• 
• 

Published on February 4, 2008

Resident manager Mana Chanhorm said the hotel - on Rattanathibet Road in Nonthaburi - had to renovate to achieve its concept as a stylish convention hotel.

At present, up to 85 per cent of the hotel's guests are from the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) sector. They include government and state agencies that have located in Nonthaburi such as the public health, commerce and justice ministries, provincial water and electricity authorities as well as private corporations. The remaining 15 per cent are foreign tourists.

The hotel recorded an occupancy rate of 68 per cent in 2007 that generated revenue of Bt210 million.

Mana said the company expected an occupancy rate of between 70 per cent and 75 per cent this year that will expand its revenue growth by up to 10 per cent.

"Our renovation concept set up the fifth floor to be a health centre and a honeymoon suite for the marriage market," he said.

The hotel expects revenue of nearly Bt10 million from its health centre.

The Richmond Hotel is owned by the Wongworrakan family, who also manage a serviced apartment in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area. The family invested Bt1.5 billion in 2006 to build the hotel.

The family has also set an investment budget of Bt2.6 billion from this year until 2009 to build four new hotels in Pattaya, Koh Chang, Krabi and Koh Pha-ngan.

Somluck Srimalee

The Nation