Thailand – Luxury Mantra – Sukhothai Bangkok
The Hotel is named after the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom.
The Sukhothai fleet of 18 Mercedes
limos roll day and night.
A five-star hotel aiming to attract today’s savvy business traveler has this mantra: service, service, better service.
For the award-winning Sukhothai service begins, not at the hotel, but upon arrival at Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi International airport. As you clear customs a hotel escort greets you warmly with a wai (pronounced “why”) the traditional Thai greeting done by pressing your hands together and bowing slightly. He swoops in to take your luggage and lead you to your car, a Mercedes S320 CDI, one of eighteen identically-equipped limos in the hotel’s luxury fleet staffed by 27 full-time drivers. Moments later your bags are loaded and you’re underway with a white-coated chauffer skillfully speeding you through Bangkok’s notoriously tricky traffic.
At the hotel you are welcomed by immaculately-uniformed members of the reception staff — many more wais — and an escort who ushers you straight away through the sleek lobby, up the elevator to your room. Check in is accomplished in the suite while you unwind on the sofa by peeling succulent fruits — Chinese Plums, European Pears, Rose Apples, Sapodilla and Mangosteen. Only an hour from airport arrival, you have been delivered in style through Bangkok’s hustle and bustle to a city oasis of luxury and calm.
The Deluxe Terrace Suites with private
sun lounges overlook the swimming pool.
The Sukhothai hotel exudes luxury.
Thai Chedis are where ashes of
a king or revered monks may be placed.
The city thrived as a trade center and news of its beauty, style and architecture spread far and wide. The temples of Sukhothai emphasized their stupa (mound-like structures containing Buddhist relics) and chedi (bell-shaped towers containing ashes of a king or monk) as primary design features.
The palaces of Sukhothai maintained an incomparable design and distinctive style. Symmetrical colonnades, reflection pools, open-air arcades, combined with superb, natural materials defined the golden-age city. Much of the décor in this world-renowned hotel derives from that wondrous lifestyle.
World-Class Luxury in the Heart of Bangkok.
Residence Suites have open-plans and
bedrooms separated by sliding doors.
The Sukhothai has been named “Best Hotel in Thailand” by Institutional Investor magazine and is regularly ranked atop Conde’ Nast “Gold List” and “Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Hotels in Asia.”
Beyond its five-star accommodations, the hotel provides guests with exceptional Thai and international cuisine in seven restaurants, cafes and bars, spa and leisure facilities and a full-range of meeting and event venues, perfectly situated in the city’s central business district.
Their multi-lingual hotel staff is conversant in English as well as several European and Asian languages. The hotel features all of the expected amenities: 24-hour in-room dining, Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel, same-day laundry service 7 days a week, parcel and postal services, medical clinic and on call doctor, babysitting, exceptional concierge service and my own favorite — Today’s International Newspaper — your choice of over 700 titles from 70 countries delivered each morning.
The garden courtyard is a
sanctuary from busy Bangkok.
The Sukhothai shunned the high-rise trend when it opened in 1991, opting instead for one lofty tower and an enclave of four-to-nine story buildings capped with simple pitched roofs. Behind the entrance, along Bangkok’s Embassy Row, the tree-lined driveway and six acres of tropical flower gardens and lotus ponds recapture the serenity of Thailand’s glorious past.
The lobby’s courtyard pond reflects the surrounding replicas of 13th century Sukhothai stupas. Bold architectural symmetry and the use of teak, granite, mirrors, glass, ceramics, metal and fine Thai fabrics recall the palatial salons of the ancient capital, while incorporating the latest technology and comforts of the new millennium.
Elegant Guest Accommodations.
The Executive Suites offer
views of the central
water garden.
From superior rooms to the singular Sukhothai suite — 210 units in all — the hotel’s guest accommodations are saturated in style. Our Executive Suite included amenities consistent with the high expectations of their guests: business desk with fax machine, private phone number and voice mail, full-internet access, stationary kits, walk-through closet that leads to a stunning teakwood-floor bathroom with separate bathtub and jet shower. A living room/bedroom area with large flat-screen LCD satellite TV, iPod connections hardwired to the in-room sound system, electronic safe, high-quality mini-bar, stereo system with CD player, tea and coffee making facilities — all of which add up to luxury and convenience that soothe the weary traveler.
Make Your Choice for Dining, Drinks and Sweets.
The Celadon is hailed as “Best Restaurant in Bangkok”.
Celadon’s ambience is perfect
for that special night out.
Colonnade diners view the splendors of pool with stupas.
The Celadon & The Colonnade.
Celadon restaurant has been named “Best Food – Asia, Australia & Pacific Nations” on Conde’ Nast “Gold List” and is celebrated in Bangkok for its extensive menu of authentic Thai dishes served for lunch and dinner in elegant air-conditioned Salas and open-air terraces overlooking the lotus pond.
The Colonnade is the Sukhothai’s signature all-day restaurant (Open daily 6:00 a.m.-Midnight) featuring live cooking stations and a wide selection of Western and Asian favorites.
Breakfast visitors often linger over richly-roasted coffee and can be seen peeking out from morning papers to take in the arrival of stylishly-late, international travelers.
La Scala’s contemporary design provides an
elegant setting for modern Italian cuisine.
The Zuk Lounge.
For a change of pace enjoy fine Italian dining at La Scala where traditional recipes are creatively reinvented and a large selection of wines may provide a perfect complement to your romantic meal.
The Zuk bar, open from 4:00 to 1:00PM with a DJ playing cool beats nightly from 9:00, now offers a stylish, 32-seat outdoor lounge located amidst lotus ponds and the courtyard garden. Furnished with plush, comfortable divans guests enjoy an intimate setting in which to savor an aperitif, after-dinner drink or fine cigar from the bar’s international selection.
Two lobby salons serve afternoon tea and coffee, cocktails and light snacks, but best of all, is the Sukhothai Chocolate Buffet, each Friday thru Sunday from 2:00 to 6:00PM. Chocolate imported from around the world is used to create completely unique Sukhothai specialties. You’ll taste the subtle sweetness of ivory against the sour bitterness of Guanaja chocolate and the secret power of cocoa beans sampled in silky concoctions brewed individually from the chocolate degustation trolley — yum!
If you can’t wait for the weekend to indulge your chocolate fantasy visit Thimian, the Sukhothai’s gourmet shop and café. From morning coffee and croissants to their signature cakes and chocolate truffles — Thimian is the place to visit to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Take Time for Relaxation and Good Health.
Spa Botanica treatments in tranquil garden area.
The treatments include a full-range of massage, facial and relaxation therapies that elevate personal renewal to new levels of luxury. The nearby health club is fully-equipped with the most up-to-date aerobic and weight machines and features Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath and whirlpool. A 25-meter infinity lap pool has a spacious deck and poolside service amidst plenty of greenery and shade. Right next door are air-conditioned squash facilities and floodlit tennis courts for both singles and doubles play.
Meet me at The Sukhothai
The Bussabong business center includes
six meeting rooms of varying sizes.
The Garden Villa is an ideal oasis for
business meetings, dinners, & events.
A familiar refrain for business executives traveling Asia and the Pacific is “Meet me at the Sukhothai.” For meetings, private dining and special events the hotel offers world-class facilities. The Bussabong Business Center with six fully-furnished meeting rooms is staffed to assist guests with correspondence, translation and interpretation, messenger services, AV, video-conferencing and more.
The Garden Villa adjacent to the hotel is set in 7,000 square meters of lush gardens enabling companies to conduct key business meetings in the heart of Bangkok, yet removed from the distractions of a downtown location.
The Executive Conference Floors on the Terrace wing of the main building enjoy natural daylight and command panoramic views of the city’s vibrant skyline. The elegant Ballroom with timber and granite flooring and the Private Dining Room offer additional options for meetings and special events. The Sukhothai has managed events for multi-national companies such as Mindshare, Samsung, Toyota and JP Morgan — and boasts a strong track record in hosting high-powered executives and their teams.
Jim Thompson’s house in Bangkok
Whether for business or leisure discerning travelers recognize the Sukhothai’s fusion of superb facilities and superior service, while experiencing the sense of tranquility associated with life in Thailand’s golden age.
Visitors to Bangkok should include a stop at the Jim Thompson House. The man who revived the Thai silk business, making the fashion famous in the musical The King and I, disappeared on Easter 1967 after a walk in the surrounding jungle, leaving behind an enduring mystery. Open daily: 0900-1700, jimthompsonhouse.com
The Sukhothai
13/3 South Sathorn Road
Bangkok, 10120
Thailand
Tel: 66 (0) 2 344 8888
Fax: 66 (0) 2 344 8899
E-mail: info@sukhothai.com
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Feature by Jim Hollister, Jetsetters Magazine Luxury Travel Editor. Photography by Robin Hollister and the Sukhothai Hotel.