Opening the awards, Rupert Bates, host and editorial director for Blendon Communications, had some tough words for the overseas property industry as a whole.

"Short-term gain for the producers means long-term pain for the consumer and the industry. If this industry is going to generate the respect it richly deserves then everyone has to think of the generic interest of the international property market."

Commending the work of the newly created Association of International Professionals, Bates believes it will "sort the wheat from the chaff".

With seven awards, Newfound Property International took home the most awards of the night, including four industry marketing awards.

Its Newfoundland development, Humber Valley Resort, took home joint silver in the golf category and bronze in the ski category, while its other Canadian resort, Three Sisters Mountain Village, won bronze in the Best Sustainable Development category.

The overall prize of the night, Developer of the Year, went to the Pezula Group for its resort in South Africa.

With five awards overall the resort also won gold in the Best Luxury Development and Best South African Development categories, joint silver in the golf category and silver again for Best Sustainable Development.

Other winners taking home multiple awards included the Portuguese Vale do Lobo group, which got five awards, including gold for Best Landscape Design. Three awards, including joint gold for Best Luxury Development went to Dubai Luxury Homes.

Alanda Homes and The Superior Group were deemed to be the best in Spain, while those looking to retire were also advised to look to Spain, where the Sol Andalusi retirement complex in the Costa Del Sol won Best Retirement Development.

In the Cyprus, France and Florida, Pafilia, Intrawest and London Bay Homes took home top awards respectively.

The surprise of the night was the overall Best Golf Development going to China and the Mission Hills resort.