Accor to Open Sofitel in Northern Thailand
NOVEMBER 22, 2006. Accor is to open a new boutique Sofitel in the popular northern Thailand tourist centre of Chiang Mai next month.
The hotel is schedule to open on 1 December 2006 and will be branded Sofitel Riverside Chiang Mai in January 2007. The hotel is being developed by Riverside Spa Resort Co Ltd. It will be Accor's 50th Sofitel in the Asia Pacific region.
Nestled along the banks of Chiang Mai's scenic Ping River, Sofitel Riverside Chiang Mai offers guests a peaceful enclave near the city centre. The resort is only five minutes walk from Chiang Mai's famed night bazaar and close to its numerous cultural and historical attractions.
The 74 room resort combines timeless 'Lanna' architecture with modern amenities and the latest technology. The result is a hotel that captures the best of Chiang Mai's ancient heritage combined with the most contemporary facilities and services.
Each of the hotel's 56 Premier rooms (60sqm) boasts a private balcony overlooking the Ping River, luxurious bathroom, built-in LCD television, mini-home theatre, wireless broadband. There are also 17 one-bedroom suites (110sqm) and one penthouse suite (383sqm).
Guests will enjoy a wide choice of dining options from the resort's three restaurants and a bar, three meeting rooms, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, plus fitness centre with sauna. The Aspara Spa and beauty salon will have six twin bed treatment rooms featuring a unique blend of Asian and Western treatments.
According to Accor Asia Pacific Managing Director Michael Issenberg, the luxury resort was a good fit for the Sofitel brand and Chiang Mai's tourism development.
'The Sofitel will offer some of Chiang Mai's finest accommodation and will help cater for the growing demand for authentic, upmarket accommodation in Chiang Mai,' he said.
'The opening of the hotel will help attract greater numbers of visitors from Europe in particular, where Sofitel is a leading deluxe hotel brand.
'The Sofitel will be an important addition to the Sofitel network in Thailand, joining Sofitels in Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Hua Hin and Pattaya.'
Riverside Spa Resort Co Ltd Managing Director Mr Boonlert Burnapakorn said: ''We are confident that Sofitel branding will create an elegant and stylish blend of northern Thai and French cultures.
'Sofitel has very strong brand recognition in Thailand and around Asia, and we believe Sofitel Riverside Chiang Mai will fill a clear market need for international-branded 5-star luxury accomodation in the city centre.'
Sofitel Riverside Chiang Mai is part of the largest-ever expansion of the Sofitel brand in the Asia Pacific region. The Sofitel will be the 9th Sofitel to open in Thailand, and the 50th Sofitel hotel in the network. Be the end of 2007 there are scheduled to be over 70 Sofitel hotels in operation around Asia Pacific, making Sofitel the largest 5-star hotel brand in the Asia Pacific region.
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