Nongkhai Grand to be rebranded Mercure after extensive renovation

Accor is to open a Mercure Hotel in the North East of Thailand with the signing of a management contract for the Nongkhai Grand.

Located in downtown Nongkhai near the Thai – Lao Friendship Bridge that spans the Mekong River, the hotel is only 15 kilometres by road from the Laotian capital of Vientiane. All guest rooms and public areas are to be completely renovated - featuring an attractive blend of Thai and Lao interior design reflecting the region’s unique cultural heritage - before the hotel is rebranded the Mercure Nongkhai Grand in August 2004.

The 130 room hotel’s extensive recreational, meeting and dining options will be upgraded to cater to its growing MICE business and tourists looking to explore the region.

Four meeting rooms will be refurbished, with the two largest rooms on the ground floor capable of comfortably handling between 400-500 people classroom style each. A smaller 80-pax break out room is also on the ground floor, and a ninth floor meeting room can accommodate 150 people classroom style.

Chorkoon Coffee Shop will continue to serve Asian and International favourites in comfortable surroundings, while the rooftop Bird’s Eye Terrace serves up spicy Esaan dishes (Northeastern cuisine) and traditional Thai cuisine with stunning views over the Mekong.

The hotel has a swimming pool, is adding a European-style spa, and will enhance both the Star Trek Discotheque and the My Place Music Pub.

Accor Managing Director Asia Pacific, Michael Issenberg, said Mercure Nongkhai Grand was another important addition to the group’s growing portfolio of hotels throughout Indochina.

“Nongkhai is perfectly positioned to attract visitors looking to travel overland to Indochina. It is a major transit point for cross border trade into Laos and Vietnam, plus major tour operators are selling more overland tours, especially from Thailand across into the central highlands of Vietnam.

“Mercure Nongkhai Grand will provide a wonderful transit point for Thai businessmen or overseas tourists crossing the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge into Laos.”