Bangkok (Thailand) – October 22, 2015 (travelindex) – The fourth annual Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony will take place on February 29, 2016, in Bangkok, Thailand. After three successful years in Singapore, Thailand will host the event for the first time in 2016. The region's most respected chefs and influential restaurateurs will gather with leading industry representatives and international media for the announcement of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list.

As evidence of Thailand's growing influence on the regional culinary scene, Bangkok restaurants have topped the list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants for the past two years. David Thompson's Nahm secured the number one spot in 2014, while Gaggan Anand's eponymous restaurant took first place in 2015. In addition to Gaggan and Nahm, other Bangkok-based restaurants on the list in 2015 included Eat Me (25th place), Bo.lan (37th place), and Issaya Siamese Club (39th place).

The new venue for these prestigious awards was announced at a press conference hosted by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants and the Tourism Authority of Thailand at the Gaysorn Shopping Centre in Bangkok. A celebratory VIP dinner followed at the Paste restaurant within Gaysorn.

His Excellency Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, stated: “Thailand is honored to host Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016. Supporting this event aligns with our national goal of promoting Thai identity, culture, and especially Thai cuisine worldwide. It will also strengthen our powerful brand image and differentiate us from other countries. Furthermore, it will showcase and position Thailand as a diverse destination for fine dining, where visitors can expect an unimaginable variety of culinary delights prepared by renowned chefs and accompanied by our warm Thai hospitality.”

William Drew, editor of "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants," explains: "Thailand has long been known for its rich culinary history and traditional street food culture. In recent years, the country's vibrant restaurant scene has evolved to include world-class restaurants offering a variety of international cuisines. Thailand is rapidly establishing itself as one of Asia's premier gastronomic destinations, making it the ideal country for 'Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2016.'"

Since its launch in 2013, "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" has become the most trusted and credible restaurant guide for the region's best eateries. In 2015, the voting process was adjusted to better reflect the opinions of over 300 voters from across Asia and to showcase the diversity of the Asian culinary scene even more comprehensively. The 2015 "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" list included eight new entries, including first-time appearances from the Philippines (Antonio's, ranked 48th) and Cambodia (Cuisine Wat Damnak, ranked 50th).

How the Asia 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled: The Asia 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled by the Diners Club® Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leading figures in the restaurant industry across Asia, each selected for their expertise in the Asian restaurant scene.

The Academy is divided into six voting regions: India and the subcontinent; Southeast Asia – South; Southeast Asia – North; Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau; Mainland China and Korea; and Japan. This division is intended to represent the Asian restaurant scene as fairly as possible at present and was agreed upon with the Academy's chairpersons.

Each region has its own 53-member panel, chaired by a president. The panel comprises food journalists and critics, chefs, restaurateurs, and respected gourmets. Each member has seven votes. At least three of these seven votes must be cast for restaurants outside the member's home country. For the 2016 edition, "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" partnered with the consulting firm Deloitte as its official, independent evaluation partner. Deloitte's evaluation ensures the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia's 50 best restaurants.

Results of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants poll: You can follow the announcement live on Twitter at @Asias50Best on February 29, 2016. Following the awards ceremony, the results will be published live at www.theworlds50best.com/asia.

The "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" list is published by the William Reed Media Group, which also publishes the "World's 50 Best Restaurants" list (since 2002) and the "Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants" list (since September 2013). The William Reed Media Group is solely responsible for organizing the awards, the voting system, and the list itself.

Manifesto of the "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" List: The "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 300 experts in the Asian culinary industry. What constitutes "the best" is at the discretion of these experienced and worldly foodies. The list is based on a simple evaluation of votes. Because it is based on personal experiences, it can never be definitive. However, we are convinced that it is an objective assessment of current tastes and a reliable indicator of the best restaurants across Asia.

Guest country: Thailand. Thai cuisine is one of the main reasons why visitors from all over the world travel to Thailand. Aromatic spices and the harmonious interplay of flavors create a perfect taste experience, and dishes like Tom Yum Kung, green curry, and Pad Thai have gained international popularity. Thailand has become a foodie paradise, home to some of the world's best cuisines. Thai cuisine attracts top chefs who know they can find excellent ingredients here. The country's kitchens and restaurants conjure up traditional and innovative, local and international dishes – always delicious, and everyone is warmly invited to discover its unique flavors.