Cambodia’s Shinta Mani Wild gets a Conde Naste award (and yes those do seem to happen every few months).

The not so secret truth behind industry awards lists of any kind, is that the awards themselves are actually businesses or revenue centres for the firm’s attaching their name to them. Most create that revenue via entry fees paid by businesses to nominate themselves or to attach their branding to the many levels of available and expensive sponsorships attached to the awards. Participants also can be counted on to take out expensive ads to congratulate themselves for the big win in whatever publications follow up on the awards, which are often published by the awards shows themselves. A cute trick is to have a friendly business (like your bank) do that in a tit for tat for you when its their turn.

Sound incestuous? Well it is a bit of a circle jerk no doubt, but what industry isn’t when it comes down to it.

So why do companies, with those in the marketing, financial and hospitality fields leading the way, spend scads of money every year on entering so many of these contests when we’re not exactly talking the Oscar’s, Grammys or Cannes?

Partly because the publicity can prove self driving and brand building in this digital world and then there’s FOMO (fear of missing out). That’s the legitimate fear of not being on somebody or other’s list of winners on a yearly basis. There’s also the undeniable truth that nothing says “look at us, we’re a success” like a shiny plaque on the wall of your establishment.

Plus? Dressing the team up for a fancy night out among peers is a time-tested staff morale booster and motivator. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

So getting past the reality that hotel award lists are a dime a dozen, Khmer Nights decided a look was warranted at Cambodian eco-resort Shinta Mani Wild as they just made the annual Condé Nast Traveler Editors Choice Gold List as well as being voted voted the best in Asia in some category or other or perhaps that is a category. Hard to tell without a scorecard.

Why being on the Condé Nast Traveler Editors Choice Gold List is a big honking deal

Condé Nast Traveler is a full on, legit luxury and lifestyle travel magazine published by the Condé Nast publishing empire. It has won 25 National Magazine Awards and does actually wear the label “prestigious” based on its very real merits. Its target demo by the way includes those that actually live in rarefied air and those that would very much like to. It’s not even remotely targeted to include the “50 cent beer on the Riverside” tourist crowd. Think of the magazine as “travel porn” for the aspirational set and you would not be far off the mark.

As for its awards? They present 3 rounds per year, a readers choice, a hot list and the Editors’s Choice Gold List that Shinta Mani Wild has just landed on.

Unlike the myriad of realtor/developer industry awards lists out there (as an example), this win provides some actual heft to it for those that get the nod and Shinta Mani Wild is now among them. They beat out runnerups that included not only swanky properties in Beijing, Hong Kong and the Maldives, but also a renovated former royal palace in India. They were also the only entry from Cambodia to make the list. 

Given the golden halo that a Conde Nast award reflects to a global audience of fat-walleted travellers, this shiny bit of news would normally mean money in the bank for Shinta Mani Wild. Whether it can in 2022 who knows? All bets are off in this “new normal”.

But this level of award has legs and Shinta Mani Wild should reap whatever benefits are possible this year and for many more for years to come when things get back to “more” as opposed to a “new” normal.

Why did Shinta Mani Wild get the nod?

Obviously the place needs to be actually special. And it bloody well better be given getting there required a three hour drive from Phnom Penh only to be greeted upon arriving by the two conveyances to get you and your stuff to the actual property. For your luggage? A couple of old army jeeps. For yourself? A zip-line. OK, that’s actually totally cool and completely on point with eco-stay branding.

Getting on the zip line does require a 98 step climb before you can zoom along into the resort, but once strapped in and pushed off you pass by jungle scenery and waterfalls and once plucked out of the air, a cocktail is actually waiting for you.

The hotel itself actually consists of 15 what they refer to as “tents”, each of which can fit in two people.

What?

How the F did a place with tents rate a Conde Nast award?

Well, tents only loosely describes the sleeping arrangement structures by category. These things are massively tricked out glampster digs.

To read about jungle glamping with gibbons click here.

As for the “holiday” element of a stay at Shinta Mani Wild, its appeal in exclusivity is the absolute remoteness and the wildlife. Plus all the usual indulgences you would expect from an all-inclusive  resort. Along with unlimited food and drinks, guests can also indulge in spa treatments, massage and enjoy guidance from on site experts in bird watching and fishing among other things.

The pool’s pretty damn nice as well.

A unique draw is being able to go on patrol with the Wildlife Alliance team the hotel funds. It is made up of three rangers and a couple of AK47 wielding local cops. And no, the “walk along” does not permit you to bag a poacher. Really, it doesn’t. What’s wrong with you anyway?

How much does it cost to stay at the Shinta Mani Wild?

Staying here costs around $3000 per night. That’s per tent with a minimum stay of 3 nights.

So, it costs a bomb. 

This may be an “all-inclusive” but this isn’t Sandals or Beaches. Hell it is so far beyond Club Med you really should stop reading right now if that is your snack bracket.

This place is indeed pretty much the most expensive hotel stay in the Kingdom, deluxe Presidential suites notwithstanding. 

The property’s general manager shared that during the pandemic the property has managed to run at over a 10 percent occupancy via bookings from well-heeled locals and expats.

The resort is even running specials until things revert to normal, so as dear as it is, a stay could run a tad less than usual in the here and now.

Khmer Nights visit did not rate a gratis night there so we can’t really share a fully informed opinion as to whether that is something worth doing. I can share though that I can speak well and at length of the Kampong Speu City hotel that set me back $15 on the way home.

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