Capital with class

Bangkok has been steadily consolidating its reputation as a major centre for the region's meetings and incentives industry over the past few years. The Thai capital may still retain its exotic charm, but it can also cater to the most sophisticated demands of corporate event organisers. When the new international airport opens, and opinions vary widely on the exact date of this much-delayed project, it will crown the past few years' achievements in the city's infrastructure, with new facilities such as the Skytrain and underground system that are worthy of any global city. Yet Thailand's ultimate selling point has always been the easygoing, effortless hospitality and warmth of its people rather than in cold concrete and steel. For high-end corporate meetings, Bangkok can offer an array of five-star accommodation that sits with the best in the world. In addition, there are a number of unusual venues that provide meeting planners and organisers with high-class options for meetings, receptions and dinners that would turn heads in any part of the world. Fay-Linn Yeoh, director of sales and marketing at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, believes her property's location in the heart of one of Bangkok's busiest thoroughfares is an obvious advantage. "We are right in the middle of one of Asia's finest shopping and eating areas on Sukhumvit Road. The Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is close by and the Expressway to the airport is also near at hand for quick transfers to and from the airport. "With the Skytrain and Sukhumvit underground so close by, it makes us even more accessible for business visitors." As a well-established venue, the hotel has a long and loyal corporate clientele that has been added to since Starwood took over the property, rebranded it as a Westin and made major investments in refurbishment. The 364-room hotel has a ballroom capable of holding 1,000 people and nine other meeting spaces. Dining options include the Zest Piano Bar, Med, a Mediterranean-Asian fusion restaurant, and Kisso, a famed Japanese dining outlet, which is popular among locally based Japanese companies. Further down the Sukhumvit strip is the JW Marriott. Meg Evans, director of marketing, Thailand is enthusiastic about Bangkok's prospects. "Overall, Thailand is developing at great speed and you can see that in Bangkok everywhere you look," she says. "China and India are going to be key source markets for us and geographically Thailand is placed perfectly between these two countries." Located well away from the hustle and bustle of the Sukhumvit Road area is the Peninsula Bangkok, located on prime riverside grounds on the banks of the Chao Praya River. The 39-storey hotel is W-shaped and all of its 370 spacious guestrooms offer some of the best views of the city. Formal service The hotel can cater to the more formal business events and those with VIP participants. The hotel has its own heli-pad and fleet of Rolls-Royce cars. The pillarless 520 sqm Sakuntala Ballroom can be subdivided and has the capacity to accommodate up to 430 guests for a banquet and over 600 theatre-style. There are six further meeting rooms ranging from 37 sqm to 163 sqm and a 23 sqm boardroom. Open-air events can be held on the Peninsula Lawn area, with the riverside providing a natural backdrop. Director of marketing Brandon Chan says: "Our location is one of the best in the city. We have some of the greatest fine-dining options in the whole of Bangkok with Thiptara, our Thai restaurant, and our specialist Cantonese outlet Mei Jing. "Groups can also make use of our outside spaces while for a modern feel there is Jesters, a bar with a city-wide reputation for its cocktails and fusion food. Essentially, The Peninsula can provide just about any solution for premier corporate events." The Peninsula provides its own river shuttle, crewed by Peninsula staff in their trademark whites, that drops passengers off at nearby Skytrain stations. This is often a quicker and certainly more stylish option than sitting in rush-hour traffic. High life Another way of beating the jam is simply to rise above it and unquestionably the finest view in Bangkok is at the open-air rooftop lounge on top of the 61-storey Banyan Tree, where groups can enjoy cocktails at the Moon Bar or fine dining at the Vertigo restaurant. Banyan Tree claims that the Moon Bar is the highest al fresco bar in Asia. Resident manager Sami Ayari says: "We offer a breathtaking panorama of the city combined with one of the best food and beverage offerings around. "Whether delegates are from an incentive group or a meeting, participants can unwind in the spa before their evening event. "Corporate groups can hold their dinners and cocktail receptions here with a birds-eye view of the city." One of the new breed of boutique hotels is the Metropolitan Bangkok, located in the Sathorn district practically next door to the Banyan Tree. The Metropolitan is part of the exclusive stable of properties belonging to luxury hotelier Christina Ong. This is a chic 171-room property designed to appeal to younger corporate travellers and with a particular reach to the fashion and media industries, two sectors that Bangkok has increasingly embraced. Connie Ho, director of sales and marketing, sees the property as offering a very different ambience from traditional Thai hotels. "Our design is minimalist and uncluttered. At the same time, there is a huge attention to detail," she says. The hotel has been described as "modern Oriental", with cutting-edge technology sitting alongside Asian art and design. "We're very popular among the music and media industries and we provide an ideal environment for niche product launches, cocktail parties, media briefings, and fashion shows," Ho says. Meetings at the Met features three state-ofthe- art rooms that can hold up to 90 people. The hotel's dining options include Cy'an, its signature restaurant, snack and juice bar Glow and the Met Bar. The Como Shambhala health club offers massage and spa treatments, reflexology and yoga. Another of Bangkok's more unusual meetings spaces is The Residence at the 380-room Grand Hyatt Erewan. Marketing communications manager Pajaree Bhatayanond says: "We have four different meeting spaces, totalling about 950 sqm. However, what is really different is the residential- style arrangement, making for a much more intimate environment. The layout provides a cosier atmosphere, more homely than traditional meeting areas. Ambience "We also have an open kitchen and catering arrangements can be customised too. The entire area of The Residence can be booked and can hold up to 500 people," she says. Out toward Don Muang Airport, the Sofitel Central Plaza and Bangkok Convention Centre (BCC) complex offer a one-stop site for larger meetings and conferences. The hotel has 607 rooms and suites, and is linked to the BCC via a walkway. General manager Martin Reed says: "Obviously our location midway between central Bangkok and the airport is a distinct selling point. However, we also offer a much larger scale of facilities for the bigger meeting and conference. "Around the hotel and convention centre is a major shopping centre and entertainment complex. So a large corporate group has the convenience of access to the airport and city, and yet has a wide range of shopping and leisure facilities close at hand," he says.