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For some, 1993 seems to be a very, very long time ago. After all, we were still using cassette tapes and floppy disks during an era when Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You was a top hit on the charts and the first Jurassic Park movie was a smash success at the box office. (Is this bringing back memories, or are you laughing at how old we are? Tell us in the comments!)
The year also marked the beginning of a new era of hospitality, with Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok.
Combining professional guest service with a personal touch, there’s no wonder why the hotel has remained a success for 25 long years, especially when it comes to fine cuisine.
That’s like, a quarter of a century, guys.
So, we figured it’d be worth taking a brief trip down memory lane to find out how this hotel, located on leafy Sukhumvit Soi 18, became the success it is today.
July 3, 1993 – The Michael Jackson concert was the talk of the town, Chatarika Ubolsiri was Miss Thailand, and Rembrandt Hotel was first unveiled to the public. With beautiful facilities and 407 grand rooms designed by a group of renowned, savvy architects from Hong Kong, it quickly became one of the most modern hotspots in the city.
October 1993 – The hotel launches its first dining establishment, Mexicano (oldies like your dear writer here will remember it fondly as Señor Pico). It was the first Mexican restaurant in the city with a live band from Cuba, so it’s pretty safe to assume that it put gourmet enchiladas on the Bangkok map.
October 1993 – Rembrandt Hotel launches the city’s first rooftop and fine dining Indian restaurant, Rang Mahal. (Fun fact: the name translates to ‘The Palace of Color’ in Hindi.) Known as one of the best of its kind in Bangkok, Rang Mahal has created fabulous dining experiences for prominent guests around the world – even royalty!
October 1993 – Genius: Rembrandt Hotel becomes the first hotel to use a tuk-tuk for transporting guests. The original tuk-tuk is on display today at the hotel’s lobby. Who knew luxury and local transport went hand in hand so well?
March 1999 – Rembrandt Hotel launches Red Pepper, one of the first contemporary Thai restaurants in the Sukhumvit area. Later that year, our beloved BTS skytrain system opened (Asoke station is only a 10min walk from the hotel!)
March 2002 – Ah, the year we won the Tiger Cup and got our very own season of Survivor. Rembrandt Hotel also gave us da Vinci, an Italian restaurant which was later renovated in 2017. (Psst, rumor has it that they have the best pizza in town.)
2009 – It’s makeover time! Renovations included an upgrade of all the rooms, suites and common areas, plus a new well-equipped gym. The hotel also made successful eco-friendly efforts through refurbishing, with a forecast of reducing total energy costs by 60%. Great job, guys!
2011 – The hotel opens the Sanctuary Spa, which today has been rebranded as Kairali. So if you’re seeking your best self through the power of Ayurveda then Kairali is the place for you.
2018 – Today, Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok stands as one of the most iconic hotels on Sukhumvit Road and is one of the symbols of Bangkokian luxury. It continues to provide high levels of service and a home away from home for happy travelers and staycationers alike.
But hold on — the change doesn’t stop there. Currently, the hotel has plans to further revamp and modernize their guest rooms. Look out for a new concept for Rang Mahal too.
Stay tuned and follow Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok on Facebook and Twitter to stay in the loop for events, dining news, and drink deals.
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