On the heels of its managing director being invited by the United Nations in New York, a Siem Reap hotel has notched another high-flying accolade. TripAdvisor, the go-to name for online travel has ranked Jaya House River Park at No 18 in its list of the world’s leading hotels.
TripAdvisor describes Jaya House River Park as an “outstanding boutique hotel with a commitment to sustainability” giving it the envious ranking of 18, which is a seven-place ascension over its position last year. This apart, the hotel has won other honours like 13th place as the Best Luxury Hotel in the World, number 8 among the best hotels in Asia, seventh rank in the list of best luxury hotels in Asia and of course, numero uno among the best hotels in the Kingdom.
Just last week, the hotel was given the honour of its Managing Director, Christian de Boer being featured in a fireside chat with the iconic host Richard Quest of CNN International. Quest sought de Boer’s reasoning on why a humble hotel in Cambodia would adopt such a path-breaking step of saying no to single-use plastic, to which the latter explained that his priority is on retaining a full-time staff over frivolous expenses like travel and conferences. On the high profile stage de Boer seized the opportunity to denounce single-use plastic, as the low-hanging fruit that is easiest to start banning.
“It makes me enormously proud to (once again) be voted in the Top25 Hotels around the World (and number one in Cambodia for six years in a row) as voted by actual guests and travellers from around the world,” said de Boer.
It’s also a testament to the ‘No nickel-and-dime’ approach to running a hotel and it’s a testament to the fact they only employ Khmer nationals at all levels of their operation. Jaya House River Park does not work with outside ‘advisors or consultants’ and solely with Khmer staff who are secure in their roles.
At a time when tourism is currently still recovering, de Boer expressed confidence about the future. He was also optimistic about the way tourism is evolving. A future where properties like his actually have a good future ahead, merely because “we do walk the talk”.
TripAdvisor described his hotel rooms as sublime, making mention of its toiletries, in addition to the on-site spa facilities, bike tours and the pool. It also praised the staff for being attentive and the policy of being plastic-free along with aluminium water bottles to be refilled.
Hotel Colline de France, Gramado, Brazil took the top honour globally as the best hotel the world over. The website mentioned outstanding service and comfy rooms among the criteria for its rankings. The Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best only deals with the most outstanding performers in the business. Reviews from the Tripadvisor community dictate selections from their 8 million listings, over a period of 12 months, of which barely one percent makes the cut.
For Jaya House River Park, it is the fifth consecutive year that it has been recognised by TripAdvisor. It has also bagged the number 8 ranking in Asia apart from the top rank in Cambodia. Others in the top three globally are Oblu Select Lobigili, Male, Maldives and La Siesta Hoi An Resort and Spa, Hoi An, Vietnam in the second and third places respectively. (khmertimeskh)
