Hotels across the Thai capital have taken advantage of the recent downturn to renovate, refurbish, add new facilities and develop new programmes for business events groups. The city will also benefit from the newly completed high-speed Airport Rail Link, which connects Suvarnabhumi Airport to the CBD’s City Air Terminal in just 15 minutes.

CHAO PHRAYA RIVER
Shangri-La has undergone extensive changes with a new Horizon Club, renovated riverside swimming pool and refurbished guestrooms on the lower floors of its Shangri-La Wing. The renovations have dropped its guestroom inventory to 761 from 799, allowing for more spacious rooms and new facilities. The wing’s lobby and lounge are next, and will reopen in December. Earlier this year its riverside restaurants Salathip and Next2 reopened following upgrades. Its Grand Ballroom has been refurbished and now offers new hi-tech audiovisual facilities also.

Banyan Tree has expanded with 112 additional guestrooms including a new category of one- and two-bedroom suites, designed for incentive groups and VIP delegates. Millennium Hilton has opened Thailand’s first dedicated Cheese Room in its all-day restaurant, Flow.



Marriott Bangkok Resort and Spa has launched a new water-based activity for groups. Its half- or full-day scavenger hunt packages take delegates up and down the river on covered long-tail boats as they complete team-based activities searching for customised clues.

CENTRAL
Westin Grande Sukhumvit has opened Zest, a new after-hours outdoor terrace on its seventh floor for up to 30 guests. Further along Sukhumvit Road, Grand Hyatt Erawan recently opened its new 900 sqm business events venue The Campus, while JW Marriott has opened a new Executive Lounge.

Plaza Athenee opened Star 29, a contemporary new meetings or gala event venue for up to 350 people on its 29th floor. Dusit Thani is offering a range of packages as part of its new meeting rewards programme.  

InterContinental completed hotel-wide renovations this summer. New offerings include fully refurbished guestrooms now featuring flatscreen televisions and AV connections. Its new Italian restaurant, Grossi Trattoria and Wine Bar, was established by renowned Australian chef, Guy Grossi, and can seat 80 delegates for high-end events.

FURTHER AFIELD
Chaophya Park Hotel has opened Tarathep Hall, a purpose-built MICE facility styled on a residential mansion. The standalone venue has its own driveway and separate entrance, and allows only one event to be booked at one time.
The venue can host receptions, exhibitions and product launches for 600 people, or 450 for seated banquets.

It features its own kitchens, high-end audiovisual equipment, a large banquet stage with a built-in hydraulic lift and trap door, bars and washrooms. Catering options include Thai, Chinese, Western and Halal, and the venue also allows outside catering. The hotel is the first of its kind on Rachadipisek Road and offers a total of 3,000 sqm of function space including four ballrooms.

Pullman Bangkok King Power is one of the city’s more recent properties and includes Aksra Theatre, a state-of-the-art venue, which seats 600 people. The large pre-function space benefits from natural light and is designed for stand-up receptions. Dinner after the show can be hosted at the adjacent Ramayana restaurant, which serves an international buffet. Cultural shows can be organised by the hotel, including a traditional performance of the popular Aksra Hoon Lakorn Lek.