AccorHotels has announced the first Orient Express hotel will open in the landmark King Power Mahanakhon Building in Bangkok, Thailand.
Imprinted in both history and imagination, the Orient Express brand has been reinvented for the future, with a vision to build a collection of prestigious hotels, steeped in tradition, myth and adventure.
Sebastien Bazin, chairman of AccorHotels, said: “Orient Express has always acted as a passport between worlds and a trip on these legendary trains was historical, touristic and cinematic with an inimitable experience.
“This linking of Occident and Orient, of history and modernity, and of curiosity and cultures will be a hallmark of the new Orient Express Hotels and we are excited to bring back this spirit of luxurious adventure to today’s modern travellers.”
The original Orient Express trains were famous for the highest standards of fine craftsmanship, the newest innovations and the most exquisite dining and so Orient Express Mahanakhon Bangkok will bring together the best names in these fields to reinterpret the art of luxury travel.
Esteemed designer Tristan Auer has been tasked with reimagining the Art Deco stylings and plant motifs of the original Orient Express carriages into a modern skyscraper in the heart of a bustling metropolis.
The sumptuous bedrooms and exquisite bathrooms will bring new levels of style and luxury to Bangkok.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, chief executive of King Power Group, said: “The launch of the world’s first Orient Express Hotel at King Power Mahanakhon truly completes our vision of creating an extraordinary landmark that celebrates the city and adds a new milestone to Thailand and the world’s hospitality industry, while further elevating Thailand to a truly world-class destination.”
Another hallmark of the Orient Express has always been the excellence of its staff and the prestige of the uniform.
These signatures will also be present in all Orient Express Hotels, setting the highest standards in impeccable service for the industry.
Orient Express Mahanakhon Bangkok will feature 154 rooms including nine suites and two penthouses, as well as an entire floor devoted to wellness including an outdoor pool and jacuzzi plus signature Orient Express Spa by Guerlain.
The hotel will open in the last quarter of 2019, 136 years after the Orient Express took its maiden voyage from Paris.
AccorHotels and SNCF Group signed a strategic partnership in 2017 to develop Orient Express hotels after AccorHotels acquired a 50 per cent stake in the share capital of the brand.
SNCF retains ownership of the seven original Orient Express carriages, which have been restored and now provide a new and exceptional setting for the organization of events in collaboration with Potel & Chabot.
Both groups are committed to preserving, promoting and sharing the heritage connected with the legendary brand.