CBRE LOOKS BACK 30 YEARS ON THE BANGKOK CONDOMINIUM MARKET

Bangkok, 4 July 2018 – CBRE is celebrating its 30th anniversary of the opening of the company in Bangkok and Ms. Aliwassa Pathnadabutr, managing director of CBRE Thailand, looks back at the last 30 years of condominium development in Bangkok. “When I first joined the company, which was called Richard Ellis in 1988, there were only about 2,600 completed condominium units in downtown Bangkok and now there are 140,000 and about 630,000 in the whole city.”

In 1988, it was possible to buy a condominium unit off-plan in downtown Bangkok for around THB 20,000 - 25,000 per square metre, but purchasers got a bare concrete shell with a very basic bathroom. There were no wall, floor or ceiling finishes, no fitted kitchen, air conditioning, lighting or electrical outlets provided by the developer. Today most condominiums are sold on a fully-fitted basis, including air conditioning and kitchens with appliances and purchasers just need to provide loose furniture.

Prices for new buildings have risen by more than 1,000 per cent with many new condominiums selling for over THB 300,000 per square metre in prime locations. In the late 1980’s, the most expensive condominium project was Somkid Gardens, behind Central Chidlom, where you could have bought a unit off-plan for around 35,000 baht per square metre. Today the most expensive condominium development in Bangkok is 98 Wireless where the developer, Sansiri, says they have sold a unit for more than THB 700,000 per square metre.

The Condominium Act permitting the sale of freehold strata title condominium property came into effect in 1979 and for the first few years there was only limited development.

The late 1980’s and early 1990’s were Thailand’s “Asian Tiger” years where more than 90,000 condominium units were built in Bangkok. The condominium market was highly speculative with people trading off-plan contracts as if they were shares, with little thought about design, specification or who the end-user target market was.

The result was that some of the developments from that period were quite poor quality. The speculative bubble started to cool in 1994 and finally burst in 1997 with the Asian Financial Crisis. The market came to a halt with construction stopping on half-built projects and no sales. Prices did not immediately fall as the foreclosure process was so inefficient and it was not until the early 2,000’s that unsold inventory was cleared and unfinished projects started to be completed. The first new launches did not take place until 2003.

Since then there has been a big jump in demand, especially in the midtown areas, as young people now leave home before marriage and can afford to buy their own home. It is this social change and increase in disposable income that has fuelled the mainly one-bedroom midtown condominium market.

Wealthy Thais have also started to favour living in a condominium, especially as Bangkok has become a more geographically centrally focused city with the best offices, shopping centres, restaurants and hospitals being in the city centre. The mass transit system has anchored the city centre which is now far more clearly defined and condominium developments have been clustered around mass transit stations in the centre and midtown and suburban areas.

Overall the Bangkok condominium market has seen 15 years of growth with only a brief slowdown during the 2008 global financial crisis.

The Bangkok market still has one feature that makes it different to many other property markets around the world and that is the relatively low level of secondary sales. Most Thai buyers still prefer new properties bought off-plan or on completion. There are speculative buyers who purchase with intention of reselling before completion of construction, but a relatively low level of re-sales after completion. The gap in pricing between new and old condominiums is growing and only few buildings more than five years old have prices that are close to the prices of new projects in the same location. In Singapore, owners of some older buildings have agreed to sell the whole block in a collective sale for redevelopment where the land value now exceeds the total price of all the units, but that has not happened in Bangkok, partly because the Thai condominium law requires 100% agreement of all co-owners to revoke the condominium.

“I have seen a huge improvement in design, specification and build quality over the last 30 years with developers clearly focused on end-user requirements,” said Ms. Aliwassa. “Looking forward, the market will fluctuate depending on the economic climate and we may see a more active interest in older buildings as purchasers start to see the value in renovation, but there will, as with all cities, still be demand for new buildings.”

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The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Baan Dek Foundation leverage networks and technology to educate vulnerable children in Thailand

Through the MIT Solve platform in 2017, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) formed a partnership with Baan Dek Foundation to support the “Digital Superheroes Academy.” This educational app teaches life skills, soft skills, and tech literacy to children living in urban slums and construction site camps throughout Thailand. These skills are taught in the form of ‘superpowers,’ and as children successfully complete each superpower, they graduate as superheroes!  

This collaboration between the Australian DFAT and BDF has extended far beyond a traditional financial partnership. In December 2017, Ambassador Paul Robilliard from the Australian Embassy in Bangkok visited BDF’s office and field programs in Chiang Mai. In learning about the Digital Superheroes Academy’s potential for scale-up, Ambassador Robilliard discovered that the Project Staff need to find a mobile app developer, but they were struggling to find someone with the desired skillset and budget.

Ambassador Robilliard activated his personal network and put BDF in touch with DollarSmart Global, a FinTech start-up based in Thailand, whose CEO Dwight Willis quickly matched BDF with a team of mobile developers who were an excellent match for the unique needs of the Digital Superheroes Academy. Today, this team of mobile developers are working closely with BDF to transform the Digital Superheroes Academy from a web app into a mobile app, which will make it possible for children and families to access the app from their own smartphones anywhere in Thailand.  

The Australian DFAT has also provided BDF with a Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, who is assisting project staff to develop robust tracking of the project’s social impact. This specialized expertise will further enhance project scale-up and results.

Also in December 2017, the Australian Embassy in Bangkok’s Direct Aid Program announced funding to improve the physical infrastructure of these children’s living environments. This project has led to transformative WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) improvements in slums and construction site camps where these children live. This project also educates communities about ways to improve and maintain WASH standards in their own living environments.  

From improved standard of living in these communities to the international scale-up of the Digital Superheroes Academy, these collaborations between BDF, the Australian DFAT, and the Australia Direct Aid Program exemplify how meaningful partnerships can successfully address global challenges.

BDF would like to thank its partners the Australian DFAT, MIT Solve, and the Australian Direct Aid Program on their wide range of contributions to the Digital Superheroes Academy. To learn more about these projects, contact BDF Director of Strategy & Partnerships Allison Sanders at allison@baandekfoundation.org.

The Digital Superheroes Academy is supported by the Australian Government and the ENGIE Foundation.

Source: http://www.baandekfoundation.org/blog

Seven New Marinas to Support Tourism

Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya is investing 100 million baht to increase the number of berths for yachts.

Marine tourism in the Gulf of Thailand is set to grow significantly as the government readies plans for seven new marinas.

Scott Finsten, harbour master of Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya, said the new marina projects will be build along the east and west coasts.

Targeted locations are Chumphon, Trat and Sattahip district in Chon Buri, as well as on Koh Samui and in Prachuap Khiri Khan (possibly Pran Buri district).

But development is subject to further study, and some projects may be built by the private sector.

There are four marinas operating in the country, three of which are in the Gulf of Thailand: Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya, Siam Royal View Koh Chang and Racer Marina in Pran Buri, with a total capacity of 615 berths. Phuket in the Andaman Sea has 736 berths.

Mr Finsten said the government aims to promote Thailand as a hub of marine tourism in Southeast Asia by investing in the Thailand Riviera project in the gulf at an estimated cost of 7 billion baht.

He pointed out that Pattaya on the eastern gulf coast is now able to link with Hua Hin on the west coast via ferry service, making Pattaya a travel hub on the east coast.

Pattaya is also growing as a business hub because of the government's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme.

Mr Finsten said the marine industry on the east coast is picking up steam, with charter and day trips up 20% year-on-year and the number of new boats sold up 10%.

"International yachts visiting the area are also increasing after the government allowed yacht visitors to stay 12 months per visit, up from less than six months in the past," he said.

Overall, Thailand has more berths than Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia combined. The cost of rental, maintenance and services is also lower in Thailand.

With about 30% lower expense, Thailand has a chance to become a marine tourism hub in the region, Mr Finsten said.

"At Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya, we are investing about 100 million baht in expanding berth capacity and services, which will be completed in August this year," he said. "Once completed, we will be able to cater to the increased demand by raising berths by 15% from 380 currently to 440 berths."

Pattaya's popularity as a seaside destination is at an all-time high, with more than 14 million visitors in 2017. The figure is set to rise further with planned additional capacity at U-tapao airport and as the EEC starts to take shape.

Ocean Marina said it invests more than 10 million baht each year to host the Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show, a key platform to boost business and tourism in the region.

This year's 7th Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show is scheduled for Nov 29-Dec 2 and is expected to generate more than 2 billion baht for the industry.

Napong Paripontpochanapisuti, acting managing director of Ocean Property Co, said the boat show has shown steady growth over the last six years, with the number of visitors reaching a record high in 2017 of nearly 6,000, up 23% from the year before.

Last year, Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya took in 200 million baht in revenue. The club expects 10% growth this year.

Source: Bangkok Post

Class of 2018- Outstanding KIS Students, Are Welcomed By Top Universities

Congratulations to the graduates of KIS International School Class of 2018!

Our class of 2018, a close-knit group of 34 students from 13 countries, has been offered 112 places by 79 universities in 10 countries. Almost all of these universities are top-ranked in their country and in the world. This year’s graduating class also received university scholarships worth more than an astounding 2,000,000 US Dollars.  

Our students will be taking majors in many different areas. They will study Aviation, Psychology, Environmental Science, Marketing, Medicine, Media & Reporting, Marine Biology, Engineering, Film, Screenwriting, Fashion, Maths, Business, Finance, Design, Architecture, Computer Science, Music Production, Science, Design, Communication and International Justice & Human Rights.

Some of the universities they have been accepted at include:

University of Toronto (Canada); University of California – Berkeley, UCLA, University of Southern California, Amherst College, Colby College, Wesleyan University (United States); Durham University, University of Warwick, University of Exeter, University of Leeds, University of Bristol, King's College London (United Kingdom); Monash University and University of Melbourne (Australia- TBC); University of Amsterdam, University of Leiden (Netherlands); University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong), and many more.

Congratulations to the class of 2018. We wish them all the best for their bright futures!

If you would like to be a part of KIS’ success stories, please contact: admissions@kis.ac.th

KIS International School is an IB World School, offering the International Baccalaureatefor children from 3- 18. This academically rigorous and balanced curriculum consists of the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma. KIS has around 700 students from 55 countries. 

KIS is a medium-sized school with a warm and caring atmosphere. The campus, located close to the centre of town, is green and spacious and has elaborate facilities. Our exceptional, vibrant and supportive teachers encourage our students’ love of learning.KIS graduates go to excellent universities around the world.

KIS International School is licensed by the Thai Ministry of Education.  It is an active member of the International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT) and East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS).  KIS is authorised by the International Baccalaureate and is an accredited member of the Council of International Schools (CIS). 

www.kis.ac.th

Contact: 

Linda Belonje

Director of Marketing and Development

KIS International School

02-2743444 ext 4116, linda@kis.ac.th 

 

BANGKOK RANKED 92^ND IN GLOBAL OFFICE RENTS

Bangkok, 26 June 2018 – CBRE Research has just released the 2018 Prime Office Occupancy Costs report which surveys the rents of the most prime office building in 120 cities around the world. Based on the survey, Bangkok was the 92^nd most expensive city with the most prime offices, as of Q1 2018, achieving average rent at THB 1,186 per square meter per month. Hong Kong (Central) had the most expensive prime office rents at THB 8,673 per square meter per month. This is followed by London’s West End and Beijing’s Finance Street at THB 6,649 and THB 5,684 per square meter per month, respective

 

Note:  Office rents include service charges and taxes and are standardized on a net internal area basis.

Exchange rate as of Q1 2018 according to Bank of Thailand:

USD 1 = THB 31.54

Palma de Mallorca, Spain, had the cheapest prime office rent out of total 120 cities in the survey achieving rents of only THB 505 per square meter per month. Cape Town, South Africa and Montreal (Suburban), Canada, were the second and third cheapest office rents at THB 587 and THB 632 per square meter per month.

On the bright side, Bangkok was the city with the second largest annual increases in prime rents with the best buildings like Gaysorn Tower at Ratchaprasong intersection, seeing a 16.9% annual increases in US dollar terms. Durban in South Africa had the biggest increase with a 21.4% rise compared to last year. At the other end of the scale, Dubai, Shanghai (Puxi) and Midtown Manhattan, New York, saw the biggest drops in rental with falls of between 9.4% – 15.4%.

CBRE Research expects that Bangkok’s office rents will continued to rise for the next three years and that the best buildings will command a premium over average grade A office rents.

 

Sports & Lifestyle Destination Hotels – Developing Resorts for Today’s Active Guests

 With a focus on healthy eating and an active lifestyle wherever we look today, business travellers and holiday makers alike are becoming more discerning in their choice of hotel whether for a night, a weekend or longer.  Destinations and hotels are chosen based on the sports facilities and activities offered, for both young and old.

Pattana Golf Club & Resort has been popular with golfers for a long time, and this is still the primary focus of the resort, but in recent years more varied activities have been developed and a focus on participation in multi-discipline sports such as triathlons and adventure races encouraged.  The passion of the owners and management team for cycling and triathlons has enthused many of our team and colleagues to take up sports, and together we have developed training weekends throughout the year for people to enjoy the facilities at Pattana both free of charge and for selected weekends with professional coaches.  These training weekends are open to everyone, and we even offer tri-training for the little ones during the year.  You are never too young to get involved in sports!

The 400-acre resort is a true sporting lifestyle destination in the heart of the Chonburi countryside, encompassing a 27-hole championship golf course, a 30-bay driving range, four standard size football fields, one with a stadium seating 7,000, and a swimming pool.  Pattana sponsors a junior Thai football team, living and training on site, and hosts many competitions for local and international teams throughout the year.  Sports camps of varying disciplines, corporate team building and individual athletes alike benefit from the extensive and varied facilities at Pattana Golf Club & Resort.  The beautiful green countryside and undulating hills lend themselves to cycling and running training, and with both a swimming pool and lake, even long distance competitive swimming is possible.  And of course, the amazing golf course is popular with corporate golf events and golfers from the city and surrounding areas throughout the year. Just 1 ½ hours from Bangkok, and 30 minutes from Pattaya or Bang Saen Beach, Pattana Golf Club & Resort offers a wide range of accommodation from villas for families and groups, to 117 4* rooms in our 3-storey hotel and 70 rooms in our Mansion building suited to long stay guests, students, or groups on a budget. Conference and meeting rooms are adaptable for groups from 10 to 800 people, with tailor made packages and programmes for meetings, training, seminars, exhibitions, trade fairs, wedding parties and many other activities. Persimmon, located on the second floor of the main Club House building serves international menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as 24-hour room service. Never content to sit still, Pattana Golf Club & Resort is continuing to develop to serve the local community and visitors from further afield with a new restaurant and entertainment complex, Fame, opening late 2018.  Fame is a destination dining venue including 5 international standard restaurants as well as flexible entertainment and meeting areas.  By early 2019 we will also have 2 futsal pitches, a private 6km uninterrupted purpose-built cycle track, a 2km running track, a 6-lane Olympic-size swimming pool and an extensive fitness centre/gymnasium. Pattana Golf Club & Resort is the ideal destination for leisure, business or sporting activities for young and old.  A destination for everyone, in the heart of the Thai countryside. For further information, visit www.pattana.co.th or email us at sales@pattana.co.th

 

 

The first grade A building in Bangkok was Diethelm Towers, now called GPF Witthayu Towers, on Wireless Road which was completed in 1992 and achieved rents of over 800 baht per square metre per month.  This was the first building to have variable air volume, air-conditioning improving the ability to keep all parts of the office floor at a constant temperature.

The 1997 Financial Crisis had a huge impact on the Bangkok office market, the closure of the finance companies and downsizing of other tenants meant that in 1998 the total amount of occupied office space fell by almost 300,000 square metres and vacancy rates rose to almost 40%.

Rents in most buildings halved when leases came up for renewal. It was only in 2004 that grade A rentals were able to reach the levels that they were at in 1994.

Some of the biggest changes have been in the design and specification of office buildings. Thai developers have listened to tenants’ requirements in terms of providing column free, regular-shaped floor plates, ceiling heights of more than 2.8 metres, adequate lift provision and sophisticated air-conditioning systems. The highest specification office buildings in Bangkok such as Gaysorn Tower, AIA Sathorn Tower and Park Ventures Ecoplex match the quality of the best office buildings in other countries.

About 80% of the total Bangkok office stock is single ownership buildings and there has been no new strata-title office condominium development for more than 20 years.  This is because tenants prefer single ownership buildings because of better management and the ability to deal with a single owner making it easier to expand within the same building.

 The way that tenants use office premises has also changed dramatically, in most cases the days of each manager having their own enclosed office are gone and the move has been towards open-plan, flexible work space.

 In some cases, companies have moved to activity-based workspace, without each employee having an allocated desk.  This has resulted in a much greater population density on office floors requiring better air-conditioning and more efficient lifts.

“Tenants are demanding a greater range of services from landlords and do not just want to pay rent for a concrete box,” said Roongrat Veeraparkkaroon, Director of Advisory & Transaction Services - Office at CBRE Thailand.

 Tenants also want a higher specification. “They want to be able to control climate in different areas of the office and to adjust lighting levels.  They also require more facilities in the property not just a coffee shop and convenience store,” commented Ms. Roongrat. Some tenants want flexible workspace providers such as serviced offices and co-working space to be in the building.

30 years ago, office tenants were just starting to demand features like fire sprinklers, now they are much more sophisticated and demanding a higher specification and more facilities.  Many large multinational and Thai companies are concerned about sustainability and want energy efficient buildings with LEED certification.

A new generation of office buildings are now being designed in Bangkok with construction due to start from 2018 onwards and these buildings will have to cater to the increasingly complex demands from tenants who want higher specifications and a greater range and level of services within the building. Tenants are demanding a much higher standard of property management in terms of maintenance, safety procedures and customer service.

Location has always been a critical factor, but the completion of the BTS skytrain in 1999 changed tenants’ priorities. “Today, almost every tenant CBRE speaks to wants to be near and preferably with direct covered access to a mass transit station,” said Ms. Roongrat.

Rent is still one of the most important factors for tenants when choosing their new office premises, followed by the location, which is how close the office building is both to the CBD and a mass transit station.

Selecting an office building is now not just about location and cost.  Recruiting the best employees is challenging and providing an attractive workplace in terms of location, quality of building and the workspace itself can provide companies with a unique selling point to help them win the struggle to attract talent.  This means that the quality of design, specification, facilities and services in a building are becoming increasingly important.

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Cheers to Thirty-Five Years, With One Big Thanks!

 Reaching yet another striking milestone in hospitality, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers invites you to celebrate 35 years of its heritage this July — and what more to mark this special occasion than with a wide array of promotions? As special moments are made to be shared, the hotel continues to provide the incentive of delicious cuisine from 1-31 July by weaving special privileges and treats through the dining experience at our renowned riverside restaurants. For all buffets at Feast, one adult pays normal price and another accompanying adult pays only 35 Baht. Riverside Grill, Giorgio’s and Thara Thong offer THB35 for every second main course order.

At a 35% discount, spa luxury is at the fingertips with an elegant, Balinese-inspired massage that will leave the senses soothed and rejuvenated. Harkening to the belief that health and well-being are vital necessities to human satisfaction, take the opportunity to also apply for annual member at our Health & Fitness Center at a special rate of 35% off.

As it can never just be all play and no work, corporate conferences are still included in the affair with the availability of Triple Starpoints® on eligible revenue for meetings booked during the four weeks for arrival by 30 September 2018.

Celebrate with us as we mark this occasion. Book now and enjoy our incredible anniversary benefits and giveaway from 1 July – 31 July 2018. Stand your chances to win many exciting awards with our lucky draw, including accommodation vouchers, spa vouchers and many more.

To learn more about anniversary benefits, please visit http://www.royalorchidsheraton.com/35anniversary.

For more information or reservations, please call 02 266 0123, e-mail: events.rosh@sheraton.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/royalorchidsheratonhotel, website: www.royalorchidsheraton.com, or Line@: @rosheratonbangkok. Shuttle boat service is available from Saphan Taksin BTS Station to the Hotel every half-hour.

 

 HISTORICAL MEMORY ALONG THE RIVER OF KINGS ABOARD SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, BANGKOK’S HORIZON CRUISE

 Bangkok, June 2018 – Individual or group travellers can relive the magic of cruising along the Chao Phraya River that lies in the history and cultural landmarks located along the river aboard Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok’s Horizon Cruise. The Horizon Cruise takes guests north to witness the spirit of Bangkok and the charm of old Siam by night. 

After the fall of Ayutthaya, King Taksin located his new capital on the western banks of the Chao Phraya River in an area known today as Thonburi.  After his death, King Rama I found the eastern banks more favourable. He then founded modern Bangkok there and celebrated the occasion by building some of the world's most beguiling temples, such as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.  Historical landmarks are located on both sides and can be seen from the legendary Chao Phraya River. In ancient times, rivers and canals were vital for communication, transportation and trade.  The River of Kings – as King Rama I named it – is the lifeblood of Bangkok.  This river runs through a large portion of Bangkok and showcases an important part of Thailand’s history.

Shangri-La’s nightly cruise provides an exciting way to discover Bangkok’s history along the Chao Phraya River, including the Temple of the Reclining Buddha or Wat Pho, which is regarded as Thailand’s first university and the centre of traditional Thai massage; the Grand Palace – one of the most visited landmarks in Bangkok, which houses the world-renowned Emerald Buddha; the Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun featuring the 82-metre-high Khmer-style pagoda that attracts the first light of the morning with a pearly iridescence; and the Temple of the Golden Bell or Wat Rakhang Kositaram built during the great Ayutthaya period.   

Historical and famous attractions include the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall; Tha Phra Athit, which is well-known to many foreigners because it leads to Kao San Road; Santi Chai Prakarn Pavillion, which commemorates the auspicious occasion of the sixth cycle birthday of His Majesty the King; Rama VIII Bridge; Santa Cruz Church built in 1770 after the fall of Ayutthaya; and Kiang Au Keng Shrine and Guan Yu Shrine, which is dedicated to the ancient Chinese God of War. Both shrines were rebuilt during the reign of King Rama III.

The historical memory along the River of Kings can be enjoyed aboard the Horizon Cruise every evening at 7:30 p.m. from the NEXT2 Pier.  Return to the hotel is at 9:30 p.m. This nautical restaurant offers guests an international buffet in a spacious air-conditioned dining cabin or open-air seating on comfortable fore and aft decks while   admiring the magnificent scenery by night.

Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok also offers private cruising and special VIP parties aboard the Horizon Cruise for groups of up to 150 people.  A selection of dining and cocktail menus is available for all types of private charter events.

Nowadays, although Bangkok has become a modern city, the Chao Phraya River is still charming for visitors who wish to seek a peaceful atmosphere. As the longest river frontage property of a quarter of mile, Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok is ideally situated to share this wonderful historical memory with guests and other visitors to Thailand.     For more information and enquiries, please call Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok on (66 2) 236 7777 or e-mail: slbk@shangri-la.com/bangkok.     

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently operates over 100 hotels with a room inventory of over 41,000.  Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services.  Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.  The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Australia, Bahrain, mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.  For more information, please visit www.shangri-la.com. 

  

 

 

 

 

For the fourth consecutive year, Park Society Restaurant at SO Sofitel Bangkok has been awarded the Bangkok’s Best Restaurant Awards 2018 as the winner of the European category, Readers’ Choice. On hand to receive the award on behalf of SO Sofitel Bangkok from Khun Radhika Chopra (left), Editor of Bangkok Best Dining & Entertainment, and Khun Arun Chopra (middle), Publisher of Bangkok Best Dining & Entertainment was Chef Joost Bijster (right), Chef de Cuisine of Park Society Restaurant.

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