Thailand event

Bangkok's most exclusive hotels

2007-07-25T21:27:00.000+04:00

Up-market hotel developer and restaurant company Minor International has announced details of what it says will be one of Bangkok's most exclusive hotels and Thailand's most expensive condominium, the St Regis Hotel and Residence Bangkok, on Rajdamri Road.

The properties are collectively worth Bt4 billion, and although they will not open until 2010, the hotel is already being given six stars - one above the five-star upper limit for the common horde.

The project, next to the Four Seasons Hotel, is being developed by Rajadamri Residence, a subsidiary of the Minor Group, which has a 30-year lease of the land. Minor chairman and CEO William Heinecke said the hotel and residence would comprise 169 guestrooms, 14 junior suites, 14 executive suites, one presidential suite, 22 serviced apartments (one and two bedrooms), 64 residences (three and four bedrooms), three penthouse units and four duplex penthouses with swimming pools.

The hotel part of the property will be managed by US hotel chain Starwood Hotels and Resorts under its top brand, St Regis, with a 20-year contact. Following the style of the St Regis in New York and in other countries, the St Regis Bangkok will target high-end tourists and business travellers and compete directly with the city's top luxury hotels, including The Oriental, the Sukhothai and the Four Seasons.

Heinecke said prices for the residences would start at Bt30 million for a 250-square-metre unit and go up to Bt120 million for each of the four 800-square-metre duplex penthouses.

"This is Minor's most expensive investment, and it will be the most expensive condominium in the country," Heinecke said.

The group is financing the development from its own resources. Apart from the Rajdamri property, the Minor Group plans to develop another two projects in Bangkok, one on Koh Samui, one in Phuket and one in Krabi. Within five years, it expects to invest more than Bt10 billion in Thailand's hotel industry.

It is also developing hotels and residences in Dubai and a resort in the Maldives.

Moreover, it is negotiating with a food and beverage company to introduce a new product into the Thai market, and initial investment for that venture will be about Bt1.5 billion.

The Minor Group runs 15 hotels with more than 2,300 rooms under the Marriott, Four Seasons, Anantara and other brands in Thailand, the Maldives and Vietnam. It also operates 23 spas in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East, as well as more than 600 restaurants in Thailand under The Pizza Company, Swensen's, Sizzler, Dairy Queen, Burger King and LeJazz brands.

Miguel Ko, president for the Asia-Pacific at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, said St Regis was the latest brand brought to Thailand by his company. The group plans to increase the number of its hotels in Thailand from 10 at present to 20 in the next five years, all with different brands. Two hotels planned for Bangkok will be called Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft. Another, called the W Hotel, will be built on Koh Samui.

Ko said Starwood was developing 65 hotels and resorts throughout the Asia-Pacific, with 25 opening in the next few years. They include the St Regis in Singapore this year; properties on Bali and in Mexico and Costa Rica next year; Atlanta, Macau and Puerto Rico in 2009; Tibet and Osaka in 2010; and Jakarta in 2011.

Bangkok, Thailand, Hotel Thrives as Occupancy Rate Defies Critics

2007-07-03T15:52:00.000+04:00

After a slow offset, the Peninsula Bangkok (), a five-star riverbank hotel which is part of the Hong Kong Peninsula Grouping, has upraised its tenancy rate to 73 percentage from 32 percentage in 2006.
The reversion occurred in 2007 when the hotel managing began oblation promotional rates planetary, said Ian Coughlan, the hotel's large-scale handler. handler moderate room rate was shrivelled from to 3,100 baht from 4,800 baht in 2000, directional to a scend in tenancy to 82 percentage, he said.
However, the rate dropped slimly to 73 pct when the hotel in thailand magnified its middling room rate to 5,050 baht last year. With a higher room rate and surefooted tenancy, Mr Coughlan said the hotel was sec only to The Oriental Bangkok, on the former side of the river, in generating taxation per room of 5,500 baht. "We came from amount 18 to numeral two in receipts per room, sevener or viii pct points higher in tenancy rates than our competitors such as the Sukhothai, the Trustee and Shangri-La," he said.
The turnround was founded on the hotel's key localisation and its ikon as one of the latest properties in town, he said. "Some advisable our hotel is on the nonfunctional side of the river. But actually, organism on this side (Thon Buri) has conferred the guests a irregular sentiency of leaving the hydrophobia of the city fundament and sledding to a chancel," Mr Coughlan said.

A lineament of the Peninsula is its trine modes of enrapture. enrapture hotel provides limousines, a riverboat overhauling and a eggbeater, carrying guests from and to the aerodrome. aerodrome, 22 pct of the guests are European, 20 percentage Americans, 21 percentage from Hong Kong, 14 percentage from Nihon and the unexhausted 23 percentage from added countries. The populace profitable retardation and Sept 11 events last year had crumpled the touristry and hotel industries peculiarly long-haul locomotion by high-spending tourists and bodied clients.

However, the Thai touristry diligence had been doing exceptionally well as the commonwealth was seen as a contravene-fcontravene terminus and the most preferable plaza to chaffer in Asia, Mr Coughlan said. About 75 percentage of the hotel's guests were leisured travellers and 25 percentage were on byplay trips. In the next few years, the hotel would rivet on augmentative new markets such as inducement travelling and would try to turn approximately the retrogressive Nipponese commercialize, Mr Coughlan said.
The 370-room hotel is a clannish speculation of Hong Kong's Peninsula Aggroup (75 pct) and a Thai consort, the Pattaraprasit sept (25 pct). pct freshly was voted the best hotel in Asia and 2d-b2d in the populace by Conjunct States-based Travelling and Leisured cartridge.

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Thailand's Central Plaza Hotel reports big profit increase

2007-06-30T00:28:00.000+04:00

Central Plaza Hotel rumored 2004 net winnings of 541.1 1000000 baht, a 93.8% increment from the premature year, on taxation of 5.49 1000000000000 baht, up 21.8%, the Bangkok Post reports.
Fourth-quarter net lucre was 141.8 1000000 baht, up 21.5% year-on-year, on taxation of 1.5 1000000000000 baht, up 18.3%. Ronnachit Mahattanapruet, a elder vice-president of Centric Plaza Hotel, said revenues of the companionship's hotel byplay in 2004 rose 25% from the premature year, with net winnings of 358.4 cardinal, up 75.4%.
Gains were attributed in part to downcast 2005 results due to the Sars frighten. Median tenancy rates improved passim, with the exclusion of hotels in Hat Yai and East Timor.
For its restaurant byplay, Centrical Plaza rumored 2004 revenues of 3.2 1000000000000 baht, up 19.5% from the previous year, with lucre of 182.7 cardinal, a gain of 143.9%. It attributed the gains to the success of new menu items and products at the troupe's excitable-sexcitable restaurants.
The fellowship expects unwavering ontogenesis in 2006, with only a small-scale impingement on its hotel properties from the Dec 26 tsunami. In Dec, the fellowship communicative a managing concord with the Duangtawan Hotel in Chiang Mai, which will be rebranded as the Centered Duangtawan. Added 25-30 nimble-snimble restaurants are also designed to be opened each year through 2009.

Tour East opens Phuket hotel

2007-06-21T00:10:00.000+04:00

Chandara Recourse and Spa in Phuket hotel, screening 20 rai on the east seacoast of Phuket, yawning its suite last month.
Managing director Prasert Isvarphornchai said the recourse featured 53 villas intentional in four contrasting types: studio, bidirectional, one-bedroom with pool and two-bedroom with pool.
"The spa discourse services will be gaping next month," he said. The hangout is the oldest visualize maximal the core incoming tour operations of Tour East, which also has an outbound tour accessory, Holiday Tour. "Since the recourse agaze last month, many adulterating customers have set-aside, particularly Korean honeymooners, while some Hillbilly guests have been staying for a month as they want to deflect risks from a tsunami on the other side of the island," said Prasert.

The positioning of the hangout provides the easiest admittance to former holidaymaker attractions like Phang Nga and the islands of Phi Phi, Naka and Rad. Prasert said the hangout was prospective to run at a 60- to 70-per-cent tenancy rate this year, achieve Bt200 cardinal in receipts and compass suspension-esuspension manouevre within septet years. With more than 37 years' experience in the locomote manufacture, Prasert said he would rivet on high-end customers, both municipal and international.

Last year Tour East brought more than 100,000 tourists into Siam, of whom 70,000 cosmopolitan to Phuket hotel. The comradeship expects virtually 100,000 tourists this year, but with only 40,000 of them sledding to Phuket. Most will be from the UK or Australia. In the rubbery environs of Phuket, the Chandara will vie straightaway with various five-star hotels such the Jade and Banian Tree as well as a new hotel low-level exploitation nearby, The Oriental Phuket, which is expected to open in 2007.

The Chandara's prices ambit betwixt US$300 (Bt12,000) and $1,000 per nighttime. To acquaint the recur, the fellowship is oblation a 50-per-cent dismiss off modal prices until Dec 15. "Tourism in Phuket will soon reclaim," Prasert said. - becose the hotel :) "You can observation some constructive moves, including the resumption of flights to Phuket by airlines from Choson, Oesterreich and Singapore."

Nai Lert Park Bangkok hotel

2007-06-07T00:03:00.000+04:00

The Nai Lert Park Bangkok hotel, formerly the Hilton Bangkok Hotel, expects to achieve 20 pct taxation maturation subsequently the windup of a 600-million-baht prima facelift.
Bilaibhan Sampatisiri, managing director of Nai Lert Park Hotel Co, said room tariff increases and higher tenancy rates are predicted to meliorate taxation by at littlest 20 percentage subsequently the renovations are consummated in October.

The tenancy rate is likely to rise from 65 percentage to 70-75 percentage and the moderate room rate would increment from 3,000 to 4,200 baht. She said the investing in the redevelopment was nearly the same as the quantum washed-out to chassis the hotel 23 years ago. All suite, restaurants, the buttonhole, fittingness midpoint, watery pool and additional unexclusive areas will be minded a more latest look.

The hotel will also focussing on breeding the proportionality of byplay travellers to betwixt 60 percentage and 70 pct from 50 percentage of totality customers at inst, said pandemic handler Blaise Montandon.

However, during the renovations, receipts would drop as thither would be fewer suite in the armory, he said. Low-level the 15-year managing constrict, the 338-room belongings will be part of the Swissotel firebrand low-level the Raffles Internationalist grouping. Grouping Wai Leng, subordinate gaffer administrator officeholder of Raffles Belongings Ltd, said the hotel would have admittance to the globular dispersion meshwork of Raffles, which has hotels and resorts in 32 destinations intersecting Asia, Australia, Europe, Northernmost and Southeastern U.s.a..

She said the grouping definite to insert Siam as it was a likely commercialize and Bangkok was one of the gateway cities in Asia. Likewise the Nai Lert Park Bangkok hotel, the aggroup will also oversee the 79-room Raffles Hangout Phuket, which will open in 2007.

Thailand hotel finding

2007-05-21T17:35:00.000+04:00

Where To Stay in Bangkok Finding a Thailand hotel is super easy these days. Do a search at google, and you'll have some pretty good idea of where you want to stay. Plus, you can just go ahead and book for a Bangkok Thailand hotel right online.

If you plan to find a Bangkok hotel, you have tons of choices. Stay at Kaosan road if you're a backpacker. If you're not one, then stay close to the skytrain if you love shopping. If you're into good atmosphere and don't care much about getting around the city, then stay close to the Chao Phraya river, which is the main river of Bangkok. If you want to stay at Kaosan road, you don't even need to book in advance. You can just walk around to see the guesthouse you like, and then just walk in. They always have a vacancy.

If you prefer to stay in the city center in order to get around easily for shopping, (and let me tell you, Bangkok is shoppers' paradise -- Hong Kong isn't cheap... but Bangkok is) then I suggest you check out Patumwan Princess hotel. It's right in the MBK shopping center (fake jeans, watches and bags) and also right at the Siam Square skytrain station. Erawan hotel, Le Meridien and the Four Seasons hotel are more luxurious. They're right at the intersection where you can see Zen and Isetan shopping malls right across the street. The Siam Square (where they sell funky clothing) and the Chidlom (Central shopping mall) skytrain stations are within minutes away. A lot of tourists like to stay at the Asia hotel, which is right at a Rajdevi skytrain station (one station away from MBK shopping center).

It may be cheap, but it's kind of old. Well, very old actually. I don't recommend it. But it's totally up to you. If you don't care much about shopping in Bangkok, then I'd really suggest you stay at the Sukothai hotel. It's a classy and luxurious Thai-styled hotel --but you'll have to take a taxi if you want to go anywhere. Or even better, stay by the Chao Phraya river if you can. It will give you a different feel of Bangkok, especially at night. It's rather expensive though, especially if you want to stay at the world-renowned Oriental hotel or the Peninsula hotel. If these two are too expensive for you, try Shangri-la hotel. It may be a little bit cheaper.

And don't forget to book a Bangkok river cruise dinner at your hotel. The Chao Praya river is glamorous at night -- with a view of well-lit Wat Arun. To get around town from your Bangkok hotel, you can ask the hotel's doorman to help you get a taxi. It's not expensive at all.

Thailand Destinations

2007-05-11T23:48:00.000+04:00

Thailand Destinations truly is the Jewel of Southeast Asia and it appears that many travellers share our love of the Kingdom. Thailand attracts more visitors each year than any other country in Southeast Asia. The reason is simple to understand, Thailand has an irresistible combination of breathtaking natural beauty, a reputation for hospitality that is well deserved, food to die for and a cultural heritage that captures the imagination of all those who take time to learn more about this inspiring Country.

From the natural beauty of the Islands of the Andaman Sea to the exciting nightlife of Bangkok and Pattaya, there is something to excite everyone. If the tourist trail is not for you then take time to venture of the beaten track, you will be pleasantly surprised. Try a trip to the mountains of Mae Hong Son, visit one of the less well know islands like Koh Chang or travel up north the villages that dot the Mekong River overlooking Lao, you will soon find that Thailand offers something for every type of traveller.

Nightlife in Thailand

Thailand has a reputation for hedonistic nightlife, and rightly so, but things are changing. Many people are shocked by the early closing times and strict no-ID no-entry policies at some venues, but one thing is for sure, you can have a great time after dark.
Whether you're clubbing in Bangkok, full mooning it on Koh Pha Ngan, or watching the world float by from a delightful riverside restaurant, there is something about the warm night air and the fun attitude of the locals that makes the night time the right time to be in Thailand.
So if you're looking for a place to eat, drink, and shake of the cobwebs, then we've got some great nightlife destinations for you.

Culture

Journey of a thousand smiles!
Cultural journeys can take many different forms. Some people enjoy visiting museums and art galleries, while others seek out different aspects of daily life to gain an understanding of the local customs.

Buddhism has played a significant role in shaping the customs and attitudes of Thai people. Many of the habits and personality traits take time to understand, and this can cause frustration and a sense of culture shock among visitors. However, these same characteristics are what make the Thai people such a unique and fascinating culture.

In Thailand there is one saying that epitomises the Thai way of life and that is Sanook, meaning fun. If it isn’t Sanook, it probably isn’t worth doing.

Luxury holidays in Thailand are extremely affordable and the top class hotels and resorts provide a level of service that is unsurpassed.
From the opulence of Bangkok’s legendary Oriental Hotel to the style and comfort of your own pool villa at the Trisara Hotel in Phuket, there are accommodation options to suit your needs. For luxury shopping, look no further than Bangkok’s Siam Paragon, where world class fashion labels and high-end brands compete for your attention in the largest shopping mall in South East Asia.

Follow that up with a rejuvenating spa treatment and you’ll be ready for a night on the town, and we know the places to be seen.

Introduction to Thailand (Bangkok)

2007-04-29T19:38:00.000+04:00

Bangkok offers visitors a rattling mix of acculturation, bedlam and becharm. Add to that an dumbfounding align of food, shopping, and nightlife and you can see why it is one of the most electrifying cities you'll ever natter. Yes, it can be mischievous in parts, but thither is much more to Bangkok than go-go bars and knead parlours.

Bangkok is vast and spellbinding, with the Chao Phraya River a breathtaking and busy main arteria. The river divides the city, east and west, and provides a distinguished way to get approximately and see the sights. Full-time river ferries, racy 'longtails', remodeled Thai rice barges, and a miscellany of added craftsmanship add to the hive of activeness. Some of Bangkok's high-grade hotels also line the banks of the river and proffer an gilded elude from the jam-packed city streets.

East meets West

East meets West Ornately clinquant temples add to the exotic feel of the city and vie for space with ultramodern shopping centres. Newest transport links, preceding and infra undercoat, take you effortlessly roughly the city. Old or new, Bangkok is a gaga compaction of all things Thai - the food, the shrines, the tuk-tuks, the Buddhistic monks, the riverboats, the markets, and everyplace the grinning, hospitable Thai inhabit.

Nightlife

For bar-hoppers, Bangkok nightspots offer up an eclectic blend of styles and flavours. The Silom and Sukhumvit areas are the domain of tourists and ex-pats, with a good selection of bars, nightclubs and restaurants, some more tasteful than others, while the younger Thai crowd prefer the scene at RCA (Royal City Avenue). Dig a little deeper and you can find some seriously good wine bars and cafes. Whether it's five-star luxury or five minutes of fun, Bangkok caters to every taste and persuasion. Chilled out, funky, and fabulous, we love Bangkok.
Convenience

Bangkok is an ideal stop over point before heading off to explore other parts of Thailand, or as a transit point for onward journeys to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, or other South East Asian destinations. A few days in Bangkok will provide an unforgettable experience and have you coming back time and again. Although it is busy, noisy, polluted, and fairly hot year round, it has some of the best shopping on the planet, great food and some fascinating sights to see.

Bangkok has also developed into a regional business hub for South East Asia and the city boasts some of the best and most affordable luxury accommodation available. Earth Hop has partnered with properties that we consider offer a level of service and comfort that will ensure your stay is enjoyable and memorable. The hotels and resorts we recommend come from first hand knowledge of the city and feedback from our customers. You won't find every hotel on our site, but you will find the best hotel to suit your needs.

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2006-09-26T20:11:00.000+04:00