What coronavirus? Bangkok luxury hotels push new openings despite lack of foreign tourists
- High-end hotels are gearing up for business in Thailand’s capital, with the operators bullish about their appeal even amid the pandemic
- The domestic tourism industry has its hopes on a travel bubble with China and the continuation of promotions for locals, an analyst says
There were at least a dozen high-profile hotel openings in 2020, with one recently rebranded property offering club rooms for as little as 1,222 baht (US$40) the week before Christmas. Others like Capella Bangkok – which opened in October and has the highest rack rates in the capital, starting at 17,500 baht (US$579) before tax – are bullish about their appeal.
“The premiums for what we provide are not a deterrent,” said John Blanco, Capella Bangkok’s general manager.
At least one hotel slated for launch last year, the business-oriented Solaria Nishitetsu, decided to postpone its public opening and is instead offering packages for alternative state quarantine (ASQ) travellers undergoing their 14-day isolation periods.
In a report, the Kasikorn Bank Research Centre projects an annual total of 4.5 million to 7 million arrivals for this year, depending on factors including a successful Covid-19 vaccination programme and continued political and social stability in Thailand – a sharp fall from the 39.8 million arrivals in 2019, and down from 6.9 million last year.
