ACCOR LANDS SECOND SOFITEL IN BANGKOK

Monarch Lee Gardens to undergo US$6.5 million renovation

Accor has been awarded the management contract for the 454-room Monarch Lee Gardens Hotel and will rebrand the property Sofitel Silom Bangkok next year after a comprehensive US$6.5 million upgrade and refurbishment.

Located on Silom Road in the heart of Bangkok’s financial and business districts, the property is conveniently situated near a myriad of banks, office buildings, entertainment outlets and restaurants. After renovations are completed it will be the first truly five-star hotel in the area; bringing Sofitel’s refined touch of luxury to Bangkok’s city centre.

Accor Deputy Chairman — Asia Pacific, Jochen Dobel, said the latest addition to Accor’s prestigious five-star brand would be a perfect complement to the existing Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok, which was rebranded March 1.

“The two Sofitels in Bangkok will each have unique positioning that will appeal to different market segments. Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok is extremely strong with domestic corporate and government accounts in the surrounding area, and benefits from its excellent conference, exhibition and meeting facilities.

“Together the two properties will further extend and grow our corporate client base, and will be very complementary to other Sofitels and our four-star Novotel hotels around the region.”

Accor assumes management of the hotel effective immediately, while renovation work will begin in August and be completed early 2002 prior to rebranding. Twelve floors — from the 22nd to the 34th with a total of 250 rooms — will be converted to exclusive Sofitel executive floors catering to the corporate traveller.

Each room will be equipped with efficient workstations, inclusive of dedicated phone, fax and Internet lines with the later featuring high-speed broadband access. A Sofitel Club Lounge will serve as a sanctuary and meeting place for travelling executives.

Businessmen will benefit from a variety of superb services and facilities, including the added convenience of handling check in/out formalities in the lounge. Daily buffet breakfasts will be served there, and guests will also be invited to join the nightly cocktail hour free of charge.

Existing food and beverage outlets will be completely renovated, with the Ti Jing Chinese Restaurant on the 38th floor welcoming a new interior design, and the existing Caf? Royal Coffee Shop will be given a new theme and possibly expanded.

Conference and meeting facilities will be added to the 36th floor, while the layout of the pool, fitness centre, pool bar and drug store will be redesigned. The lobby and lower public areas will be enhanced to better reflect the property’s five-star positioning.

According to Mr Dobel, the hotel will remain open for business during renovation.

Once completed the Sofitel Silom Bangkok will offer everything

corporate customers expect from the Sofitel brand: elegance, efficiency and

modern European flair.

“With Sofitel branding and Accor’s worldwide sales and marketing network, we

expect to attract even more corporate travellers to Bangkok,” he added.