AccorHotels has announced it will debut a new luxury hotel brand under a partnership with Orient Express.
Orient Express Hotels‘ first property will open in the landmark King Power Mahanakhon Building in Bangkok, Thailand, debuting in the fourth quarter of 2019.
“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,” AccorHotels said.
Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO 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.”
“We are proud to bring the multicultural heritage, mystery and exoticism of the legendary Orient Express brand to Bangkok,” said Michael Issenberg, Chairman and CEO AccorHotels Asia Pacific.
“Orient Express redefined rail travel in the 1900s, introducing the first sleeper cars linking West to East and delivering unprecedented levels of comfort and dining. We look forward to bringing this same luxury and refinement to the new incarnation of Orient Express hotels.”
AccorHotels Asia Pacific Chairman and CEO, Michael Issenberg
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.
Two signature restaurants will include Mott 32 on level two and Mahanathi by David Thompson on level five of the hotel. David Thompson is known worldwide for his skills and expertise in Thai cuisine.
Within the complex is the recently launched Mahanakhon SkyWalk, Thailand’s highest observation deck on levels 74, 75 and 78, while a King Power Duty Free and Retail occupies levels one to four. A rooftop restaurant and bar on level 76 will also provide some of the best views in Thailand, making the King Power Mahanakhon Building the epicentre of Bangkok’s social scene, just as the Orient Express was the place to meet the most fascinating people at the beginning of the 20th century.
A 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. Guests will have access to the building’s spectacular rooftop observation deck and rooftop bar, and all rooms will provide stunning views over the ‘City of Angels’.
At 78 storeys, King Power Mahanakhon Building is currently the tallest building in Bangkok and a visual landmark thanks to its dramatic exterior, which is encased in a glass curtain with cuboid spiral cut-outs that give it a pixelated appearance.
AccorHotels and SNCF Group signed a strategic partnership in 2017 to develop Orient Express hotels after AccorHotels acquired a 50% 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 organisation of events in collaboration with Potel & Chabot. Both groups are committed to preserving, promoting and sharing the heritage connected with the legendary brand.