Langham Hospitality Group has officially named Nick Downing as the General Manager of The Langham, Custom House Bangkok—marking the first of several strategic appointments ahead of the riverside retreat’s highly anticipated debut in late 2026.
With over 30 years of luxury hospitality experience across Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Indian Ocean, Nick is no stranger to shaping new hotel openings into destination-defining icons. Most recently, he led The Siam in Bangkok to global acclaim, including a coveted position on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list and a rare three-key rating from the Michelin Guide Thailand.
Nick’s leadership résumé includes roles with Minor Hotel Group—where he oversaw a portfolio of 12 properties—W Retreat Koh Samui, which he successfully repositioned, and Per Aquum Hotels & Resorts, where he was at the helm of development projects including the celebrated Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives.
Reporting to Sherona Shng, Regional Vice President – Operations, Asia for Langham Hospitality Group, Nick’s appointment reflects the brand’s serious commitment to making a bold mark in Bangkok’s luxury scene.
“This appointment is a clear statement of intent,” said Shng. “We are building The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok to be one of the most distinctive and desirable hotels in the region. Nick’s ability to elevate properties into cultural icons, with a focus on people, partnerships and place, makes him the ideal person to bring the extraordinary hotel to life.”
Set in Bangkok’s historic Bang Rak district, The Langham, Custom House will feature just 78 keys, occupying the restored 19th-century Custom House—an architectural gem along the Chao Phraya River. The hotel is being developed by Rabbit Holdings, a subsidiary of BTS Group.
Plans for the property include a Bangkok outpost of the three-Michelin-starred T’ang Court from The Langham, Hong Kong, a concept-driven destination bar, and a dedicated patisserie—all poised to set a new bar for refined, riverside hospitality in Bangkok.
With Nick now at the helm, we’ll be watching closely as this heritage-meets-contemporary project unfolds.