Village, Coconut Island

Best Commercial Development Thailand

-Central Plaza Grand Rama9, Bangkok

-Crystal Design Center, Bangkok

-Sathorn Square, Bangkok

Green Development Award

-Horseshoe Point

-Le Monaco

-Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Resorts and Spas

Best Residential Agent (Bangkok)

-CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

-Plus Property Co., Ltd.

Best Residential Agent (Resort)

-CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

-Colliers International Thailand Co., Ltd.

-Premier Homes Real Estate Co., Ltd.

Best Commercial Agent

-CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

-Colliers International Thailand Co., Ltd.

-Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Ltd.

Best Property Management Company

-CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

-Colliers International Thailand Co., Ltd.

-Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand) Ltd.

Best Property Consultancy

-Aquarius Estate Co., Ltd.

-CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

-Colliers International Thailand Co., Ltd.

Best Overseas Property Agent

-CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

-Jones Lang Lasalle Hotels

-Savills (Thailand) Ltd

Best Residential Architectural Design

-Roof Architects for Malaiwana

-Habita Architects for Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Resorts and Spas

Best Commercial Architectural Design

-dwp for Crystal Design Center

-Palmer & Turner (Thailand) Ltd. for Sathorn Square

-Department of Architecture Co., Ltd. for Sun One Building

Best Landscape Architectural Design

-Banyan Tree Resorts & Spas (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Architrave Design & Planning Division for Banyan Tree Samui

-T.R.O.P Studio for Hilton Pattaya

-P LANDSCAPE for Phulay Bay at Ritz Carlton Reserve

Best Hotel Architectural Design

-Banyan Tree Resorts & Spas (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Architrave Design & Planning Division for Banyan Tree Samui.

-Habita Architects for Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Resorts and Spas

-Duangrit Bunnag Architect Ltd for X2 Resort Kui Buri

Best Residential Interior Design

-Bunnag Architects Int’l Consultants Co., Ltd. for Residences at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai.

-Brennan Beer Gorman Architects, New York; Plan Architect Co., Ltd., Thailand for The Residences at The St. Regis Bangkok

-Habita Architects for Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Resorts and Spas.

Best Property Website

www.cbre.co.th

www.joneslanglasalle.co.th

www.thevillage-coconutisland.com

Developed and managed by the Banyan Tree Group, Laguna Lăng Cô will, upon completion, be the first fully and legitimately integrated destination resort in Vietnam. It will also be the largest, with more than 2,000 hotel keys under the management of eight international branded hotel and resort operators, award-winning spas, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Sir Nick Faldo, resort residences, convention and recreational facilities.

Banyan Tree Group marked an important milestone in the success of this project when, on 23 September, the first investor purchased a Pool Deluxe apartment at Angsana Properties Lăng Cô. Mr. Michael Ayling, Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels PLC, indicated this first sale and others are consistent with Banyan Tree Group’s expectation that 70 percent of Phase I buyers would be Vietnamese nationals.

“The level of customer interest prior to and throughout the late-September launch was very high indeed, so it was gratifying to confirm this first sale and reserve several more,” said Ayling, who spoke on site in Lăng Cô, along with the golf course designer Nick Faldo, to a gathering of around 40 domestic and international media.

“We fully expect the participation of international buyers at Laguna Lăng Cô, especially in later phases,” Ayling continued. “However, we’re convinced this first phase will appeal especially to the Vietnamese, who know a sound investment when they see one and already recognize Lăng Cô to be an especially beautiful and convenient perch on the Central Coast.”

Phase I of Laguna Lăng Cô is comprised of three key components:

• Angsana Properties Lăng Cô is the initial Phase I product to be launched. It is a condominium-style resort with a total of 197 units, to be open in mid 2012.

• The Nick Faldo 18-hole Championship golf course will come second. It too, is slated for a grand opening in the second quarter of next year.

• Banyan Tree Lăng Cô, a sophisticated portfolio of 129 high-quality villas designed in harmony with the surrounding landscape, will launch sales in early 2012.

It’s worth noting, Ayling explained, that sales at Angsana Properties Lăng Cô were initiated only when construction of the apartments were all but complete; only the furnishing aspect remains. Unlike many resort ventures, in Vietnam and elsewhere, construction progress at Angsana Lăng Cô is funded through an internal development fund in excess of US$200 million, meaning the realization of the property component, the resort and golf course are not dependent on property sales.

According to Ayling, this first apartment owner at Angsana Properties Lăng Cô, and all those to follow, are all entitled to membership in the Angsana Properties Owners Club, wherein members can book complimentary stays at other Banyan Tree and Angsana resorts around the world.

More relevant to their investment, owners are guaranteed a 6% fixed return for 6-years, and 60 days of complementary use every year. When owners are offsite, Ayling explained, purchased properties are included in the hotel inventory, where Angsana management looks after the investment.

“This is the formula that has proved so successful at our flagship development, Laguna Phuket,” Ayling said. “We at Banyan Tree didn’t invent the dynamic, but I daresay that no one in Asia has deployed it more effectively on behalf of real estate investors. The Banyan Tree brand is well-known for its prestige all over the world— it signals luxury and signature Asian heritage to resort guests, whose attraction to the resort in turn complements and enhances the investment in villa ownership.”

The long-standing nature of Banyan Tree’s involvement is another key differentiator, Ayling continued. “Many hotel and resort operators lend their names to resort property ventures, where units are included as part of hotel inventory,” he said. “But the length of a typical hotel or resort operations contract is only 8-10 years. What happens when those recognizable brand names disassociate from the resort? Where does the new hotel brand leave the real estate investor? Laguna Phuket, for example, was founded in 1987, and the Banyan Tree brand has never left its management to anyone else. That is the long-term brand commitment we offer here at Laguna Lăng Cô.”

Returning to Lăng Cô for the second time in 12 months, Faldo was able to inspect the rough shaping work now complete on 14 of the 18 holes. “This golf course is shaping up nicely and already has some wonderful movement,” said the 6-time major champion, following his September site visit. “The diverse character of the terrain allowed us to incorporate some very interesting and unusual features.

“In addition to several views of the ocean, golfers will experience the course’s amphitheatre-like mountain backdrop and the rich variety of woodland, scrub and rocky outcrops that feature throughout the round,” Faldo added.

1978 | IT’S CATCHING ON …
Consumer membership triples to 30,000, with 130 member resorts.

1980 | AND ON …

An IBM computer system and toll-free telephone lines are installed at Interval. Consumer membership increases to 80,000, with 250 resorts.

1981 | TRAVEL AGENCY OPENS
To serve the extensive travel needs of the growing member base, Interval World Travel — known today as Interval Travel® — is established.

1982 | QUALITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
The Interval International Five Star Award®, the industry’s first quality-recognition program, is created.

1984 | THE BIG 5-0-0
Member resort number 500 is affiliated, and Inc. magazine selects Interval as one of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the United States.

1985 | QUALITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME, PART II
Membership increases to 225,000. Interval and Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration develop a Quality Rating System for exclusive use by Interval International. A refined version of this system is still used today to measure and maintain the excellence of Interval’s resort network.

1987 | RAISING THE BAR
Interval International introduces WorldCard Preferred, the predecessor of today’s Interval Gold®, and becomes the first exchange company to offer an enhanced membership program.

1988 | DUAL EXCHANGE DEBUTS
Dual Exchange, with the Deposit First and Request First methods of vacation exchange, is successfully implemented, giving members more options and flexibility.

1989 | WORLDWIDE EXPANSION
Interval begins an ongoing major expansion that will continue for years to come, opening offices throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America, to best serve consumer members and resort clients.

1991 | AND A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Interval launches Worldex Travel Club (now Leisure Time Passport®), the industry’s first product for non-buyers.

1995 | ALIGNING WITH THE BEST
By this time, several renowned hospitality brands, as well as the leading independent developers, have signed on with Interval International, and the company becomes the first major vacation exchange service to establish a presence on the Internet.

1996 | 20 YEARS!
Interval International celebrates its 20th anniversary and creates the first Resort Directory on CD-ROM. Membership approaches 700,000.

1998 | INVESTMENT CONFERENCES DEBUT
Interval spearheads an investment conference, the first of what will become an annual event, today known as the Shared Ownership Investment Conference.

1999 | OVER 1 MILLION SERVED
Interval welcomes its millionth member. Interval Preferred members can take to the seas with the exciting new cruise exchange service, and all members can now book Getaways online.

2000 | A NEW MILLENNIUM
While some Y2K theorists predict that a computer programming flaw will cause the world to go “dark” at the dawn of the next millennium, Interval International introduces real-time online services for booking air travel, hotel reservations, and car rentals.

2001 | SILVER ANNIVERSARY
Interval International celebrates 25 years of exemplary service; and depositing a week, requesting an exchange, and checking on the status of an exchange become as simple as the click of a mouse when Interval debuts online exchange.

2002 | NEW OWNERSHIP, NEW BENEFITS
Interval is purchased by USA Interactive (now IAC), the world’s leading interactive commerce company. Interval Preferred relaunches as Interval Gold, which introduces Interval Options® — an expansion of cruise exchange that includes golf and spa vacations — and the Gold ConciergeSM (now VIP ConciergeSM) personal assistance service.

2003 | THE GROWTH CONTINUES
Interval’s consumer membership exceeds 1.5 million families, and its global network includes more than 2,000 affiliated resorts.

2006 | INTERVAL REACHES 30!
Nearly 1.8 million families around the globe now enjoy Interval membership.

2007 | THE BEST IS ALWAYS PREFERRED
With the Preferred Hotel Group, Interval creates Preferred Residences®, a branded exchange program for fractional, private residence club, and condo-hotel properties.

2008 | GOING PUBLIC
As part of Interval Leisure Group, Interval becomes a public company, and begins trading as IILG on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Shared Ownership Investment Conference marks its 10th anniversary. Interval introduces Dream Vacation Week certificate program to help generate resort tours.

2009 | BRIGHT IDEAS
Interval introduces a short-term vacation program, as well as ShortStay ExchangeSM.

2010 | APPS, BLOGS, GOLD, AND MORE
Interval rolls out: smartphone and iPad apps for searches of the Interval International Resort Directory ; online Interval Community; and Club Interval GoldSM, points-based exchange for owners of fixed- or floating-week timeshares.

2011 | INTERVAL TURNS 35!
Interval International celebrates 35 years of service. Interval PlatinumSM, an enhanced membership level for discerning travelers, is introduced. Interval’s network includes about 2,600 resorts in more than 75 countries. Through offices in 14 nations, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs.

Powering ahead in Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has today announced it has surpassed the 200th hotel milestone with a flurry of recent openings in China, India, Thailand and Malaysia. Starwood continues to widen its lead as the largest operator of four and five star hotels in Asia Pacific with plans to reach over 320 hotels by 2014.

“The opening of our 200th hotel in Asia Pacific underscores the vitality of this market and its importance to our future growth,” said Frits van Paasschen, President & CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Demand for our high-caliber brands continues to soar across Asia’s many dynamic markets, driven by phenomenal economic growth and significant increases in outbound travel, particularly from China and India.”

“In 2001, Starwood had around 80 hotels in all of Asia Pacific, just ten years later we are celebrating the opening of our 200th hotel,” said Miguel Ko, President, Starwood’s Asia Pacific Division. “Through the strength of our brands and our strong teams, we’ve more than doubled our footprint and added over 40,000 jobs to the region. Starwood’s momentum continues, we will open nearly 35 hotels in 2012 and welcome over 10,000 new associates to our team.”

China will play an outsized role in global travel within the next decade as one of the world’s fastest growing travel markets, with 100 million outbound travelers expected by 2015. India is now Starwood’s fourth largest market and a close second to China in terms of future hotel development. Starwood is experiencing robust demand in many of Asia’s other fast-growing economies including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. In Indonesia, Starwood will add another four hotels by 2012 to its current portfolio of 12 properties. With the opening of Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11, Thailand will be the first country in the South East Asia region to have eight out of nine Starwood brands

“We are delighted to work with Ciputra Group, a visionary developer with 30 years of experience, on this highly anticipated project” 

“Following the opening of W Bali, the expansion into Jakarta is another milestone in bringing the W brand to the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities and resort destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “W Jakarta will offer escape, extravaganza and innovative design in the heart of one of the city’s most vibrant districts, redefining the contemporary lifestyle and bringing a completely new and distinctive experience to the hotel market in Jakarta.”

Founded in 1998 in New York City, W Hotels continues to transform into a global powerhouse. When it opens in 2015, W Jakarta is slated to become the W brand’s twelfth property in the Asia Pacific region, following the 2014 openings of W Beijing and W Shanghai. With more than 13 years of proven success, W Hotels is on track to reach 60 hotels by the end of 2015 in vibrant destinations around the world, from Paris to Bangkok, Singapore to Mumbai, and Milan to Verbier, Switzerland.

“We are delighted to work with Ciputra Group, a visionary developer with 30 years of experience, on this highly anticipated project,” said Chuck Abbott, Regional Vice President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Brunei. “W Jakarta will change the landscape of Jakarta’s luxurious hotels and will provide guests and locals alike with W’s vibrant signature programming set in a stunning, cutting-edge design environment at the heart of Jakarta’s CBD.”

More than a hotel brand, W Hotels has established itself as an iconic lifestyle brand, offering guests unprecedented insider access to a world of “Wow” through contemporary cool design, fashion, music, nightlife, and entertainment. W Hotels forever changed the hospitality landscape with a series of industry firsts in the past 13 years, including: the transformation of the hotel lobby into the W Living Room experience; the introduction of the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever service philosophy; extension of the lifestyle experience into retail through W Hotels the Store; the launch of the W iPhone application, offering more than 55 hours of free, curated music by W’s Global Music Director; the reinterpretation of the hotel mini-bar into the W “Munchie Box” to present the brand’s lifestyle point of view; the reinvention of the presidential suite into W’s “Extreme Wow” and “Wow” suites; and the transformation of the pool deck into the W Wet Deck, where you can expect nothing but the extraordinary.

Despite the fact that TripAdvisor and a recent Channel 4 documentary questioning whether or not all reviews can be trusted have both been making headlines in the travel news lately, regarding doubts that some online reviews are not totally credible, 76% of those surveyed by Netflights said they rely heavily on site reviews when choosing where to stay on holiday.

Of the 550 travellers surveyed, all of whom have travelled long haul at least once in the last 12 months, the vast majority said that on the whole they found the content on online review sites to be a valuable guide.

Perhaps more encouraging for hoteliers and timeshare resort owners and operators is the fact that only 12% would rule out a hotel on the basis of one negative online review. However, 54% would choose alternative accommodations if two or more reviewers had indicated that service, facilities or another part of the holiday experience were not up to expectations. 18% claimed these sites only make up part of the hotel decision making process, and that other more traditional factors such as price and location were important.

Surprisingly, a tiny minority, less than 5% of respondents suspected that any content on review sites was biased in any way. A Netflights.com spokesperson said: “Our advice to our customers is always to consider the possible motives of online reviewers and bear in mind that human nature dictates that people are more likely to report a negative experience than a positive one. Seek the advice of family, friends or friends of friends as well as that of impartial travel professionals, whether over the phone or on the high street.”

The results of the survey are good news for online review sites including TripAdvisor as they battle to protect their reputations as a fair and impartial consumer champions. Now that postcards are slowly going the way of the dinosaur, social media such as Facebook and Twitter, with their facility to post photos of locations and resorts, are playing a major role in influencing people’s holiday choices and inspiring them – or not! – to try new destinations, based on the first hand holiday experiences of friends, colleagues and family members.

“The Starwood Asia Pacific Villa Collection offers a large and diverse selection of exclusive, breathtaking settings from which to explore Asia Pacific’s most exciting locations and captivating countries,” said Alison Taylor, Vice President of Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. “Whether you’re looking for the perfect honeymoon retreat or an exciting family adventure, Starwood has made it easier to match the perfect location to the ideal experience.”

Designed for privacy and luxury, the villas are ideally situated to take advantage of the resort’s best features, such as panoramic ocean views, convenient poolside or beach access, or privacy. Many of the villas in the collection offer private pools, outdoor dining areas, state-of-the-art kitchens, and multiple bedrooms.

Most of the resorts offer luxurious spas and unique dining destinations, as well as access to world-class recreation such as snorkelling, diving, championship golf, sailing, deep-sea fishing and more.

Some, like the tropical island villas at The St. Regis Bali Resort, come with your own personal St. Regis Butler. Others, like the contemporary villas at the Le Meridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa feature indoor-outdoor bathrooms and showers. Still others, like the chic ocean villas at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, boast uninterrupted ocean views and outdoor areas with plunge pool, daybed, outdoor rainforest shower, private BBQ hammock and garden seating.

The Starwood Asia Pacific Villa Collection includes the following resorts:

• Australia: Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa Gold Coast; Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort

• China: Sheraton Sanya Resort; Le Meridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort & Spa; Le Meridien Xiamen

• Fiji: Sheraton Danarau Villas

• India: The Westin Sohna Resort & Spa

• Indonesia: The Laguna, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali; The St. Regis Bali Resort; W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak

• Malaysia: The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa

• Maldives: Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa; W Retreat & Spa Maldives

• New Caledonia: Le Meridien Ile des Pins

• Thailand: Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort; The Naka Island – A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa; The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket; Le Meridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa; W Koh Samui

More properties are under development and will be added to the collection include Vana Belle Samui Resort & Spa, Samui; The Westin Ubud Resort & Spa, Bali; The Westin Jaipur, Infotech City, India; The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort; and, Sheraton Guangzhou Huadu Resort.

The quarterly Total Operating Income of the Company was reported as INR 107.5mn, as compared to INR 71mn for the same period last year, representing a 51% growth in revenues. The Company reported a loss of INR 117.1mn for the quarter as it continues to invest in adding new resorts to its portfolio.

The Company has been expanding rapidly, adding 3 new resorts in Q2 alone. The Company added 2 new destinations – Thekkady and Karwar – to its resort network, and opened a second resort in Goa (Villagio Inn). With the additions of these resorts, the Company now has 17 resorts. The Company is also in the process of negotiating to open up more destinations in its footprint.

Commenting on the results, Ramesh Ramanathan, Managing Director, Sterling Holidays said “The Q2 results indicate the continuing resurgence of Sterling Holidays, as evidenced by the 51% topline growth. We are currently investing in upgrading our existing resorts and in expanding into more holiday destinations. We are also building a highly skilled and experienced team in all key functions and increasing our sales footprint. We are confident that these investments will lead to rapid growth in the time to come.”

Voted one of the top 20 Top Resort Properties in Asia by Property Report magazine, The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui is making its debut in the Hong Kong market with a series of invitation-only launch events in Hong Kong, from 4th to 7th November 2011 at W Hong Kong.

For the Hong Kong debut, 12 villas, including four new beachfront residences are available for sale in Hong Kong, with prices starting from HKD16.3 million.

Owned and developed by Amburaya Hotels & Resorts and Istithmar World, The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui, Thailand, along with W Retreat Koh Samui, brings a new dimension of cutting-edge design, contemporary lifestyle, modern comfort and a new level of indulgence to Thailand.

“We are thrilled to have this unique opportunity to present The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui directly to discerning buyers in Hong Kong,” said Sunny Bajaj, Managing Director of Amburaya Hotels & Resorts.  “The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui represent a perfect convergence of opportunities for discerning owners – one of the world’s most exclusive resort destinations, the world’s most desired lifestyle residential brand and all its attendant services, and world-class residences with contemporary design and modern comfort,” added Bajaj.

“Engel & Voelkers Thailand and Hong Kong are both delighted to be associated with The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui, a lifestyle quality development,” said Duangjai Kraus, Executive Chairman of Engel & Voelkers, Thailand, the appointed agent for the project’s launch in Hong Kong.

“As foreign buyers from Europe and Asia are returning to Thailand’s resort property markets, we are seeing increased demand for investment properties as well as holiday homes compared with the previous year.  Branded resort properties are increasingly popular among foreign buyers with emphasis on lifestyle as they are a perfect combination of both an investment and leisure portfolio.  The demand from Hong Kong buyers for luxury villas has always been strong with buyers looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of a city to the tropical beach lifestyle in Koh Samui and Phuket.”

Koh Samui is regarded as one of the world’s most exclusive tropical resort destinations (Koh Samui was listed third in the New York Times’ list of ‘Places to Go in 2011′).  This third largest island in Thailand is a favorite getaway for global jetsetters and avid trend seekers on the trail of what’s next, those seeking to be wowed by the finer things in life – particularly those inspired by the W brand’s unique mix of contemporary cool design, modern comfort, and innovative style.  This includes everyone from busy executives, those looking for a weekend or holiday home to early retirees with time to appreciate Thailand and Koh Samui’s culture, cuisine, sun, sea and sand.

Among the many distinguishing characteristics of The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui are its limited number – only 12 private residences for sale, a true symbol of prestige and exclusivity and its prime location on a stunning 900 meters shoreline, surrounded by verdant foliage.  The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui adjoin the W Retreat Koh Samui at Maenam Beach on the island’s sublimely beautiful north shore — arguably the best location on Koh Samui, given its secluded beach and interesting topography — providing all residents and guests with excellent views.

The Residences at W Retreat Koh Samui offer owners a combination of stylish beachfront villas, ranging from two to five bedrooms and from 515 to 1,170 square meters (built up area).  Each residence is a study in tropical Zen style with exotic touches, and each offers full access to the signature W comforts, services and amenities available at the award winning W Retreat Koh Samui, voted to Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious ‘Hot List’ for 2011 and Travel + Leisure’s ‘It List: The Best New Hotels in 2011′.

“Interval members looking for a relaxing holiday will appreciate all that the Golden Tulip Mangosteen Resort and Spa has to offer,” said Joe Hickman, Interval’s executive director for Asia Pacific. “The resort borders a national park at the quiet southern end of Phuket. From the balcony hammock of your villa, you are only five minutes from Nai Harn, a white-sand beach that’s never crowded–even during the peak season.”

Situated on just over five acres (two hectares), Mangosteen Resort is home to Phuket’s only Ayurveda spa. Ayurveda originated in India more than 5,000 years ago as a wellness discipline integrating the body, mind, and spirit. After a complimentary consultation with the spa’s certified Ayurvedic doctor, each guest receives a personalized programme that includes rejuvenating treatments and massage therapies, diet, and lifestyle recommendations.

Other on-site amenities underline the organic theme of the resort. The 7,300 square foot (680 square metres) saline swimming pool, with 14 waterfalls set in tropical gardens, is open around the clock. The restaurant’s Asian/Western cuisine uses mostly organic ingredients from small, local farms. The resort also has a fitness centre and an open-air bar and lounge with live music.

All 40 split-level, villa-style units are surrounded by foliage that feels like a private garden. They are spacious and include a balcony or terrace with a sea view. Bedrooms have separate sitting areas and some units include whirlpool tubs. High ceilings, locally made furniture, and al fresco bathrooms with large rain showers add to the boutique feel. Other en-suite amenities include cable TV with more than 60 international stations, Wi-Fi, bathrobes, and indoor/outdoor slippers.

Guests at the Mangosteen Resort are invited to ride the complimentary Thai-style shuttle to Nai Harn Beach. The north end of the beach is known for its exceptional snorkelling and Promthep Cape Viewpoint is renowned for its sunsets. Scooters, jet skis, and parasailing are banned on the beach and, aside from a few local restaurants in the shade of large casuarina trees, there are few commercial vendors.

“You haven’t truly experienced Phuket until you’ve spent some time on the southern end of Phuket Island,” said Hajo Von Keller, managing director of the Golden Tulip Mangosteen Resort and Spa. “We’re very excited about becoming part of Interval International’s quality worldwide exchange network. We think once Interval members arrive at our tranquil, private piece of paradise they will never want to leave.”

The resort is 45 minutes from Phuket airport and close to attractions such as the Big Buddha of Phuket, as well as busier beaches, activities, restaurants, and shopping.