words by Angie Duarte and images from the photo file of Meliá Chiang Mai
For its marvelous mountainscapes, where seas of mist gracefully glide across shores of green, and its ancient temples, Chiang Mai in Thailand is an endearing escape for soul-searchers and nature-lovers, alike. Ethereal in beauty, this city in northern Thailand kisses the skies as it rises about 310 meters above sea level on the Mae Ping River basin, around 700 kilometers from Bangkok.
As the historical capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai is steeped in history, with a number of stunning UNESCO-protected world heritage sites and monuments. Its terrain is lush, lovely, and teeming with life, with a profusion of flora and fauna, alike. Its jungles are still home to a number of tribal villages; hill tribes whose time-honored traditions afford travelers a fascinating feel of a simpler, more soulful way of life.
Ensconced within the city center, overlooking the River Ping, Meliá Chiang Mai, a property of Spanish chain Meliá Hotels International, is committed to offering travelers not only the finest in luxury, but also the utmost in soul. With a service ethos that revolves around passion and perfection, the 5-star hotel exudes the culture and charm of Chiang Mai while crafting an excellent stay for a truly captivating guest experience.
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Meliá Chiang Mai’s overall aesthetic is a nod to Chiang Mai’s rich history and unique culture, with a focus on subdued contemporary sophistication and clean lines. The hotel comprises a 22-floor tower, fronted by an additional seven-floor podium building. Cool colors, accented by gilded earth tones, refresh the eye and uplift the senses. Edward E. Snoeks, the hotel’s GM, points out that throughout the hotel, “there are references to Chiang Mai’s culture, designed in thoughtful ways.”
The hotel bears the hallmarks of its locale in details such as its many arched hallways, in homage to temple doorways. Customary design elements, like bamboo paneling reminiscent of tribal homes, lend an ethnic feel to the in-house bars and restaurants. Local “teen jok” textile patterns adorn the façade and are likewise visible in the tilework of the hotel’s swimming pool, the walls of suites and guestrooms, and in its wood paneling accents.
“The strategy behind the design was always for our hotel to connect with the local culture, and thus to be a gateway for our guests to immerse themselves in local cultural icons,” Snoeks adds.
From its effortlessly elegant exteriors and interiors to its thoughtfully-appointed accommodations, Meliá Chiang Mai reflects the serenity and sublimity of its mountainous home. With 260 rooms across nine categories, all of which boast an array of impressive amenities and attributes, guests will surely find the repose and relaxation they crave.
Rooms are expansive (ranging from 30-54 square meters, with suites from 62-113 square meters), mirroring the vastness of the mountain ranges, with features such as luxe beds that promise a restful slumber, chic furnishing, and stylish fittings. Modern conveniences like flat screen TVs, coffee and tea service, among others, make for a leisurely home-away-from home. A number of rooms and suites also afford views of the spectacular surroundings.
For its central location in the city, Meliá Chiang Mai not only attracts its share of leisure travelers and tourists, but also appeals to the business set. The hotel is quickly becoming a popular MICE destination for those looking to strike a balance between working and winding down.
As part of a prominent hotel chain (Meliá Hotels International is an industry leader, topping the list of Spanish hotel firms and ranking among the top 20 hotel corporations globally, with hundreds of properties across the globe), Meliá Chiang Mai’s brand of hospitality is refined, almost to an art form. Moreover, the brand goes the extra mile to imbue its service ethos with as much local flair as possible.
“Meliá’s Spanish origins make for the brand’s warm disposition and its dynamic approach to hospitality and our guests’ wellbeing. Unlike many international brand hotels that are the same everywhere you go, Meliá Hotels International has a distinctly different hotel in each location. This provides a much more personal experience, unlike the cookie cutter format,” Snoek expounds.
This bold yet bespoke manner of service is woven into all aspects of hospitality — indeed; Meliá Chiang Mai is the ever-gracious host. Staff members exude a natural and seemingly effortless graciousness that proves the perfect complement to the hotel’s easy elegance.
The hotel’s gastronomic offerings are no exception to this heartfelt hospitality: Meliá’s passion for pleasing its guests most certainly extends to its culinary identity. Of course, owing to the hotel’s roots, its Spanish lineage shines through in its dining experience. “Our hotel’s pièce de résistance is a 360-degree rooftop bar on the 22nd floor named Mai The Sky Bar. Comprising two bars connected by a glass bridge, the bar affords views of the River Ping to the city’s east and the famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west. Mai The Sky Bar serves an array of authentic Spanish tapas and pinchos, as well as a vast selection of beverages including imaginative cocktails crafted by skilled bartenders.
“Our signature restaurant, Mai Restaurant & Bar, specializes in sumptuous contemporary Lanna (Northern Thai) style dishes with Mediterranean influences. Under the stewardship of award-winning executive chef Suksant Chutinthratip (Billy) and sous chef Karn Phojun, each dish from the restaurant’s seasonal menu is prepared à la minute from an open kitchen,” Snoeks says.
While Meliá Chiang Mai surely serves up leisure and luxury in the most lovely of ways, it also pays heed to its role as a socially-responsible industry icon. For instance, the hotel operates a not-for-profit gift shop, The Gallery, adjacent to its lobby, which sells artisanal accessories like handbags, wallets, silks and ceramics made by Thai designers and artists. This social enterprise boosts local artistic endeavours, promotes and preserves indigenous culture, as well as supports Thai communities and areas in need of assistance.
When it comes to cuisine, Meliá Chiang Mai embraces sustainability and promotes healthy eating with its 360° Cuisine concept. Snoeks point out that “under the 360° Cuisine program, our hotel works closely with local farmers to improve sustainability, encourage ethical production, and help the farming community. The program is designed to give guests peace of mind about where their food comes from and make communities and the overall food system more resilient. Chef Billy has crafted dishes that include produce from the farm and that use every possible part of each ingredient; leftovers are returned to the farm as compost.”
Overall, Meliá Chiang Mai enables its guests to enjoy life’s finer pleasures, without losing touch of the weightier aspects of soul. In that regard, it is the very embodiment of the spirit of Thailand’s sublime sanctuary in the sky.
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