Royal Phuket Marina developer Gulu Lalvani won ‘Real Estate Personality of the Year’ at the annual Thailand Property Awards at a glamorous event held in November. By founding Thailand’s most exclusive luxury lifestyle yachting community, he was applauded for “turning Phuket into a world class yachting destination and a magnet for celebrities and the rich and famous.”

The Hong Kong and London based tycoon embarked on the marina project on Phuket’s eastern seaboard overlooking scenic Phang Na Bay on retiring from his company Binatone, which he co-founded in 1958, the world’s second largest manufacturer of digital cordless phones. Instead of enjoying his retirement on the idyllic island, Mr. Lalvani set about creating his vision - to construct Thailand’s first world-class luxury lifestyle community, rivaling top marina resorts in Europe and the Caribbean.