WE HAVE great pleasure in announcing the winners of the Phuketwan/Phuket Post Best of Phuket Awards for 2011.
Business of the Year goes to Airports of Thailand, for enlarging Phuket Airport well ahead of the rapid boom in tourist arrivals; Innovation of the Year goes to the public bus company that is doing such a good job along Phuket's west coast between the tourist beach towns; and Phuket Person of the Year goes to the smiling driver who donated Phuket's last surviving tuk-tuk to the National Museum.
Oh, sorry. We've allowed our dreams to run wild again.
But then, the Phuketwan/Phuket Post best of Phuket Awards are an opportunity to let dreams run wild and imagine ''What if . . . '' about Phuket, the wonderful island beloved by residents and tourists.
It's still a natural gem that we would like to see achieve its full potential.
The judging panel at Phuketwan and the Phuket Post, together with some outside experts in specialist areas, has reached the stage in this year's awards of coming up with nominations in several categories.
We've also broken with tradition by already declaring the winner in one category - the Environment Best of Phuket Award - even though strictly speaking, it's way too early. (Tomorrow the winner will be announced.)
In the other categories, we've narrowed down our nominations after considering some fine candidates. And it's not too late for a reader to submit a ''wild card'' for consideration in any category.
As in past years, there are no nominations for the Phuket Post/Phuketwan Phuket Person of the Year 2011 .
The judges will be holding more meetings before announcing that particular prestigious honor, won last year by former Phuket City Police Superintendent Colonel Wanchai Eakpornpit, the man who introduced the successful ''100 percent helmet'' campaign on Phuket and won national awards for his strategic life-saving campaign.
Here are the 2011 Best of Phuket Award nominations for the other categories:
Last year's winner: Centara/Centra
This year's nominations: The Phuket News, for adding to the depth of choice in Phuket media; Phuket International Academy, for consistently expanding the boundaries of schooling, sport and spirituality; Supercheap, for fighting inflation and establishing Phuket-owned convenience outlets.
Last year's winner: Phuket Tin Mine Museum, Kathu
This year's nominations: Saphan Hin public park, for its musical fountain and improvements to Phuket's favorite festival venue; Phuket's honorary consuls, for giving a voice to tourists and expat residents; PATA/Skal, for getting together to broaden tourism.
Last year's winner: The Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa Phuket
This year's nominations Three old favorites reinvented: : Boathouse Kata; Angsana Laguna Phuket (formerly the Sheraton Grande) and sripanwa, home of the second-best beach bar in the world, according to cnngo.com.
Last year's winner: Uptown, Phuket City
This year's nominations: The Yellow Door, Phuket City, funky and fun food; Suay, a country cottage in Phuket City; Gitano, tasty and tangy Tex Mex.
Last year's winner: Sea.Fire.Salt., Anantara, Mai Khao
This year's nominations: Yet to be confirmed in this important category. We are looking for readers' suggestions. Tell us what you think via comment below.
Business of the Year goes to Airports of Thailand, for enlarging Phuket Airport well ahead of the rapid boom in tourist arrivals; Innovation of the Year goes to the public bus company that is doing such a good job along Phuket's west coast between the tourist beach towns; and Phuket Person of the Year goes to the smiling driver who donated Phuket's last surviving tuk-tuk to the National Museum.
Oh, sorry. We've allowed our dreams to run wild again.
But then, the Phuketwan/Phuket Post best of Phuket Awards are an opportunity to let dreams run wild and imagine ''What if . . . '' about Phuket, the wonderful island beloved by residents and tourists.
It's still a natural gem that we would like to see achieve its full potential.
The judging panel at Phuketwan and the Phuket Post, together with some outside experts in specialist areas, has reached the stage in this year's awards of coming up with nominations in several categories.
We've also broken with tradition by already declaring the winner in one category - the Environment Best of Phuket Award - even though strictly speaking, it's way too early. (Tomorrow the winner will be announced.)
In the other categories, we've narrowed down our nominations after considering some fine candidates. And it's not too late for a reader to submit a ''wild card'' for consideration in any category.
As in past years, there are no nominations for the Phuket Post/Phuketwan Phuket Person of the Year 2011 .
The judges will be holding more meetings before announcing that particular prestigious honor, won last year by former Phuket City Police Superintendent Colonel Wanchai Eakpornpit, the man who introduced the successful ''100 percent helmet'' campaign on Phuket and won national awards for his strategic life-saving campaign.
Here are the 2011 Best of Phuket Award nominations for the other categories:
Phuket Business of the Year 2011
Last year's winner: Centara/Centra
This year's nominations: The Phuket News, for adding to the depth of choice in Phuket media; Phuket International Academy, for consistently expanding the boundaries of schooling, sport and spirituality; Supercheap, for fighting inflation and establishing Phuket-owned convenience outlets.
Phuket Innovation of the Year 2011
Last year's winner: Phuket Tin Mine Museum, Kathu
This year's nominations: Saphan Hin public park, for its musical fountain and improvements to Phuket's favorite festival venue; Phuket's honorary consuls, for giving a voice to tourists and expat residents; PATA/Skal, for getting together to broaden tourism.
Phuket Resort of the Year 2011
Last year's winner: The Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa Phuket
This year's nominations Three old favorites reinvented: : Boathouse Kata; Angsana Laguna Phuket (formerly the Sheraton Grande) and sripanwa, home of the second-best beach bar in the world, according to cnngo.com.
Phuket Good Value Restaurant of the Year 2011
Last year's winner: Uptown, Phuket City
This year's nominations: The Yellow Door, Phuket City, funky and fun food; Suay, a country cottage in Phuket City; Gitano, tasty and tangy Tex Mex.
Phuket Best Restaurant of the Year 2011
Last year's winner: Sea.Fire.Salt., Anantara, Mai Khao
This year's nominations: Yet to be confirmed in this important category. We are looking for readers' suggestions. Tell us what you think via comment below.
My recommendations:
Phuket Business of the Year 2011:
Should be surely Phuketwan as this company contributed a lot to the island and did ''wake up'' several people in power (but they need ongoing wake up calls as they fall asleep easily)
Phuket Innovation of the Year 2011
Having correct minutes of meetings with Phuket honorary consuls and local authorities.
Phuket Resort of the Year 2011
Cape Sianna
Phuket Good Value Restaurant of the Year 2011
Kao-Man Gai Restaurant near Krungthai bank at Patong.
Phuket Best Restaurant of the Year 2011
Salvadores at Phuket Town
PS: I like your joke about successful ''100 percent helmet'' campaign'' ( I think we should accept mistakes and failures!)
Posted by Mr. K on November 12, 2011 11:04
Editor Comment:
Forty percent is a vast improvement on zero.