The Athenee Bangkok reopened recently after joining the Luxury Collection, a sub-brand of independent hotels under SPG. Previously, the hotel was known as Plaza Athenee, a Royal Le Meridien hotel that was also under SPG. The chain has a strong presence in Bangkok with two Luxury Collection hotels, the other one being Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.
Luxury Collection hotels tend to have a unique story in order to qualify for the sub-brand. That was the case with The Andaman Langkawi where I stayed some months back and its strong focus on coral preservation. The Athenee Bangkok on the other hand, prides itself as the site of a princess’ palace. This royal heritage explains the look of the property. It’s akin to the late 19th century/early 20th century Thai interpretation of western sensibilities (other buildings carrying the same architecture can be seen in places like Phetchaburi or the old Parliament Building in downtown Bangkok).
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The lobby will be dominated by the shimmering Singapour Je T’aime, a stunning nine-metre chandelier designed by Lasvit. This is complemented by an outstanding collection of custom-made furniture and artworks including designer uniforms accentuated with floral prints, evoking the strong botanic theme that runs throughout the hotel. The hotel’s interiors elegantly juxtapose vibrant rose gold accents with striking design features and botanical motifs, inspired by the sublime geometry of a traditional jardin à la française and the rich green spaces of Singapore, also known as the Garden City.