Skål International at Meliá Hotel

June 14

Skål International Chiang Mai & Northern Thailand at Meliá Hotel, cocktails at the Mai Sky Bar followed by dinner and meeting in the Mai Restaurant and Bar. The theme of the meeting was ‘Vision with Value’ – Innovation and Investment in Chiang Mai Tourism, Hospitality and Destination Development. Guest Keynote speaker Matthew John Knight, Chief Hospitality Group Officer, Asset World Corporation (AWC).
Matthew John Knight explained that AWC is responsible for many top brand names in the Night Bazaar area including the Meliá Hotel. Highlights were:
Intercontinental Hotel Mae Ping (formerly the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel) will open September 2023, with 240 rooms, plus a ‘Luxury Living Museum’.
Le Méridien hotel will be rebranded as a Marriott Hotel and scheduled to re-open autumn 2023. It will include a brand new convention center.
Pantip Plaza will be re-developed into a ‘Neighbourhood Mall’ scheduled for November 2023

Other projects in their portfolio include: Suriwong Lifestyle Bookstore (currently Suriwong Book Center), Siem Pakdee Design Hotel (next to Suriwong Book Center), Lannatique Bazaar (currently Chiang Mai Night Bazaar); traditional luxury souvenirs & beauty clinic and upscale hotel, Lannatique Kalare Market (currently Kalare Food & Shopping Center), Lannatique Market: Entertainment Market (currently Anusan Market), Ancient House Luxury Boutique Hotel (on Charoen Prathet Road), Baan K Sirin Wellness Hotel (across the river).

The theme of ‘Vision with Value’ was explored further by two exciting, local, new generation speakers, Phanawat Kochum (Petch), founder of ichiangmai, community builder, entrepreneur; and Thanawin Wijitphorn (Net), Urban Designer & Architect, Jai Baan Studio, who shared experiences on “How to weave investment and innovation with sustainable destination development, which benefits local communities and businesses, nurturing better places to live, work and travel”. The evening was moderated by Assistant Professor Dr Warathida Chaiyapa, School of Public Policy, CMU