There was a celebratory mood recently at Banyan Tree Samui, a luxury beachfront resort in southern Thailand, after the hotel was recognised with three independent international awards in the space of one week.
The French-based MICHELIN Guide, famed for its accreditation of “stars” to the most exquisite restaurants, has for the first time introduced a ranking system of “keys” to acclaim the most outstanding hotels in the world. The 2024 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection in Thailand included a total of eight Three-Key hotels (its highest decoration), 19 Two-Key hotels, and 31 One Key hotels. Each hotel had been anonymously visited and assessed by MICHELIN inspectors.
Banyan Tree Samui and its sister resort, Banyan Tree Krabi on Thailand’s western Andaman Sea coast, were both recognized by the new MICHELIN Guide with two “keys”.
“These [all MICHELIN’s recommended hotels and resorts] are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveler” read the MICHELIN Guide announcement on September 24, “each vetted and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting.”
No sooner had the champagne settled when, on October 1, the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 were announced. New York-based Condé Nast Traveler is arguably the leading luxury travel magazine in the world and the announcement of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards is an eagerly anticipated event in the calendar of the global hospitality community.
Online voting for the world’s favorite hotels, resorts and spas ran from April through June this year, with more than 575,000 votes cast.
In the category of Top Resorts in Thailand, Banyan Tree Samui polled third with a 95.16 score.
The placement marked a jump up the rankings for Banyan Tree Samui, which finished 5th in 2023, while Banyan Tree Krabi had come in 4th in the Top Resorts in Thailand awards.
In between those announcements, Area General Area General Manager Remko Kroesen was on hand in Bangkok to receive an accolade on 26 September 2024 when he was presented with the “Best Luxury Hotel – Koh Samui” prize at the 33rd Annual TTG Travel Awards 2024 Ceremony & Gala Dinner
The prestigious TTG Travel Awards honours the best in the Southeast Asian hospitality industry, with readers’ votes including many of the region’s travel agents and tour operators.
Opened in 2010, the 88-key Banyan Tree Samui is a luxury all-pool villa resort. The 38-acre property is rich in flora and plant life, and its private beach is flanked by coral reefs. The resort hosts three restaurants, a spa with Banyan Tree’s signature Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, a fitness center, a kids’ club, a meetings and events center, and a library.
Last year, Banyan Tree Samui was awarded the highest level of certification by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking organisation for sustainable tourism, making it the first hotel in Thailand to achieve this status.
