Bangkok newcomer sets high standard - Bangkok, Thailand; Peninsula Hotel

Business Asia, Oct 31, 1999

The Peninsula in Bangkok is setting the benchmark for new hotels in the Asia-Pacific region.

As winner of the inaugural Best New Hotel category in the 1999 Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards, the hotel leads the way among a group of outstanding new hotels in the region.

The category was created to recognise new hotels under two years of age.

Although Asia's financial crisis has stalled some hotel development plans beyond 2000, a spate of elite new hotels -- which were kick-started before the crisis took hold -- have entered the market in the past couple of years.

Ian Michael Coughlan, general manager of The Peninsula, accepted the award at a gala dinner on October 25.

An emphasis on guest service was a prominent factor behind the hotel's win.

Incorporating "guestroom comfort technology" in all its 370 guestrooms and 64 suites, The Peninsula has a prime position on the left bank of the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi.

Custom-designed bedside electronic control panels can be found in all rooms, which allow guests to regulate temperature, lighting, telephones and audio-visual equipment with the touch of a fingertip.

The panel also contains a world clock which is automatically set to the guest's home time zone at check-in. Continuing the focus on guest comfort are modern bathrooms which feature mood lighting, remote-control televisions with steam-free screens above the bathtub, and three hands-free telephones which digitally filter the sound of running water and bathroom echo.

The guest beds also have a focused reading light and headset sockets linked to the audio-visual system.

Other room features include an oversized working desk, dual-line data port, fax machines with private numbers, voice-mail and in-room safes.

As a final touch, The Peninsula's shoeshine service delivers freshly shined shoes at the start of the day via a specially designed shoebox which opens electronically, eliminating the need to disturb a sleeping guest.

Corporate travellers have a range of facilities at their disposal, including a business centre, boardrooms for meetings of up to 12 people, four prefunction rooms or smaller meeting rooms and a grand ballroom with a capacity for 400 banquet guests.

For those wanting to relax, The Peninsula has a fitness centre, a gym with aerobics, swimming pool, tennis courts and a beauty salon.