Optimistic of new possibilities, ready to welcome more Indians in 2023
Travel Trade Journal|February 2023
India is on a trajectory to become one of the largest sources and a focus market for global tourism. Destinations within proximity see India as the top source market. Over the years, Indian tourist footfalls are rapidly growing in South East Asia and the GCC countries. After the COVID pandemic, the pent-up demand is already seeing a huge outflow of travellers to the promising destinations in these regions. As a big and growing market, India is also valuable for many international hotels in these regions. We at TTJ spoke with some of the international hotels to know how they fared in 2022, their readiness for the India market in 2023, and hospitality trends that impressed them.
Prashant Nayak
Optimistic of new possibilities, ready to welcome more Indians in 2023

Le Méridien Bangkok
Upgraded and Ready for 2023
Dieter Ruckenbauer, General Manager

The year 2022: Indeed, 2022 was an incredible year for Le Méridien Bangkok as we completed a major transformation of our hotel. We began renovating the hotel in February 2020, in line with the brand values of "Le Méridien 2022" and "The Art of Living the European Lifestyle." In June 2022, two years and four months after we started, the renovations were finished. A total of 250 million baht was invested.

First impressions are made in the updated lobby where I-Jud, a huge white spotted dog statue, is on hand to greet guests. This light-hearted welcome is followed up with whimsical interpretations of Bangkok Street life and carefully curated original artworks that flow through the lobby and Latitude Bar. Guests can discover newly refreshed guestrooms equipped with the latest amenities, such as Bluetooth speakers, touchscreen IP phones, and Smart TVs, and find peace among cream canopies, cartographic forms, and poetic narratives. We also created Tempo, a brand-new bar, Rolling Ribs Brew Bar and BBQ, a Memphis-style smokehouse, a private club on the 24th floor, a new outdoor lounge, and a private onsen. For meeting planners, our newly expanded ballroom now features a built-in LCD screen.

Regarding business from the India market in 2022, we have a dedicated team of sales representatives in India, and we also share a close relationship with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). We had plenty of opportunities to show off our updated products in 2022, and the feedback has been great.

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Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Travel Trade Journal.

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