The pool area at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra boasts food and beverage service with a smile.

There's just one complaint from guests at the newest five-star hotel in Cambodia – they wish they could stay longer.

Only two months into its official opening, the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra collected its first accolade, a 2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award, for earning consistently high ratings from members of the popular travel website.

The 201-room hotel currently holds a 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site.

“Since the start, the whole team at the Sofitel has striven hard to fulfill each individual guest’s expectations, so we’re thrilled that our efforts have been acknowledged so soon,” said Didier Lamoot, general manager. “Knowing that the prize is based on the opinions of guests who’ve stayed and who were impressed by what we offer, is the best part of winning.”

Testimonials on the website are heavy with praise for the young hotel and its Cambodian staff. “I cannot fault this hotel for comfort, service and facilities. The staff, without exception, were friendly, helpful and made us feel so welcome,” writes one woman from the UK.

“Sofitel did a hell of a job with this wonderful property,” enthuses a man from Brussels. A visitor from Spain notes, “There is real character about this place – something special.”  

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra held its soft opening in December 2010, and celebrated its full launch in late March 2011 with a ceremony attended by Cambodia’s deputy prime minister.

The US$70 million hotel development is third in a group that includes the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra, where Lamoot served as general manager for five years, and the Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra. The Siem Reap (Angkor) property in particular has won international acclaim as one of the finest resorts in Southeast Asia.