Why Go?
Bangkok is known the world over for its rich culture, delicious cuisine and friendly people. Adding to this is its fantastic selection of internationally renowned tourist attractions and superlative convention facilities, coupled with vibrant restaurant and nightlife scenes, all of which makes the Thai capital an exciting choice for all types of events.
Hotels
The 517-room Dusit Thani Bangkok takes pride of place on Rama IV Road, opposite the verdant Lumpini Park. The hotel offers full secretarial and meeting concierge services, and is composed of two expansive convention spaces - the 978sqm Napalai Ballroom with capacity for 1,500 people, the 676sqm Dusit Thani Hall along with 10 meeting rooms.
With a postcard-perfect location on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers with its 726 rooms, all of which have river-facing vistas, is a convenient setting for events and meetings. The property features 22 venues including the 1,080sqm Royal Orchid Grand Ballroom, which are equipped with the latest technological amenities.
Another hotel with a riverside setting is the 251-room Avani Riverside Bangkok, scheduled to open in April 2016. Among the 26 storey hotel's highlights is the sleek 4,500sqm Grand Ballroom, with ceilings touted as the city's highest as well as skylights streaming natural light. The space has a capacity of 1,500 people, and showcases an innovative open-plan kitchen, where guests may interact with the chefs.
While the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok's 802 rooms might be the height of luxury, it's the hotel's meeting facilities encompassing advanced audiovisual technology that are the professional attractions. These include complimentary wired or wireless broadband internet access, satellite and teleconferencing, simultaneous translation system, and slide, overhead, LCD and direct projectors.
Meanwhile, Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld is the Thai capital's most comprehensive city centre nexus for conventions, comprising a World Ballroom with a capacity for 1,000 guests, a sequence of 17 Lotus Suites as well as M23, located on the 23 level that has four meeting venues with natural light, a kitchen, a cocktail reception space, and a putting green.
Attractions
Thailand Creative & Cultural Centre (TCDC) contains a repository of over 32,000 design publications, together with 3000 films, documentaries and educational material in a single location. A popular venue for the city's creative types who come to brainstorm and connect with the centre's online database that spans the fields of art history, design and marketing. The TCDC Resource Centre plays host to entertainment events as well as provides facilities such as reading and multimedia rooms.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is testament to the artistic vision of Boonchai Bencharongku and the father of Thai contemporary art, Professor Silpa Bhirasri, both of whom were avid proponents of the visual arts during the era of King Rama 9. Here, expect to discover contemporary art and sculptures from the past 70 years as well as modern-day works that tap into the Thai zeitgeist.
At The Jim Thompson House, lovers of Thai culture have access to a wide-ranging art and antiques collection including rare sculptures, paintings and porcelain. These antiquities were selected by Thai silk entrepreneur Jim Thompson prior to his disappearance in the Malaysian highlands, in 1967. These days, the venue plays host to revolving exhibitions focusing on traditional Thai art forms and cultural heritage.
While Bangkok might not be close to the sea, the Siam Park City boasts a 13,600sqm man-made stretch of beach together with 30 varieties of adrenaline-pumping amusement rides including the roller-coaster Boomerang, Giant Drop, Aladdin, Si-AmTower, Condor, Top-spin, Mega Dance and the Log Flume - all of which prove the perfect setting for team-building escapes.
Unique Venues
Restaurant and gallery Eat Me was responsible for putting Sathorn, the area in which it's located, on the city's culinary and artistic map. So expect avant garde art and a similarly inventive food and drinks menu in a casual yet stylish setting.
The baroque Aksra Theatre adds a dramatic touch to your event. The space was built at the cost of 700 million baht, seats 600, and is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual facilities.
For fine Thai cuisine in an exclusive setting, Patara on Soi Thonglor 19, is part of a chain with branches in London, Geneva, Vienna, Singapore and Beijing, has three private dining rooms that can be merged into one, as well as a large balcony terrace for pre-dinner cocktails.
The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, spanning three levels and 3,000 sqm of exhibition space, is the city's go-to destination for contemporary art spanning the genres of art, music, theatre, film, design, as well as educational events.
Ideas for Incentives
For an action-packed evening, head to Muay Thai Live: The Legend Lives, an elaborate retelling of the 300-year-old muay thai tradition, interspersed with live fights and thrills. The show takes place every evening at The Stage in Asiatique The Riverfront at 8pm.
There is no better way to explore Bangkok - and get some exercise at the same time - than embarking on the Colors of Bangkok Biking Tour. Explore the city's less touristy sights along the Chao Phraya, its 'green lung', and nearby temples.
Take on the Iron Chef Team Building Challenge where groups are pitted against each other to devise menus, table-setting and cooking. The best team is judged by how the members collaborate to create a memorable meal.
Restaurants
Restaurant and bar, Namsaah Bottling Trust, is housed in a building that was a former Thai official's residence, an office for a soda water company and a bank. Cocktails are creatively prepared and feature local spirits and ingredients, while the chef Ian Kittichai is behind the menu, Asian cuisine with a twist.
Osha, a chain of Thai restaurants in San Francisco, recently opened its Bangkok branch. Chef Purida Theeraphong has crafted a Floral Set menu with dishes incorporating flowers and seafood as its ingredients, along with speciality cocktails.
Venerated Teachings
Makha Bucha is celebrated by Buddhists on the full moon night of the third lunar month, commemorating the nine months after Buddha attained enlightenment when he imparted the Sangha, the principles of the monastic order. This year, Makha Bucha takes place on 22 February, and is a public holiday in Thailand, as well as Laos and Cambodia.
Convention Centres
Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC): Exhibit space: 50,400sqm; meeting rooms: 19; 66 2726 1999; bitec.co.th
Royal Paragon Hall: Exhibit space: 12,000sqm; meeting rooms 10; 66 2610 8011; royalparagonhall.com
IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center (IMPACT): Exhibit space: 152,450sqm; meeting rooms: 52; 66 2833 4455; impact.co.th
The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center: Exhibit space: 65,000sqm; meeting rooms: 10; 66 2229 3000; qsncc.com
Meeting Hotels
Major hotels in Bangkok include 363-room The Westin Grande Sukhumvit; 325-room Grand Millenium Sukhumvit; 238-room Sofitel So Bangkok; 380-room Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok; 354-room Anantara Siam Bangkok; 381-room InterContinental Bangkok; 441-room JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok; 533-room Millennium Hilton Bangkok Hotel; and the 303-room Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
Other hotels include the 469-room Pullman Bangkok Hotel G; the 525-room Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside; the 345-room Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit; and the 322-room Renaissance Bangkok Ratchprasong.
Airport Transit
Suvarnabhumi International Airport, 30km east of Bangkok. Transfer cost by taxi $15-$20 to downtown Bangkok. The airport is connected to the city with the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai Station; a round trip ticket costs 150 baht; a single ticket costs 90 baht, and takes 17 minutes.
Don Mueang International Airport; 24km from Bangkok. Transfer cost by taxi costs around $15 to downtown Bangkok.
Taxes
Value-added tax (VAT): 7%; Service tax 10%; Total tax on hotel rooms: 17%
Contact
Tourism Authority of Thailand; (66) 2 250 5500; tourismthailand.org