The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok announces renovation of River Wing

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the renovation of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok’s River Wing, designed to confirm this historic hotel’s position as one of the best in the world. 

Scheduled to commence in March 2019 and taking seven months to complete, the renovation will encompass all the rooms and suites in the Thai hotel’s River Wing, together with the lobby, swimming pools and Lord Jim’s, The Verandah and Riverside Terrace restaurants. The historic Authors’ and Garden Wings of the hotel will remain open throughout the renovation.

In keeping with the successful restoration of the Authors’ and Garden Wings in 2016, the River Wing renovation is designed to further enhance the accommodation and facilities of the iconic hotel, while maintaining its classic, Thai-influenced elegance and unique resort style.

A major component of the work will be to enlarge the guest rooms located in the River Wing. The overall number of guest rooms will be reduced from 338 to 301, while the number of suites will increase from 30 to 46. All rooms will have views of the Chao Phraya river. Jeffrey Wilkes of Design Wilkes has been appointed to oversee the changing of the interiors, which will feature updated amenities, bespoke Thai fabrics, and reconditioned artwork from the hotel’s collection. The hotel’s Lobby, Lord Jim’s, The Verandah and Riverside Terrace restaurants will also be renewed, with many original features restored and reinstated.

All rooms and suites in the Authors’ and Garden Wings, located in separate buildings to the River Wing, will remain open throughout the renovation period, as will the hotel’s remaining restaurants and banqueting facilities. These include the two-Michelin-starred Le Normandie, the Authors’ Lounge, the Bamboo Bar, Ciao Terraza, Sala Rim Naam, Terrace Rim Naam, The China House and the Ballroom. In addition, the hotel’s spa and fitness facilities will remain fully operational. 

Source: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

As both swimming pools will undergo renovation, alternative arrangements will be made for guests wishing to swim.

“Throughout its 142-year history, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has been an icon of this vibrant city. The River Wing renovation will complement the stunning Authors’and Garden Wing refurbishment, and has been meticulously designed to recognise the property’s heritage while ensuring our continued position as one of the world’s legendary hotels,” said Greg Liddell, GM, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

Details:

The River Wing will close during the city’s low season, and re-open in October 2019, in time for the start of the high season in Bangkok.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok completes renovation of Authors' and Garden Wings

Source: Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. The Authors' Wing at dusk.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has completed a comprehensive renovation of the historic Authors’ and Garden Wings. Designed to significantly enhance the facilities and services of this award winning hotel, the renovation has restored the historic heart of the property to its original splendour. The project comprised a room reconfiguration resulting in the creation of new spacious suites, including a Grand Royal Suite in the Authors’ Wing and twelve suites with balconies in the Garden Wing.

The six-bedroom, 600 sq m Grand Royal Suite is Bangkok’s grandest presidential suite and occupies the entire first floor of the renowned Authors’ Wing, which was the original Oriental Hotel, built in 1876. The suite has private elevator access and incorporates the one-bedroom, 315 sq m Royal Suite and the adjoining 165 sq m Ambassador Suite with two bedrooms, as well as three further separate guest rooms for an entourage.

Source: The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.
The Ambassador's Suite.

There are ample stately meeting and hosting spaces, including a formal lounge, a second living room, a study and a dining room for twelve guests with a fully equipped kitchen and a bar pantry. A light-filled Victorian-inspired glass conservatory offers further dining for six guests and relaxed lounge seating. The 140-year-old building’s restored original open balcony affords stunning vistas over the tropical gardens of the Authors’ Wing and the River of Kings.

The new 80 sq m Garden Suites, some with split level layout, all boast floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river and gardens and include a lounge, dining room, pantry, powder room and a balcony. The bedroom features a large marble bathroom with separate bathtub, a walk-in shower, double vanity and a walk-in closet. The suites’ contemporary interior design combines the hotel’s unique colonial inspired heritage and Thai culture.

The Le Normandie French fine dining restaurant has also been rejuvenated with a contemporary interpretation of its original grandeur. The new interior preserves the classic elegance of one of Asia’s best loved French restaurants, together with striking new features such as handcrafted chandeliers.

The Authors’ Lounge, a favourite traditional destination for afternoon tea, society weddings and elegant events – has been restored to its classic late-nineteenth-century design and has been further extended to flow seamlessly through to the hotel’s riverside terrace and gardens via four salons named after famous authors who were guests of the hotel: Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham, Noël Coward and James Michener. Here the hotel’s longstanding affinity with the literary world is exemplified with images of these literary greats juxtaposed with scenes taken at the hotel during those eras, quotations from their books, and in some cases, signed books on display.

Interested?

Celebrate Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok’s 140th anniversary in 2016 in Oriental style with an exclusive two-night consecutive stay that includes luxurious accommodation with personal butler service, daily buffet breakfast for two at The Verandah, and afternoon tea for two at the historic Authors’ Lounge. Guests will also receive Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok’s commemorative homemade jam in 140th anniversary packaging. Make a booking

Kuwait Finance House launches Bunyani financing campaign for finishing works

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) has launched a new campaign themed Bunyani... from skeleton structure to delivery for finance owners of residential, investment and industrial plots of land. The campaign will assist them to have construction such as finishing works, maintenance and restoration done.

Deputy General Manager Commercial Services at KFH, Ahmad Al-Khaled, said that the campaign grants clients streamlined financing facilities that include up to KD70,000 financing, a 15-year credit period, and a 12-month maturity period for the first installment, and a marginal profit rate.

He added that Bunyani... from skeleton structure to delivery campaign comes as part of KFH’s efforts to underline its role in serving clients and meeting their needs. 

Al-Khaled explained that the campaign, that lasts until January 20 2015, caters for clients' requirements in installment financing to buy finishing works supplies such as air conditioning, aluminum, lifts, and interior design in cooperation with the construction materials companies in Kuwait.