Last year I went to Bangkok with my 16-year-old daughter. It was a big, long-awaited trip that was finally taking place. We stayed at the Sukhothai Hotel.
I didn't choose the Sukhothai in Bangkok by chance. Thomas, a very good friend of mine from old hotel days, runs this fantastic hotel. It's obvious that we would be staying there. They say it's the second-best hotel in Bangkok. Located in the middle of the banking district, it is an urban oasis in a mega city. At first glance, it seemed completely unimpressive.
When entering the hotel lobby, though, I was more than delighted. The pictures that I had seen on the Internet before arriving had not really impressed me. Reality, on the other hand, was quite enchanting. A luxury hotel, both contemporary and traditional. No ostentation and pomp, as one is used to from many luxury hotels.
Upon taking a closer look, one discovers the ingeniousness - every detail is something special. Whether it be the decorations or the porcelain. On the tables in the restaurant and in the various lobbies you will find single lotus blossoms, carefully folded by Thai hands. Everything is arranged as a matter of course, without being requested. Thomas told me that the floral decoration style in the lobby has remained the same for 25 years.
Dear Sukhothai, I have fallen in love with you.
What makes this hotel so successful? I can only guess: It's the people who work there and do their best, always friendly but not artificially imposed. They do it gladly. Management is constantly thinking and pushing forward while always maintaining its roots.
There is a marketing department with four employees, I was told. The hotel has about 260 rooms, banquet facilities, bars and some restaurants.
Great events are offered weekly. For example, there is a chocolate buffet every Sunday afternoon, no matter, even if it is 32 degrees outside. With chocolate fondue, hot cocoa, chocolates, delicious cream cakes, etc... You can hardly believe that you are in Thailand. Maybe that's because the chef pastry comes from Switzerland. And it works! The hotel guests and the local Thais alike visit in droves to enjoy the chocolate.
The brunch buffet on Sunday is gigantic. The cheese platter is 12- metres long! For this, ads have also been placed in the Financial Times, world-wide. 90% of the guests who brunch there on Sundays are locals. Seats are almost always fully booked. Even the hotel guests must to reserve in time to get a place.
I think many hotels make the mistake of opening their doors only for overnight guests. Hotels can make a great name for themselves by offering a very special product. I am thinking of my training company, the Loew's Hotel Merkur in Nuremberg. Oh God! Hotel and 80s restaurant trash.
Interestingly, this same hotel was famous for the best Chateaubriand with homemade sauce Bèarnaise in the whole of Franconia. They did that really well. For this reason, a lot of visitors came from Nuremberg and the surrounding area! This was indeed something very special.
People be creative! Think about actions that you can score points with. Be something special, not just ordinary and mediocre. If you can’t afford your own marketing department, then look for external marketing consultants (like me, for example).
Address: 13/3 S Sathon Rd, Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
