Hyatt has announced the development of the Park Hyatt Bangkok, set to open in 2014 in the new upscale Central Embassy project on the corner of Wirless and Ploenchit Roads in central Bangkok.

Part of the USD340 million 37 floor Central Embassy project currently under construction, the hotel will form an integral part of Bangkok’s newest and most ambitious high-end luxury retail, entertainment and lifestyle venue.

Park Hyatt Bangkok will feature 222 rooms, including 49 suites. Average rooms sizes are slated at around 50 square meters. The hotel will of course feature “all-day dining and specialty restaurants, a lobby lounge and specialty lounge, as well as a sky bar and restaurant with magnificent views of downtown Bangkok. There will also be 15,515 square-feet of meeting space and amenities including a spa, business center, fitness room and swimming pool.”

As for price, Zulki Othman, the area director for sales and marketing in Southeast Asia for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, says the hotel plans to maintain rates in the same vicinity as the recently opened super luxurious St Regis Bangkok. This will place rooms in the USD300 range, which is considerably higher than most 5 star hotels in Bangkok. “We won’t play with pricing,” said Mr Othman.

This will be the third Hyatt property in Thailand, following the Grand Hyatt Erawan, also in Bangkok, and the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin. Plans are also underway to open Thailand’s second Park Hyatt Hotel in Phuket, at Siray Bay, not far from the Westin Siray Bay.

Location

The Park Hyatt Bangkok will be located atop (my speculation) the Central Embassy complex on the corner of Wireless and Ploenchit Roads on property purchased from the British embassy, which used to be the extensive front gardens of the embassy- hence the name.

Two BTS Skytrain stations are within walking distance and Central Chidlom shopping complex is across the street.

You can see signs of construction including the foundation pylons in the background of this photo taken last year from Sivatel Bangkok, which is located on Wireless road directly across from the British Embassy.

Central Embassy

Central Embassy is an ambitious mixed use project by one of  Thailand’s leading retailers Central Group.
The 37-floor complex promises to revolutionize future luxury shopping and entertainment experience with an 8-story retail space of 150 stores and lifestyle podium, verdant sky terraces and a luxury hotel tower sprawling over a total commercial area of 144,000 sq m.

“We are delighted and honored to enter into this agreement for Park Hyatt Bangkok,” said Chart Chirathivat, Managing Director – Central Embassy, Central Retail Corporation Ltd.  “The union between a prestigious brand such as Park Hyatt, which is renowned for its outstanding service standard, and Central Embassy, a world-class luxury venture, will result in the perfect, seamless integration. Having Park Hyatt as a part of the Central Embassy project will surely put this luxury retail landmark on the world map, highlighting Central Embassy’s key philosophy of Infinite Connections.” – From Hyatt Press Release

Central Embassy is served by two Skytrain stations and a network of roads and expressways. With 70,000 sq m of retail floor space, Central Embassy aims to set new heights by offering unmatched shopping and entertainment experiences. Central Embassy expects the project to become Bangkok’s most iconic modern landmark. The total project value is approximately USD 340 million. See the website at centralembassy.com

Park Hyatt Bangkok Announced is a post from: New Thai Hotels

While not actually on the beachfront, the ibis is located in Khao Takiab with easy access to the beach within 200 meters. The 200-room property aims to provide all guests with a perfect seaside getaway offering international standards, warm and friendly services and excellent value for money. ibis Hua Hin is the first ibis hotel in Hua Hin and the eighth ibis property in Thailand.

A quick call to the hotel on Sunday night revealed a bustling staff working well into the night, and ready to open on Monday without any delays.

From the press release:

The property will specifically cater to the discerning needs of business and leisure travellers with comfortable, well-designed, and fully equipped guest rooms with contemporary fit-out including LCD satellite television, Wi-Fi internet access, 24 hours a day services, quality well-priced food and drinks at the signature TASTE restaurant as well as eight hours non-stop breakfast concept starting from four am to 12 noon. ibis Hua Hin also offers two meeting rooms for small meeting and incentive groups .

Executive General Manager, Mr Erwann Mahe, said “We are delighted to introduce one of the world’s largest economy hotel brands in Hua Hin at the beginning of this year. With quality and consistent service standards and value for money accommodation, we are confident that ibis Hua Hin will quickly become one of the city’s most successful and preferred hotels amongst Thai and international travelers.”

ibis Hua Hin celebrates its first opening with the special offers price start at THB 1,080++ per night including accommodation in a Standard Room.

Check Agoda for prices at ibis Hua Hin

If you have stay at the new ibis in Hua Hin and have any photos you would like to share, please leave a link to the photos in the comments below.

Ibis Hua Hin Grand Opening is a post from: New Thai Hotels

It may be hard to believe, but travel less than two kilometers from the bustling heart of Bangkok, across the muddy river waters of the Chao Phraya River, and you are in the semi-rural “green lung of Bangkok” surrounded by mango palms and lamphu trees.

It is in this setting that the highly anticipated, all-green, 12 suite Bangkok Tree House makes it’s debut in January 2012. Originally scheduled to open in November 2011, the recent floods that devastated Thailand have delayed the opening by a few weeks.

Green Philosophy

Owner Joey Tulyanond envisioned and built Bangkok Tree House to be more than carbon neutral. They promise to clean up one kilo of trash from the Chao Phraya River for every booking made.

Bangkok Tree House even have their own “Green Alphabet”, with examples being  F is for “Food at the Bangkok Tree House is organic, fresh and 100 percent ‘artificial anything’ free”; N is for natural swimming pools: Our pools do not rely on chemicals such as chlorine that harm you and the local ecology. Instead we use biological filters to naturally purify the water; and Z is for “Zero waste goal. We follow the ‘Six Rs’ of sustainable living: Refuse, Refuse, Refuse, then Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.”

Bangkok Tree House is a post from: New Thai Hotels

The Hansar Bangkok is one of the newest boutique hotels to open on the city’s bustling Rajdamri Road.  The location is excellent, close to a great variety of shops and plenty of restaurants.  Lumpini Park is walking distance away, and the SkyTrain station is nearby, putting the entire city within easy reach within minutes.

While the location is excellent, the real delight here is the hotel itself.  It offers a fascinating blend of Thai style and modern contemporary luxury, all accented with fresh flowers, local artifacts and homey touches such as floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.  Guests are welcomed with a plate of seasonal Thai fruit in their room after checking in.

Each guest room is stunning, and designed with a lot of thought for the ultimate in comfort.  The rich décor marries local style with modern lines, creating a unique atmosphere of luxury.  In a number of the suites, the feather bed is raised on a wooden platform, and in some suites, floor to ceiling windows give guests the feeling of floating over the city itself.

In every room, a soft color palette of earth tones is complemented by hardwood flooring, some of the thickest carpeting I have experienced and flowing silk draperies.  Bedding is luxurious, with soft down duvets and pillows. Each en suite bathroom features a stunning mix of wood and stone, as well as a custom designed Terrazzo soaker tub in addition to a separate glassed-in rainfall shower.

The Hansar Bangkok features 92 suites, ranging in size and in amenities.  Studio Suites include private balconies, and convenient kitchenettes with refrigerators and stovetops.   Urban Suites offer separate lounge area and comfortable work space.  Edge Suites feature a glass-enclosed cantilevered day bed, which looks out over the city. The walls of the hotel’s Vertigo Suites are lined with bookcases displaying rare artifacts.  There are also two Loft Suites at the Hansar Bangkok; each one a luxurious duplex, with two floors featuring a lounge for entertaining, and a separate dining space and kitchen, ideal for hosting the perfect dinner.

All suites feature flat screen television with DVD players, an iPod docking station with charging cords for Apple products and Blackberries, free wireless internet access, as well as a free in-room mini-bar, replenished daily with snacks, beer and soft drinks.

When it comes time to eat, the Hansar Bangkok has many choices.  Café Boca is perfect for a quick sandwich on an outdoor terrace. Eve serves elegant French cuisine.  Vue is the beautiful lobby bar, which also serves a buffet breakfast in the morning. Get there early for an outdoor table.  For guests enjoying the stunning rooftop pool, drinks from the poolside bar Zest can cool off even the hottest afternoon. If you are looking to catch some sun, it might be a good idea to ask the staff when the best times are, as there are quite a number of high-rise apartments in the area.

The Hansar Bangkok also features a fully equipped fitness room, and a soothing spa called Luxsa which uses ancient Thai healing principles to work on the body’s balance between earth, water, fire and air.

The Hansar opened in December of 2010, I am posting this here now after resurrecting this site after losing it for a couple of months.

You can read even more about Hansar Bangkok here|  Read my review of Hansar Bangkok | Check out more Photos of Hansar Bangkok on my Flickr stream

Hansar Bangkok is a post from: New Thai Hotels

The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket opened on August 1st on stunning Siray Island on the east coast of Phuket. The entire resort overlooks picturesque Siray Bay and boasts a secluded beach and beautiful ocean views from every vantage point.

A bridge connects Siray Island to Phuket Island and is an 8 minute drive from charming Phuket town, 45 minute drive from Phuket International Airport and a short boat ride from world renowned islands such as Phi Phi, James Bond, Similan and Maya Islands famous for their pristine beaches and abundant marine life.

The resort features 3 pools, each offering a different atmosphere and view.

The Prego pool is next to the Prego restaurant and  features enticing “bubble beds” along the sides for a reclining massage. The Prego pool offers views of the ocean and the private beach of Siray Bay below.

The Splash pool has the highest elevation of the pools in the resort and offers sweeping birds-eye ocean views, perfect for watching the sun set over Siray Bay with drinks and snacks from the connecting bar.

The Horizon infinity pool apparently “creates the sensation of swimming in the ocean”. Sun loungers and meals available from nearby outlets Daily Treats and Seasonal Tastes.

The Westin Siray Bay Resort offers ten room types, ranging in size from 50 square meters for the Superior Sea View Rooms, up to a massive 240 square meters for the Renewal Pool Villa. Room types available are as follows:

• Superior Sea Rooms – 50 sqm
• Deluxe Sea View Rooms – 58 sqm
• Elevation Suite – 62 sqm
• Discovery Suite – 60 sqm
• Siray Suite – 90 sqm
• Indulge Suite – 80 sqm
• Sala Pool Villa – 80 sqm
• One and Two Bedroom Sala Pool Villas- 105 to 200 sqm
• Inspire Pool Villa – 200 sqm
• Renewal Pool Villa – 240 sqm

All room types feature 37″ LCD flat screen television, iPod docking station, DVD player, rainforest shower, Heavenly Beds, 24 hour room service, Ocean views and private balconies and wireless internet access.

Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket opens is a post from: New Thai Hotels

The Banyan Tree group marks their third property in Thailand with the opening this month of the Banyan Tree Samui.

Every one of the 78 villas at the new Banyan Tree are private pool villas. Sizes are generous, starting at 130 sqm for the Garden Pool Villa and going up to 316 sqm for the Sanctuary Pool Villa.

The new Banyan Tree is located on a pristine beach with villas lining the beautiful Lamai Bay and also dotting the lush tropical vegetation of the cascading private hillside as it rises above the sapphire waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Samui International Airport is 19 kilometers away.

Parents traveling with children who want to soak up the luxury and tranquility that the resort has to offer, may like to take advantage of the Kid’s Club, a program where kids can enjoy a vast selection of activities such as baking, painting, sand art, etc. Such family friendly facilities help both parents and children enjoy their time at the resort.

For those looking for extra an relaxing treat, The Rainforest spa has a lot to offer.

From the Banyan Tree site:

One of the most special features of the spa is The Rainforest, Koh Samui’s only hydrotherapy spa. Here, guests indulge their senses with a range of hydrothermal experiences that are specially designed to complement the main spa treatments to provide a soothing, healing holistic experience. In particular, the hydrothermal circuit comprises a trail of alternating hot and cold thermal cabins, each offering a different hydrothermal therapy experience such as the Rain Walk, Steam, Rasul, Sauna, Bucket Drench Shower, Ice Fountain, Swiss Shower and Vitality Pool.

Rooms can be had for as little as USD 564 for a Garden Pool Villa in August from Agoda, which is a considerable saving from the price quoted on the Banyan Tree website which quotes THB 28, 850 (USD895). Agoda is also quoting USD 611 for an Ocean View Pool Villa, which is advertised as THB30,630 (USD950) on the Banyan Tree site.

Banyan Tree Samui opens is a post from: New Thai Hotels

The Sheraton group will be unveiling the Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 17 on October 1st 2010, making it the first of two Four Points by Sheraton hotel openings planned for Bangkok within the next 18 months.

As the name suggests, the hotel will be located on Sukhumvit Soi 17, which is near BTS Skytrain Asok station and not far from Soi 24, where you will find the upscale department store Emporium as well as Benjasiri Park.

The Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok- Sukhumvit 17  will have 268 guest rooms and suites, a lobby lounge, a bar with live entertainment, a restaurant, a business center, a pool, a spa and a fitness room. It will also have a ballroom and pre-function room with a total area of 625 square meters, high speed internet access throughout the hotel and a play zone for children.

There will also be another Four Points scheduled to open November 1st 2011 in Sathorn with 436 guestrooms.

New Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok to open in October is a post from: New Thai Hotels

“An Exclusive Pier of Pleasure”

Despite the unfortunately erotic sounding byline of this new resort in Hua Hin, 2 hours drive south of Bangkok, The Haven Hua Hin does not appear to be an adults only venue.

The Haven Hua Hin resort features 46 guestrooms and 7 private villas. Rooms range is size from 45 square meters for superior and deluxe rooms up to 87 square meters for the suites. Each category of room has two types, regular with a pool view and “@sea” with ocean views.

The villas at Haven Hua Hin are “Private and spacious villas are elaborately decorated in our unique tropical style with the private balcony and Moon Deck on the top of each villa, surrounded with the peaceful tropical natures.” These rooms feature an outdoor rain shower and “moon deck”, and are detached from the main resort building and feature either a view of the water pond or ocean views in the case of the @Sea villas.

The 2 suites each have their own individual balcony, private outdoor swimming pool and romantic Moon Deck as well as outdoor jacuzzi bathtub. These suites are located either in a secluded corner of the resort for added privacy or with an ocean view.

There are three pools at The Haven Hua Hin, a 25 meter pool, a children’s pool and a 400 square meter “water pond area”.

The Alfresco bar serves breakfast lunch and dinner practically on the beach and is open from 7am to 10pm  and serves Thai and international cuisine.

The location of the Haven is about 20 minutes from Hua Hin town so it is a little isolated and there isn’t much around the hotel. For entertainment you will either have to be content to hang around the resort or make a trip into Hua Hin town if you want some nightlife or want to go shopping.

Haven Hua Hin is a post from: New Thai Hotels

The just opened Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong in Ploenchit adds another stunning 5 star property to Marriott’s already impressive Bangkok showcase.

This new property features 275 rooms and 58 suites over 22 floors and also offers 14 meeting rooms with a total of 20,000 square meters of meeting space.

As seen in the pictures above, guest rooms feature beautiful hardwood floors and thick pile rugs. Thanks to the large windows (“oversized” according to Marriott.com), the rooms are brightly lit with natural sunlight and feature a modern “chic” decor. The bathrooms at the Renaissance Ratchaprasong are marble and they also follow the recent trend of having glass enclosed (read: glass walled) bathrooms, which in my opinion, is fine for couples or single travelers, but I certainly don’t want to stay there with my mother.

Guestrooms start in size from 37 square meters (398 sqft) for the Deluxe and Club rooms, 48-53 square meters (516 – 570 sqft) for the Club level Studio Suites, and go up to 62 sqms (667 sqft), 72 sqms (775 sqft) and 150 sqms (1614 sqft) for the Club level Renaissance Suites, Executives Suites and Presidential Suite respectively.

All rooms are “Plug-in High Tech” rooms and feature both wired and wireless internet connectivity. There is also an iPod dock in each room.

The pool is nice and conducive to laps, however it can feel a little cramped and unfortunately for those who want to get some sun, like the Mayfair Marriott Executive Apartments nearby on Langsuan, the area is covered and quite shaded.

There are four restaurants at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong, with breakfast and lunch being served at Flavors on the 2nd floor and R Bar, in the lobby. Lunch and dinner is also served at Flavors and R bar, as well as in the Chinese restaurant Fei Ya and La Tavola, the Italian restaurant. Both are located on the third floor. On top of the hotel is a lounge and bar called Azure, serving tapas, champagne, wine and cocktails. Dress code for Azure is casual.

Marriott unveils Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong is a post from: New Thai Hotels

In December of 2009 I spent a couple of nights at the newly opened Sukhumvit Park Bangkok, Marriott Executive Apartments. After finally opening on October 23rd after a number of delays, Sukhumvit Park is the third executive serviced apartments in Bangkok after the Mayfair Marriott on Soi Lang Suan and Sathorn Vista, which opened early in 2009 on South Sathorn Road.

Located on Soi 24, which is a road that runs between Sukhumvit Road, a major thoroughfare in Bangkok and Rama IX Road, the new Marriott is in a prime location for both business travelers and tourists. While it is possible to walk to Sukhumvit Road in under 10 minutes, the hotel provides a complimentary tuk-tuk to shuttle guests whenever needed. There is no schedule for the shuttle tuk-tuk, just ask at the front desk. On Sukhumvit Road at the end of Soi 24 there is there upscale Emporium shopping complex and a BTS Skytrain  Phrom Phong station.

Room types range from studios, to one, two and three bedroom apartments.  The 72 Studio rooms are 45 sqm. There are 184 one bedroom suites at 65 square meters and 20 one bedroom apartments at 85 square meters. The 20 two bedroom apartments are 130 square meters and finally there are 4 three bedroom apartments at a massive 180 square meters. At the time of our visit in December, the three bedroom apartments were not yet completed.  Shown in the picture below is the living room of the one bedroom apartment.

What’s not shown in the photo above is the L-shaped leather sofa that can comfortably sit 3 or 4 people. Floors throughout the apartments are hardwood and also feature high quality thick floor  rugs  in the living room and bedrooms.

There are flat screen TVs in both the living room and the bedrooms, as well as a DVD player in the living room. Living room also features a work desk with a dedicated connectivity board, enabling wired or wireless internet access as well as connecting an iPod to play through the TV speakers. Internet access is provided at 535 Baht (USD 16) per day, 3210 Baht  (USD96) per month or for long term residents , 9630 Baht (USD290) per year.

The kitchens in the apartments at the Sukhumvit Park, like all the Marriott Executive apartments in Bangkok are spacious and very well equipped. Appliances include a full sized refrigerator with freezer, microwave oven, conventional oven, electric range, coffee maker, toaster, kitchen knife set, dishwasher, cutlery, pots and pans, drinking glasses, wine glasses, dishes and plates. There is also a washer and dryer in each apartment.

The pool is large and suitable for laps. There is also a kid’s pool.

The hotel features a large pool and outdoor jacuzzi and well as a kid’s pool. Other sporting facilities include a 200 square meter gym, rooftop tennis court, squash court and badminton courts, all on site.

Sukhumvit Park Marriott Executive Apartments is a post from: New Thai Hotels