Going through more than four decades and excelling in the
art of Thai Hospitality, the Le Grande
Dame Dusit Thani Bangkok will be coming to a temporary end on 5th January 2019 and to start a
new chapter in the property’s longstanding legacy that has definitely made a
genuine claim to number among the oldest hotels in Thailand. mylifestylenews
writes.
In 1969, Dusit Thani stood out in Bangkok’s skyline with its signature golden
spire seemingly reaching the heaven and became the talk of the town and the new
landmark for being the tallest and most unconventional architectural building
at that time. The hotel was officially opened on 27 February 1970 and marked a
new landmark for the capital, with the hotel pioneering five-star hospitality
inspired by authentic Thai values and ushered in a new era of tourism for the
city, revolutionizing dining, entertainment and even the way people organized
wedding receptions in the process.
Over 48th years of celebrating the vintage
vitality, Dusit Thani Bangkok is no doubt a pictorial essay of Thai hospitality
that has come to signify the modernity of Thailand while preserving traditional
Thai charm and hospitality. The success of Dusit Thai shows the commitment of the
founder – Madame Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui - who always believed in Thailand’s
potential to become one of the world’s most successful tourist destinations by
fostering the growth thoughts for distinctive hotels. Her unwavering goal to build
a Thai hotel of international distinction and to promote the majesty of Thai
culture that exists in harmony with the modern world has proven her right.
Madame Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui
With the adaptation of the best practices from American
and European hotels while embracing local customs as its core, her passion,
can-do attitude and determination infused the hotel with a soul all of its
own and brought her the success being recognized in the international level. The virtue and beauty
of Thainess has its finest example in Dusit Thani Hotel. For 48 years, Dusit Thani has been a place of many good
memories and graced by royal visits by Their late Majestic King Bhumibol
Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, the Princess as well as members of the Royal
Family as well as numerous worldwide leaders and international A-list celebrities
and VIPs.
The name “Dusit Thani” is simple classically Thai, corresponds to “Dusit” as the fourth tier of paradise in Thai beliefs. It is also the name of a miniature city founded in Phayathai Palace by King Rama VI in 1918. The land on which the hotel stands was once given by King Rama V to Chao Phraya Yomarat.
Saladaeng intersection today is a jumble of urban infrastructure. Dusit Thani Bangkok is ideally located in the heart of the “City of Angels” and stands at the corner of Silom and Rama IV roads, the majestic and eye-catching high-rise, modern edifice has been (still is) a landmark of Thailand for a long period with the roof finished with a cone resembling a pagoda.
The Lobby Lounge on the opening day.
It sits opposite historic Lumpini Park with its
broad boulevards and expanse of lakes. Sixty some years ago, Bangkok was a city
where people commuted by boat, tram and rickshaw as well as a few bus routes.
And now especially in this area, the hotel is now easily accessed by many other
modes of transport and adjacent to both sky train (BTS) and subway (MRT) systems
within easy proximity to major business, shopping and entertainment centres.
The male staff at the entrance of the hotel
still wear the vintage military costumes and their female counterparts in
traditional outfits. It is the epitome of the beauty of Thai culture with the
Thai greeting of wai - a hallmark of
Thai manners and etiquette as an expression of gratitude. The employees are trained
to uphold the Thai manner and do the wai
properly, from standing, sitting, receiving and handing things, to speaking
respectfully and politely when interacting with guests with a service-minded, willing
to serve and help as well as to look cheerful and smile at all times attitude.
The Dusit Thai Hotel building has the shape
of a triangle with a top part sliced off. Each guestroom has a balcony
overlooking Bangkok skyline and the Thai elements in the rooms weren’t the
traditional style, but a modernized version that responded to the taste of the
time with deluxe Thainess.
The exterior of the Dusit Thani Hotel building (the lower lobby entrance especially) was decorated with Thai-style arches resembling lotus petals, rising from the floor to the upper lobby. They also resemble the arches seen at the Marble Temple in the old quarters, in all a majestic amalgamation of styles and decorated with pieces of mosaic in shimmering gold and deep greens, intricately patterned to highlight the Thai aesthetic.
This Thai motif is made of gold mosaic and
the green shade was then a very rare technique of fine art and the charming
beauty stands the test of till now.
The spacious luxury lobby is properly one of
the largest lobbies in Bangkok punctuated by large round columns supporting the
ceiling shaped like lotus leaves. Due to technological limitation at that time,
there were a large number of columns in the lobby – some square and others
round and each column looked beautiful with Thai decoration.
The swimming pool was also beautifully planned
to offer a pleasing and discreet visual layout and was built with a slightly raised level so that, viewed
from the lobby, guests would only see a waterfall garden though in fact it was
a swimming pool.
The careful design of the garden emphasized privacy and yet
remained visually stunning and welcoming. Madame Thanpuying Chanut was involved
in every step of the design and also planted some of the palm trees herself –
many of them still there in the hotel lobby.
The majestic waterfall was decorated with multiple tropical plants, which were carefully maintained throughout 48 years and some of which will be kept and replant when the brand new Dusit Thani Bangkok is re-opened.
Check out the timeless masterpieces of
magnificent columns and mural paintings of The Benjarong restaurant which was then called Sukhothai. The hotel consulted
experts in Thai design to render the motif and have been kept intact that stands
for the rest of time.
Thien Duong – the very few authentic Vietnamese restaurants with table service is a rare find in Bangkok.
By celebrating the history and longevity of
this legendary property before its official closing on 5th January 2019 (with
final check-out at 2pm on that date) for a complete rebuilding of the brand new iconic Dusit Thani Bangkok, the hotel now is offering a special room package ahead of its next chapter for an experience to stay from now until December 20, 2018.
The Celebrity
Experience follows
in the footsteps of award-winning artists, Hollywood movie stars, and
distinguished royal guests, and to experience the regal splendor of the Thai
Heritage Suites.
Designed to reflect the
ancient cities of Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Lanna and Sukhothai, and elegantly
furnished with an abundance of teakwood and silk, the Thai Heritage Suites are
the epitome of luxury. The package
includes a two night stay with in-room breakfast,
a 60-minutes traditional Thai massage for two persons at Devarana Spa, a set
dinner at Benjarong, Thien Duong or Mayflower and Dusit
Club benefits including all-day refreshments, evening cocktails and canapés.
Rate starting from THB 9,900++ per
night. (Regular price at THB 13,900++ per night) continues
to delight domestic and international visitors with its gracious hospitality
inspired by authentic Thai values which is the hallmark of the Dusit brand.
With the signature architecture and unfailing
attention to decorative details offering a unique experience, the staff of Dusit
Thani also have every right to be proud and being a part of the past and the
growth of the property. With its new hotel in the plan to create a new city
landmark that boosts the area’s appeal, enhances existing
infrastructure, creates new opportunities for local businesses, celebrates Thai
culture, and elevates the brand’s standing internationally yet to embrace the
heritage and continue the legacy in a new building.
For the hotel has certainly lived up to its
name, Dusit Thani, or Town in Heaven, by providing unrivalled comfort and
exceptional experiences in one impressive package and not forgetting its
uniquely elevated gracious Thai hospitality to be continued in the new exciting
chapters and developments to come. The old school appeal certainly works
especially with a devotion to professionalism by passing on the invaluable
know-how from a Thai’s noble traditions with an understated, elegant aesthetic.
Tried & Tested:
Location: 5/5
Design & Decor: 4/5
Room Amenities: 4.5/5
Housekeeping: 4.5/5
Food & Beverage: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Value For Money: 4.5/5
Experience: 5/5
946, Rama IV Road,
Bangkok Thailand
Tel: +66 2200 9000
Image
Credit: Copyright of mylifestylenews & Dusit Thani Bangkok
Part of the content is derived from the book of Dusit Thani 48th Anniversary – The Art of Hospitality.
Reviews
are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision
in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement
and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.
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