Bangkok/New York – A grand total of 113 Thai venues including cities, islands, hotels, spas and airports have been nominated for the 2014 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, which are fast becoming the industry’s most prestigious recognition of excellence in the tourism and travel, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) New York Office.

Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said, “The sheer number of nominations in Thailand is affirmation of the kingdom’s position as one of the world’s premier tourism destinations. And the fact that we’ve been nominated in so many categories is testament to the variety of attractions and activities offered here.

“We continue to improve, every year, adding to the sum of exciting hotels and fun to suit a range of budgets. Some of the nominations show that Thailand is also in a league of its own when it comes to luxury offerings and elite services.”

The 113 nominees from Thailand include Bangkok and Chiang Mai in the Best Cities category; Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport in the Best Airports category; and Ko Lanta, Ko Samui and Phuket in the Best Islands – Asia category.

There are five local spas that have being nominated in the Best Spas category. These are the Banyan Tree Spa Sanctuary (Phuket), Six Senses Sanctuary Phuket, Chiva-Som International Health Resort (Hua Hin), Tria Integrative Wellness (Bangkok) and Kamalaya on the island of Ko Samui.

But it is in the Hotels category that Thailand really stands out, with a total of 102 properties in 18 Thai destinations around the kingdom having been nominated –these include:

Bangkok : Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11, The Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort and Spa, The Anantara Bangkok Sathorn, The Banyan Tree Bangkok, The Conrad Bangkok, The Dusit Thani Bangkok, The Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, The Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok, Hansar Bangkok, Hotel Muse, JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Le Méridien Bangkok, Lebua at State Tower, The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Metropolitan by COMO Bangkok, The Millennium Hilton Bangkok, The Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok, Plaza Athénée Bangkok a Royal Méridien Hotel, Rex Hotel Bangkok, The Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Seven, The Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit a Luxury Collection Hotel, Sofitel So Bangkok, Swissotel Nai Lert Park, Tenface Bangkok Hotel, The Eugenia Hotel and Spa, The Peninsula Bangkok, The Siam Bangkok, The St. Regis Bangkok, The Sukhothai and VIE Hotel Bangkok.

Chiang Mai : 137 Pillars House, Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, dusitD2 Chiang Mai, The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Le Méridien Chiang Mai, RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort, The Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai, Tamarind Village and The Chedi.

Chiang Rai : Anantara Golden Triangle Resort and Spa, The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle and Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort.

Hua Hin : Aleenta Hua Hin, Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Spa, The Evason Hua Hin and The InterContinental Hua Hin Resort.

Ko Samui : Anantara Bophut Ko Samui Resort and Spa, Anantara Lawana Ko Samui Resort and Spa, The Banyan Tree Samui, Bo Phut Resort and Spa, Conrad Ko Samui, The Four Seasons Resort Ko Samui, The InterContinental Samui, Baan Taling Ngam Resort and Le Méridien Ko Samui Resort and Spa, Napasai, Renaissance Ko Samui Resort and Spa, The Santiburi Beach Resort Golf and Spa, The Six Senses Samui, The Scent Hotel and W Retreat Ko Samui.

Pattaya : Aya Boutique Hotel, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, dusitD2 Baraquda Pattaya, The Fraser Resort Pattaya, The Hilton Pattaya Hotel and The Sheraton Pattaya Resort.

Phuket : Amanpuri, Anantara Phuket Villas, Andara Phuket, Angsana Laguna Phuket, The Banyan Tree Phuket, The Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort, Mövenpick Resort Bangtao Beach Phuket, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas, Paresa, Regent Phuket Cape Panwa, Sala Phuket, Serenity Resort and Residences, Surin Phuket, The Naka Island a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, The Pavilions, The Racha, The Royal Phuket Yacht Club, Trisara and Twin Palms.

Krabi : Phi Phi Island Village, Phulay Bay a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Rayavadee.

There is also one nominee in the hotel category for each of the following destinations: Khao Lak (Phang-nga) – Casa del la Flora, Ko Lanta (Krabi) – Pimalai Resort and Spa, Ko Kut (Trat) – Soneva Kiri, Ko Kradan (Trang) – Seven Seas Resort, Ko Phangan (Surat Thani) – Anantara Rasananda Ko Phangan Villa Resort and Spa, Kui Buri (Prachuan Khiri Khan) – X2 Kui Buri, Sikao (Trang) – Anantara Si Kao, Sukhothai – The Ananda Museum Gallery Hotel Sukothai and Ko Yao Noi (Phang-nga) – Six Senses Yao Noi.

The 2014 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards survey is being conducted online from 2 December, 2013, to 31 March, 2014, at tlworldbest.com.