The Athenee Hotel Remains Open for Guests

During this difficult time where many visitors to Thailand are stranded with no flights to return home, this luxury hotel in the heart of Bangkok remains open as the place to accommodate those in need … in the most luxurious way possible.

The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, has opened its doors to welcome guests transferring from hotels that have temporarily ceased operations all over Thailand.

While in full compliance with strict government rules and regulations on hygiene and social distancing, the two restaurants, The Allium and The House of Smooth Curry, remain in operation for in-house guests, while take-away and delivery services are available for outside customers.

Following the latest advice and recommendations from the WHO, CDC, and the Thai government, measures in place include controlled access to the hotel, with thermal scanners to check all visitors’ temperatures at the hotel’s entrance. There is also the provision of masks and personal hand sanitizers to all staff, increased cleaning and sanitizing frequencies, and a strict mandate on social distancing.

“I’ve never been more determined to see us through than I am at this moment. While it is impossible to know how long this crisis will last, I know we as a global community will come through the other side, and that when we do our guests will be eager to travel this beautiful world again,” said Marriott CEO Mr. Arne Sorenson.  

For foreign travelers hoping to find a way home, the options are declining rapidly. On April 2nd, just 50 international flights departed from BKK - around 15% of the total from this time last year. In terms of passenger numbers, the reduction has been even steeper, with only 2,011 able to leave the country on April 2nd - representing a 97% drop. As more airlines suspend operations, and more countries close their airports to transit passengers, anyone who has not yet left may soon find themselves obliged to simply stay put.

Although the latest decision to suspend all arriving flights from April 4th to April 6th does not extend to departing traffic - assuming airlines are willing to fly in empty aircraft - there remains a lot of uncertainty. For those able to wait in comfort, the Athenee Hotel may serve as a welcome oasis.

Our associate at Hotelintel.co was welcomed at the Athenee with the most gracious hospitality during this critical time of Bangkok’s lockdown, and can confirm that guests at the property will most certainly appreciate the silver lining in what are otherwise most unfortunate circumstances.