Khmer real estate’s elite shine at 5th PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards

The pandemic proved to be no match for the crème de la crème of the industry who still emerged victorious despite the current situation

On the 4th of September, the premier names of the Khmer real estate industry, along with select VIPs and press all gathered at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra in Phnom Penh for the 5th annual Cambodia Property Awards. 

The prestigious awards programme has yet again returned for another year to applaud the strength of the local real estate sector as they deal with these unprecedented times. This much-needed break from reality, where everyone got to dress up in their finest ensembles, as well as dine, drink and converse with their peers, offered a brief snapshot to what it was like before the dawn of the pandemic. 

Though health and safety precautions were imposed and prioritised during the preparations and the gala dinner, the thrill and excitement of the night’s festivities lingered throughout the grand ballroom, without any hints of pandemic-induced anxiety. 

Almost a dozen companies — representing premier development companies and projects across the country — competed to take home 30 trophies and nearly 25 Highly Commended distinctions. 

Among the contenders, Meridian International Holding (Cambodia) Ltd. nabbed the Best Developer title, which was the highest accolade of the night, along with seven other trophies and five Highly Commended awards. 

Hok Kang, the founder of Urbanland Asia Investment Co., Ltd and HKA & Partners, was chosen by the editors of the PropertyGuru Property Report to receive the highly coveted Real Estate Personality of the Year title. As the only accolade not selected by the judges, we wanted to commend him for his drive to always challenge the boundaries of architecture and urban design by producing outstanding developments that aim to improve Khmer quality of living. 

For this year’s gala, Cham Nou Jimmy was invited once again to serve as the master of ceremonies, alongside his other half Jimmy Meng. Their magnetic personalities and professionalism kept the audience enraptured throughout the entire programme. 

Meanwhile, video presentations from the platinum sponsor Hitachi Elevators and Escalators, the gold sponsor CBRE Cambodia, the silver sponsor Jotun Cambodia, the official charity partner Right To Play and the official ESG partner Baan Dek Foundation in between segments kept the audience informed and inspired. 

As a way to end the ceremony in true PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards fashion, the winners of the 5th PropertyGuru Cambodia Property Awards were all invited to go on stage to take the annual group photo, complete with confetti bursting at the seams, while cheers resounded from the winners — signifying a turning point for the Khmer real estate industry, filled with hope, confidence and optimism in the wake of the pandemic. 

See the complete list of winners here