November 15th, 2006, 04:49
Accor Hotel Group is scheduled to open its first hotel in Chiang Mai this weekend, the Sofitel Riverside.
The 74-room hotel located on the bank of Chiang Mai's Ping River is currently operating as the Rati Lanna.
It will be renamed the Sofitel Riverside under a 10-year management contract with Accor.
The hotel's assistant managing director, Vorapong Muchaotai, described it as a five-star establishment.
"The average room rate is US$290, the same as other luxury hotels in Chiang Mai," Vorapong said.
The number of five-star hotels in Chiang Mai is expected to double within four years.
The Hyatt, Hilton, Le Meridien and Shangri La chains are either planning or constructing hotels in the northern capital.
Travellers seeking five-star rooms in Chiang Mai are currently limited to the Dhara Dhevi Oriental Hotel, Four Seasons, D2 and Chedi hotels.
Accor will also today take over management of a hotel in Krabi, the Sofitel Phokeethra Krabi Resort & Spa.
The 276-room low-rise resort features colonial architecture and is fronted by a white sand beach and surrounded by tropical rainforest. The resort has the largest lagoon-style swimming pool in the province, covering more than 7,000 square metres.
The Sofitel Krabi will also feature a cooking school, children's club, fitness centre, tennis court, library and function centre.
The Sofitel Krabi will be the group's first hotel in Thailand to feature its Le Spa health and wellness service.
Suchat Sritama
The Nation
Chiang Mai
The 74-room hotel located on the bank of Chiang Mai's Ping River is currently operating as the Rati Lanna.
It will be renamed the Sofitel Riverside under a 10-year management contract with Accor.
The hotel's assistant managing director, Vorapong Muchaotai, described it as a five-star establishment.
"The average room rate is US$290, the same as other luxury hotels in Chiang Mai," Vorapong said.
The number of five-star hotels in Chiang Mai is expected to double within four years.
The Hyatt, Hilton, Le Meridien and Shangri La chains are either planning or constructing hotels in the northern capital.
Travellers seeking five-star rooms in Chiang Mai are currently limited to the Dhara Dhevi Oriental Hotel, Four Seasons, D2 and Chedi hotels.
Accor will also today take over management of a hotel in Krabi, the Sofitel Phokeethra Krabi Resort & Spa.
The 276-room low-rise resort features colonial architecture and is fronted by a white sand beach and surrounded by tropical rainforest. The resort has the largest lagoon-style swimming pool in the province, covering more than 7,000 square metres.
The Sofitel Krabi will also feature a cooking school, children's club, fitness centre, tennis court, library and function centre.
The Sofitel Krabi will be the group's first hotel in Thailand to feature its Le Spa health and wellness service.
Suchat Sritama
The Nation
Chiang Mai