Bangkok the best in HK magazine survey

HONG KONG: -- Bangkok has been named the "best leisure destination" in Asia-Pacific, and Phuket is ranked second by the readers of Business Traveller Asia Pacific magazine in its Annual Travel Awards 2008 in Hong Kong.

The Thai capital was also ranked the second in the Best Business City in Southeast Asia category, the Thai Foreign Ministry reported yesterday.

Banyan Tree Phuket Hotel and JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa were voted first and third "Best Resort Hotel in Asia-Pacific" respectively, while Novotel in Suvarnabhumi Airport ranked second in the category of Best Airport Hotel in Asia-Pacific. Bangkok's Ascott Sathorn and Fraser Place Langsuan were also voted first and third in the category of Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific respectively.

-- The Nation 2008-09-28

Bangkok is great in many ways but I can't say I've ever taken a leisurely stroll down Sukhumvit.

How do they decide what city that wins?

It would be interesting to see the questions asked in the survey,

to arrive at this conclusion.

http://asia.businesstraveller.com/awards

2008 BUSINESS TRAVELLER ASIA-PACIFIC AWARDS

18 September 2008 – Cities were the focus of the 16th Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards.

In newly created categories, Hong Kong won Best Business City in Northeast Asia, Singapore won Best Business City in Southeast Asia – at the same time reprising its past triumph as Best Business City in the World – and Bangkok won Best Leisure Destination in Asia-Pacific.

These prize titles and 48 other highly coveted accolades were given out at a luncheon ceremony at Conrad Hong Kong, which has come to be regarded as one of the regional travel and tourism industry’s most prestigious events. The results are based purely on an annual Readers’ Poll conducted and analysed by Synovate.

Fierce market competition has made it a tough world, but the nearly two-year-old Westin Beijing Financial Street delivered the goods that discriminating travellers expect and won Best New Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific, while the even younger Sheraton Futian Shenzhen won Best Business Hotel in Shenzhen.

Certainly in the hotel hall of fame by now after holding the top spot for many years now were Hyatt International and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts again recognized as Best Business Hotel Brand in the World (Grand Hyatt) and Best Business Brand in Asia-Pacific (Shangri-La), while their various properties in cities around the region won the approval of subscribers.

In another tour-de-force performance, Singapore dominated the major awards in the airline categories with Singapore Airlines – first to fly the jumbo Airbus A380 – scooping Best Airline, Best Asia-Pacific Airlines, Best First Class, Best Business Class and Best Economy Class; the airport categories with Singapore Changi Airport as Best Airport in the World and Best Duty-Free in the World; and the hotel categories with Shangri-La as Best Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific and Best Business Hotel in Singapore. Singapore-based industry colleague Ascott won Best Serviced Residence Brand in Asia-Pacific and its Ascott Sathorn Bangkok won Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific for the first time.

On the basis, that Singapore and Hong Kong won various awards for best business cities, if the question was where is the best leisure city, one can understand why Bangkok won that award.