Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park
BACKGROUND In December 2016, the former Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel reopened as Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, marking the debut of the “Marquis” brand by Marriott International in Asia. The brand title is assigned to properties with an inventory of above a thousand rooms.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? Arriving at an odd hour in Bangkok, I reached the hotel rather early. I was surprised to see sufficient buzz at that time, giving an idea of how busy it was. The lobby is vast especially in its breadth with two large chandeliers adding a touch of glamour to the ambience. Asian elements are infused into an otherwise contemporary decor. A striking purple carpet, a grand piano, glass-enclosed pillars and a modern seating design are some of its nuances. With my luggage taken care of, check-in was smooth and I headed to the elevators on the left.
WHERE IS IT? Suvarnabhumi International Airport is a 45-minute drive, however this is unpredictable due to Bangkok’s traffic. The hotel is situated in the EM District, that houses lifestyle malls and corporate offices. Phrom Phong’s BTS Skytrain Station is walking distance.
ROOM FACILITIES Room categories are Deluxe, Deluxe Park View and M Club rooms. Suites are categorised as M, Garden and Grand Marquis suites. The Sky suite is its threebedroom Presidential suite. I was staying in M Suite (64 sqm) — a contemporary space that was partitioned into a living room and a bedroom by a sliding door. A round glass work desk is placed beside the window and the lounge area faces a 48-inch flat-screen TV. A tea/coffee maker is placed on the TV cabinet which is also next to the luggage stand. The rather large marble bathroom has two entrances, one from the living room and the second from the bedroom. It has Thai Thann aromatherapy amenities. Guests staying in rooms and suites above M Club can access the M Club Lounge on the 27th floor of the South Tower. Apart from great views of the city, the lounge offers F&B benefits including breakfast, canapés and cocktails during happy hours and meeting rooms — an ideal place for an informal meeting.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS The breakfast spread at Goji Bar + Kitchen was an expansive assortment of international cuisines including Thai and Indian. Soba Factory is its Tokyostyle restaurant that’s known for its house-made noodles. Pagoda - Chinese Restaurant serves authentic fare in a finedining setting. Siam Tea Room prides itself on Thai flavours and its tea variety. I quite enjoyed the durian mooncakes here. The hotel is positioning itself as a versatile meetings hub, and for that reason even its F&B outlets can be converted into event spaces.
MEETING FACILITIES Its traditional meeting facilities match its room inventory at 5,000 sqm. There are 37 venues that include three separate ballrooms. Meetings Imagined, Marriott International’s meetings arm, assists meeting planners with avant garde ideas that are showcased on its app and website through a pin-board format.
LEISURE FACILITIES Marriott International’s signature Quan Spa, a fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool. The spa houses a traditional Japanese “onsen”. I opted for a deep renewal massage that was ideal after a long day of meetings and events. This 60-minute massage effectively boosted blood circulation while relieving muscle tension.
VERDICT While the hotel is ideal for large-scale MICE events thanks to its noteworthy inventory, it can even impress frequent independent travellers with its range of lifestyle offerings.