Shangri-La Bangkok unveils new Grand Ballroom
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08 Dec 09 (TravMedia.com): The return of the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok last 05 November after a major 5-month renovation heralds the completion of a major phase of the Hotel’s US$60-million redelopment program.
Designed by U.S.-based Bilkey Llinas Design, the new Ballroom is taken from its previous conventional image to a vibrant 1,360 square meters of pillarless space, in a palette of yellow-cream and turquoise rich in Thai touches, paying respectful homage to the grace and beauty of Thai heritage.
The new Grand Ballroom brings riverside conferences, banquets and gala events back to life with a foyer boasting unobstructed views of the iconic teak pavilions of Salathip, lush tropical gardens, a shimmering pool and the passing parade of river life on the Chao Phraya.
Wilson & Associates, one of the top interior design firms, has chosen “flower” as the theme of the ballroom carpet. Flower petals are used because they have a significant relationship to the Thai people in different occasions. Beside serving as gifts or presents, flowers are used in cooking, making garlands and decorations for temples and houses. Thai people produce great flower arrangements on the Loy Krathong Festival. Lanterns made of banana leaves and colourful flowers are paraded at night. The colourful flowers paraded during this festival further inspired the placement of the flower petals pattern within the ballroom just like those in the river — where the petals are more concentrated at one spot and more spaced out where they flow naturally to their desired spot.
Naturally, the background colour of the ballroom carpet represents the colour of the river with gradient shades of blue and green. The flower petals in the carpet are a golden yellow colour, representing the vibrant canclelight flowing on the river.
Silk paintings of lotus flowers complement turquoise green carpeting sprinkled with yellow petals, drawing the verdant gardens outside the ballroom into the interior space. Green is the colour of nature, fertility and life, and soothes the eyes. Meanwhile, yellow brings clarity and awareness, and inspires creativity and intellectual energy.
The pillar-free ballroom provides uninterrupted space focused on flexibility and functionality. Highlights include new technology, including a high-tech handy AMX Touch Panel that can reliably manage a complete audiovisual system at one touch.
This AMX Touch Panel allows convenient adjustment of audiovisual controls for both overhead and projector screens, microphones, sounds, and background music, lighting and the LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights. A key advantage to organisers of large conferences is the ballroom’s capacity to activate wireless high-speed Internet sufficient to support up to 700 simultaneous users, at no extra cost to their delegates.
Another new feature is the high quality LED lighting system, bringing the ceiling to life with coloured lighting moods customised to clients’ preferences. A range of effects from static and subtle or rich and dynamic can be programmed using 12 patterns of individual colours and effects. Moreover, the system allows individual control of each ballroom section, enabling functionality without affecting neigboring events.
An imporatant complement to the new Grand Ballroom are the Garden Rooms, a seamless flow of versatile Event Suites introduced recently at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok. Exuding the feel of a contemporary riverside villa, the Garden Rooms comprise 7 stylish areas which may be used independently or collectively. With modern technology and the timelessness of Shangri-La’s hospitality, these are sought-after venues for meetings, celebrations and important life events.
For enquires about and bookings for meetings, conferences and gala events, please call Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok’s Events Management department at (66 2) 236 7777, facsimile (66 2) 236 8570 or email slbk@shangri-la.com
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 65 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 28,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The group has over 40 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, United Kingdom and the United States. For more information or reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.
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