Onsite Exclusive: News from Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square

BANGKOK-Travel Agent caught up with Jagan Lacsher, director of sales and distribution for the popular Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, which is on the eve of inaugurating a new VIP check-in lounge. "We compare our new lounge to VIP airport lounges," said Lacsher. "The level of service is one-on-one and there's no waiting time." Lacsher noted that in a hotel with 429 rooms, there could be a hundred people checking in at a busy time like 2:00 p.m. The VIP check-in lounge, an extension of the hotel's business center, also contains a small meeting room. Members of the hotel's loyalty program are automatically eligible for VIP check-in. "If a travel agent contacts us about one of their clients for VIP treatment, and they're an agent we do business with, we can definitely afford their clients access," said Lacsher. Last week, Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square inaugurated the Sports Bar, which offers interactive elements in addition to world sports on big screen TVs. Lacsher also tells us that the hotel will begin a soft refurbishment of the lobby and pool in 2008. "This will be a facelift more than anything else, and won't disturb the day-to-day operations of the hotel," says Lacsher. The hotel recently completed a makeover of its rooms. The travel agent liaison for Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square is Thitaya Wongpadkiang, senior sales manager. She can be reached at [email protected]. Visit [www.accorhotels.com/asia].