In its continued international expansion into culturally rich cities as well as resort destinations across the globe, Le Méridien brand today unveils three new hotel and resort properties in Asia Pacific - Le Méridien Bangkok, Le Méridien Chiang Mai and Le Méridien Chiang Rai. Further expanding the brand’s growing portfolio in Thailand, all three properties offer an engaging environment combined with a high standard of service designed to inspire the creative guest. Le Méridien recently celebrated the official openings of these hotels and resorts with the brand’s signature event, FIRST NIGHT BANGKOK: Destination Asia, An Active Discovery. As part of the First Night event, Le Méridien also unveiled the signature Le Méridien arrival experience and new signature breakfast at Le Méridien hotels in Asia Pacific.“We are thrilled with the opening of these three stunning Le Méridien hotels in Thailand,” said Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific. “Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are both well known for their beautiful landscape and rich cultural offerings while Bangkok is the cosmopolitan capital of Thailand and is an exciting, sophisticated and energetic destination for leisure, business and meetings. These locations are a great fit with the Le Méridien brand, which is committed to providing guests with an interactive and culturally enriching experience.”

“Le Méridien is committed to transforming the functional and transactional driven hotel experience into an emotional connection with our guests, delivering a new perspective in a relevant way in order to attract a new, aspirational audience - the creative mind,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide. “We are proud to unveil these three new Le Méridien hotels as they mark a milestone in Le Meridien brand’s transformation into a lifestyle brand. The curated approach of Le Méridien’s guest experience through Jér™me Sans, Le Méridien’s Cultural Curator, and the LM100? family lead to very inspiring, creative solutions that can be experienced at Le Méridien hotels in Thailand and across Asia Pacific.”

Proprietary customer research showed that the first 10 minutes define the guests’ entire experience and establish their mindset for the rest of their stay. Le Méridien arrival experience was designed to transform the experience from functional and transactional to one that one that emotionally connects with the guests and resets their minds, leaving the outside world behind for the world of Le Méridien.

“Going through the hotel entrances with the more than 40 different works of art provided by six very different emerging artists, installed in diverse locations across the globe, is a unique experience. It is a project that takes permanent contemporary art pieces to various unexpected locations and makes art accessible to a wide audience,” said Jér™me Sans, Cultural Curator for Le Méridien. “I am sure that Le Méridien guests will be stimulated by the discovery of these Transitional Portals around the globe.”

Examples of Transitional Portals can be found at most all Le Méridien hotels in Asia Pacific, created by six international LM100 artists, Ralph Gibson, Hisham Bharoocha, Joan Fontcuberta, Youssef Nabil, Younès Rahmouna and An Xiaotong. Guests who attended the First Night Bangkok event had the opportunity to discover the Transitional Portal artwork located at Le Méridien Hotels in Asia Pacific.

As part of the unique arrival experience, the brand has created UNLOCK ART?, providing guests with unique access to contemporary cultural centers through artist-designed key cards that offer complimentary admission to local cultural experiences.

The exclusive keycards at Le Méridien Bangkok have been created by artist Michael Lin, and provide access to the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC), one of Asia’s largest cultural and design institutions. Using his signature floral motifs, Lin designed the first set of UNLOCK ART? keycards. As Le Méridien Bangkok guests use these cards to open doors and access experiences at TCDC, the keycards will become works of art in and of themselves.
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