WHAT'S NEW FOR THAILAND IN 2007CHIC IS THE WORD FOR THAILAND IN 2007
This year Thailand saw a surge in new boutique offerings to lesser-known resorts such as Ko Yao, Trang, Ko Chang, Racha and Khao Lak. The trend for boutique hotels continues into 2007 with the following new openings and offerings confirmed:
NEW HOTELS
The new Princess Resort, Ko Chang (part of the Dusit Hotels & Resorts Group) set to open in January 2007 including 96 rooms, private beach and sumptuous spa facilities. 80 per cent of the island of Ko Chang is registered as national parkland, with landscapes ranging from towering cliffs to lush rainforest. For divers and snorkellers, marine life is abundant, and visibility excellent.
The new Evason Hideaway & Six Senses Spa at Yao Noi is the fourth Evason boutique-branded Hideaway, and sets even higher benchmarks for excellence in Asia. Accommodation will provide generous personal space and present an uncompromised standard of luxury. There will be 56 uniquely designed villas, all with open-style bathrooms, creating an atmosphere of space and light within and offering magnificent views of the bay and surrounding forestation. Each villa also features its own infinity-edged pool with sundeck, creating an illusion of infinity between pool and bay, and reinforcing a feeling of seclusion. Dining and refreshment services cover international and locally inspired cuisine and a large selection of vintages from around the world. Opens April 2007.
Six Senses Resorts & Spas are currently working on the new Soneva Kiri resort situated on Koh Kut/Kood. Set on 150 acres and 100 nautical miles from the new Bangkok airport and 20 minutes by speedboat to Cambodia, this project will have its own 12-seater Cessna aircraft with 8 luxury leather seats to make access even easier, using an airstrip on a nearby island with final transfer by boat. In total there will be 42 units – 63 bedrooms. Soneva Kiri is due to open in mid 2007 – around June. Soneva Koh Chang is another future development planned by Six Senses Resorts & Spas – 2007 completion date still to be confirmed.
A second Cape Panwa property is due to open in Chiang Mai in October 2007, following in the footsteps of the well-established Phuket resort.
Sala Phuket will be the newest addition to the SALA Resorts and Spas portfolio. Inspired by the success of its sister property, SALA Samui, SALA Phuket promises to take the new SALA Resorts and Spas brand to even greater heights! Located on Mai Khao Beach in the north of Phuket Island there will be 79 rooms. The resort is due to open in late 2007.
The stylish Krabi Pavilions resort is due to open in late 2007, following successful ventures in Phuket and Bali. Set within the Nopparat Thara National Park, a five minute longtail boat ride from Ao Nang, the resort will offer pristine secluded beach frontage and views of the Phang Nga Bay and the Phi Phi islands. www.pavilions-res
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts will open another property in Chiang Mai in 2007 – dates to be confirmed.
FESTIVALS
Bangkok International Film Festival: 26th January – 5th February 2007
Thailand has, over the years, acted as backdrop for some of cinema’s most powerful films, from The Killing Fields and The Man with the Golden Gun to The Beach and Good Morning Vietnam, and is regarded as the home of Asian film. The fifth annual Bangkok International Film Festival takes place in Thailand’s capital this January, and whether you’re a movie director seeking critical acclaim for your latest offering, or simply a film buff, there’s something for everyone!
The screening list for the festival is yet to be confirmed, but past festivals have featured award-winning films such as Lost in Translation and The Motorcycle Diaries, as well as special guests including Michael Douglas, Oliver Stone and Michelle Yeoh. Tickets are always available for the public to participate and range between 80 and 100 Thai baht (approx. £ XX) for entry to screenings. Links will be available from the festival website, www.bangkokfilm.org to allow tickets to be purchased online for the first time this year.
Bangkok Fashion Week: March 2007
Over 30 Thai designers and a select number of international fashion gurus send their latest designs down the catwalk at Bangkok's Fashion Week. Shows take place in The Fashion Dome - a large dome tent set up in the middle of the lake at Benjakitti Park, beside the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
The event is scheduled to take place twice a year to coincide with the traditional launch of the spring and autumn collections. Everything from high fashion to textiles, jewellery and accessories are showcased at the accompanying trade fair and designer's showcase held in the convention centre.
Thai designers have come out in force in support of the event, including Nagara, Metta, Issue, Tube Gallery, Fly Now and others.
NEW ATTRACTIONS
Thailand’s Royal Projects
In 2007, Thailand will celebrate the 80th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and numerous events are planned throughout the year. One such celebration involves the unveiling of a number of special Royal tourism projects that have been spearheaded by the Royal family and involve local people in the remotest parts of Thailand working together. These include a reforestation project to eradicate opium supply at Doi Tung, in Chiang Rai’s Golden Triangle, the restoration of the Mrigadayavan Palace, Phetburi, built by King Rama VI as his summer palace by the seaside resort of Cha-Am, and the Elephant Conservatory at Lampang. This latter is situated an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai and has the only elephant hospital in the world, caring for sick and maimed elephants. The 500-hectare sanctuary also rehabilitates rogue elephants, cares for captured wild and domesticated out-of-work elephants and allows visitors to live with and learn about elephants in a dedicated Mahout training programme which lasts for three days. In 2007, the first-ever artificially inseminated baby elephant in the world will be born at the Conservatory, potentially marking a change of fate for the entire species. More information on all these projects is available at: www.thairoyalprojects.com
In addition, a number of new visitor attractions have opened recently, including wine tasting tours at the floating vineyards in Bangkok, sightseeing by bicycle through the streets of Bangkok, Hot-air balloon trips and Chiang Mai Night Safaris.
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