Royal Méridien signs flagship property in Thailand

Sagild will be introducing the current Thai properties and the exciting sales and marketing programmes designed to promote these first class hotels to the Middle East market as an ideal tourist and business destination.

"The Arabian Travel Market is an important platform for Le Méridien Group and provides us with an excellent opportunity to communicate some of the exciting sales and marketing programmes on offer for the growing number of Le Méridien properties, in excellent locations and boasting high standards of service," said Sagild.

Plaza Athénée Bangkok one of Asia's finest hotels was recently added to the Le Royal Méridien portfolio which consists of Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort, Le Royal Méridien Phuket Yacht Club, Le Royal Méridien Baan Taling Ngam and Le Méridien Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort. This Landmark property marks further success for the Le Méridien brand which has already enjoyed a strong presence in Thailand since 1986. Le Méridien Group signed the management agreement with TCC Property Management Company Ltd. for Hôtel Plaza Athénée Bangkok earlier this month. The Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel, as it will be now known enjoys a strong historical association with the Thai Royal family going back to 1935, when it was the residence of Her Royal Highness Princess Valaya Alongkor Kromluang Petchburi Rachasirindhorn.

"Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel becomes Le Méridien Group's flagship hotel in Asia and provides the Group with a strong foundation for growth plans in this region," said Robert Riley, CEO, Le Méridien.

Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel, consists of 382 elegant rooms and is one of the city's most sought after addresses, located within a short walk of major embassies, business offices and famous shopping malls. It is ideally located only 30 minutes from the Bangkok International Airport.

Given the growing trend in outbound tourism from the Middle East to the Far East, Le Méridien has recorded a 180% increase of visitors from the Middle East to its properties in Thailand in 2002 and anticipates greater demand for this travel sector and desires to ensure that the Middle Eastern traveler finds a brand that is synonymous with European flavour and French flair as well as personal service. Furthermore, visitors from the Middle East will find a familiar brand which they are confident in, in terms of friendliness with levels of consistency and service.

"Our Plaza Athénée Bangkok guests will be treated as the Royals who once resided in this palace were then," says Sagild. "We hope to see more visitors from the Middle East soon!"