Manor Group and Shimaya Stays Announce Strategic Partnership

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Manor Group, a Singapore-based real estate investment and hospitality development company announces strategic partnership with Shimaya Stays to expand its presence in Japan. The strategic alliance combines Manor Group’s hotel management expertise with Shimaya Stays’s local knowledge, to collaborate on the development and management of Shimaya-branded Machiyas (Kyoto Townhouses) in Japan.

John Lim, CEO of Manor Group, stated: “The partnership with Shimaya Stays will enable us to accelerate our development in Japan, it will also pave the way for future collaboration in other projects. We look forward to a long-term cooperation with Shimaya Stays.”

Benjamin Lim, Chairman of Shimaya Stays, stated: “We are very excited to team-up with Manor Group. Manor Group has a proven track record of successful hotel developments, we are confident that this partnership will bring the best of both companies to create a very special hospitality experience for our guests.”

About Manor Group
Manor Group is a Singapore-based real estate investment and development company that has evolved from focusing on residential projects to currently being predominantly involved in the hospitality and F&B segments. The Group has managed to build up its diversified portfolio in aspects of hospitality, F&B, and logistics services in Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan. For more information, please go to http://manor.asia/

About Shimaya Stays
Shimaya Stays is owned by a group of young entrepreneurs who have a strong interest and respect for Japanese culture. The group is passionate about preserving Kyoto heritage and creating unique experience of Kyoto accommodation, lifestyle and culture for their guests. For more information, please go to https://www.shimayastays.com

For further information, please contact:
Helen Kok (Ms.)
Hospitality Management and Consultancy Manager
Tel: +65 6238 1109      Email: contact@manor.asia

Akyra Manor Chiang Mai is Featured in Exotiq Thailand Magazine Issue No.5!

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Hotelier Eddie Tan opens Penang’s first small luxury hotel

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Malaysia will see its eighth Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) property open next month, this time in Penang. It’s a first for the state, which has seen its real estate prices and values in George Town soar since its 2008 Unesco heritage listing.

The company behind the 35-room The Edison George Town – ET Hospitality Ventures Sdn Bhd – is a subsidiary of ET Group, which is helmed by veteran Singaporean hotelier Eddie Tan. Mr Tan was formerly a general manager with the Mandarin group. He last held the post at Marina Mandarin (from 1997 to 2005) before he moved to Penang and based his hotel and property consultancy there, running it with his son Eugene.

The Edison George Town – housed in a former Hokkien tycoon’s mansion built in 1906 and situated in the buffer zone of George Town’s core heritage centre – will start operations in July. The building’s last use was as a dilapidated but iconic budget hotel named Cathay Hotel, which had been operating since the 1950s.

This new incarnation as a top-end luxury hotel is its first major renovation and refurbishment in decades, notes Mr Eugene Tan, who is spearheading the refurbishment. The Edison George Town will have 35 rooms, with two of the biggest suites ranging from 58-61 square metres each. The hotel will also have a lounge, courtyard, library, and pool.

The Small Luxury Hotel affiliation is for better branding and marketing, adds Mr Tan. SLH has over 421,000 members worldwide and a database of over 25,000 luxury agents.

“This is truly a father-and-son project which we wanted to do together,” he says, explaining the origin of the name “Edison” (Edi-son) and the new brand of hotels they plan to set up in Malaysia and, eventually, the region.

The ET Group is described as a “developer of lifestyle properties” and has handled interior design and hotel consultancy projects in Asia, including corporate offices and private residences.

The incarnation of The Edison George Town in this grand early 20th century mansion was the biggest challenge as it required a massive restoration. The building was restored by the landlord, Lim Lean Teng Foundation, and outfitted by ET Hospitality Ventures Sdn Bhd, which has a long-term lease. This is not an unusual practice in George Town, where landowners like clanhouses and foundations have insisted on heritage conservation and found rentees who were willing to comply with both the government and the landlords’ requirements.

While both the landlord and company declined to disclose restoration and refurbishment costs, it’s easily a multi-million-ringgit project. The process involved getting approval from the heritage authorities of the local council, says Mr Tan. He adds that structures that had been added to the hotel over the years were taken down, and it’s also been properly renovated to operate as a modern hotel. The interior design is done by Malaysian hospitality design specialist Blu Water Studio, whose projects include Aloft KL Sentral and Hilton Petaling Jaya.

SLH’s vice-president for Asia-Pacific, Mark Wong, welcomed the new hotel into its fold, highlighting how all its hotels are filled with distinctive character. “We want our guests to know where they are in the world when they step through the main door,” he says, adding that the SLH feature is that its hotels are consistently different and offer the highest standards of luxury.

The hotel brand affiliation company was founded in 1991 and has over 520 hotels in more than 80 countries. Asia-Pacific currently contributes 11 per cent of SLH’s total revenue with 120 hotels in this region, most of them in Thailand, China and Japan. In the last 12 months, it added its first hotels in Tokyo, Seychelles, South Korea, and now Penang.

The 110-year-old Anglo-Chinese mansion, once called Venus, was built by Yeoh Wee Gark, a Hokkien tycoon, a community leader and a contemporary of Cheong Fatt Tze, a Hakka tycoon, who built the famous Blue Mansion across the road on Leith Street. Yeoh was part of a syndicate of Hokkien tycoons who controlled opium importation into the Straits Settlements through the Penang Opium & Spirit Farm. The mansion was sold to the Lim Lean Teng Foundation after World War II.

Among its other notable uses was as a film set for the 2002 Hong Kong movie The Touch starring Michelle Yeoh , and in the 1995 movie Beyond Rangoon starring Patricia Arquette and Frances MacDormand.

The mansion is a classic example of Straits Eclectic style featuring an Anglo-Indian bungalow structure with European architectural features and fittings like Scottish metalwork. It was a time when Western-educated Chinese tycoons flaunted their wealth in ostentatious homes.

Meanwhile, there will be those who mourn the passing of the former Cathay Hotel. Its last Tripadvisor review was in 2015. While some decried its thin sheets and saggy mattresses, the hotel garnered a loyal following because of its grandeur.

“This hotel has a charm all of its own,” said a Tripadvisor reviewer in 2011. A Norwegian guest who stayed there for three consecutive visits said “you can still feel the grandeur” that this place once had. A 2008 review in The New York Times rated it six stars for its character, with the reviewer describing it as a “magnificent pile” and the stay there “literally in the heartbeat of Penang’s Chinatown” – with “pedicab drivers snoozing at the doorstep”, temple incense drifting through the open windows and “fishy-sweet smells of Hokkien mee and char kway teow from the hawker stall across the street”.

(Source: http://business.asiaone.com/news/news/hotelier-eddie-tan-opens-penangs-first-small-luxury-hotel)

Robb Report Singapore

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“It’s a perfect fit as the only five star property situated in the new hip and cultural neighborhood of Nimmanhaemin.”

Creativity is the Key in Chiang Mai | akyra Manor

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The popularity of visiting Thailand has sky rocketed in the last 5-10 years and continues to attract a plethora of different people at varying stages in their lives. This beautiful country has so much to offer, be it to back pack through the lush rainforests, sample delicious Thai street food, bathe in the sun at the picture perfect beaches or to soak in the inspiring culture; it has everything you would want from a holiday destination. Culture is at the heart of Thailand and it wouldn’t be right to visit this magnificent country without taking in the sights of the Buddhist temples, ancient architecture and meeting the friendly locals. Sitting north of Bangkok nestled amongst the mountains sits Chiang Mai, one of the most culturally significant cities in Northern Thailand and a must visit destination for lover’s of art or history. With festivals galore, galleries featuring exhibits of contemporary Thai art to the talented graffiti found in the neighbourhood streets as well as over 300 Buddhist temples, Chiang Mai is a culture lover’s dream. Nowhere has embraced the creative vibe of the city more than the akyra.

The new akyra MANOR Chiang Mai from AKARYN Hotel Group has announced the first series of art installations as a ‘living gallery’. Designed as a celebration of artistic talent and a living showcase of new art, the akyra MANOR will be an active patron of the arts and a hub for creative minds with a rotating exhibition of local and international artists with the opportunity for guests to hone their own talents through interactive art classes and extended art retreats.

Set in the art district on Soi 9 Nimmanhaemin, the uniquely designed akyra allows guests to truly connect with the culture of the city. Guests will enjoy a forever changing collection of different art pieces in both the public spaces and each suite, with the upcoming exhibition schedule:

  • October – December 2015: Guests will enjoy a collection of limited edition pieces with Andy Gotts, London and New York based photographer, famed for his black and white portraits of Hollywood actors and singers.
  • January – March 2016: Local students from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Chiang Mai University will have the opportunity to showcase their creative work throughout the hotel in a demonstration of tomorrow’s talent, celebrating the old and new Chiang Mai.
  • March – June 2016: The work of respected local artist and alumni of Chiang Mai University, Supachet Bhumakarn will be displayed. With pieces inspired by the Asian elephant, a symbol of Thailand, each captures the warmth of the country it represents.
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akyra MANOR Chiang Mai is the epitome of excellence when it comes to an ‘art hotel’ and creative couples are almost certainly going to be inspired by the art around them. With this in mind, the hotel offers private art classes led by some of the best local artists to help channel your inner visionary. Specialising in either acrylics, charcoal or pastels, the three hour sessions will provide practical guidance and encouragement to spark creativity. Three to five day art retreats are also available for a more intensive programme of personal artistic development, with the opportunity to enjoy daily art lessons and visits to a respected local studio to share in artistic understanding and interpretation.

Anchalika Kijkanakorn, visionary managing director and founder of the boutique AKARYN Hotel Group said: “With the akyra MANOR at the heart of Chiang Mai’s buzzing art district, the hotel was always designed to be a celebration of the talent that can be found around every corner. By acting as a living gallery of creative works, guests will be surrounded by the very best of local art in an inspiring series of exhibitions. More than this, lessons with experienced arts will encourage them to discover and express their own creativity.”

Here at Hero & Leander we have been blown away by the creative possibilities and the artistic draw that Chiang Mai presents. If you are looking to explore a different side to Thailand and venture a little further afield than Bangkok then you will not be disappointed with Chiang Mai, a city steeped in history and bursting at the seam with creativity. With all of that in mind, it is important to stay in a hotel that embodies all of the elements that make Chiang Mai great, so a stay at akyra MANOR is surely a must?!

(Source: Hero & Leander)

Opening of Akyra Manor Hotel, Chiang Mai

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After a long awaited period, Manor Group (Thailand) finally opened the doors of Akyra Manor Hotel, Chiang Mai yesterday. We were very delighted to meet our first guests today and show them the true AKMC hospitality!

We are very much looking forward to welcoming more guests to stay in one of our 30 key luxurious suites, enjoy our Thai and Italian cuisine in Italics and relax with a cocktail and sunset view in Rise Bar.

For details on the Akyra Manor Hotel, please visit our official website www.theakyra.com/chiang-mai.

Akyra Manor Hotel, The Newest Boutique Hotel in Chiang Mai

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English Translation:

Many people said Chiang Mai is the newest trend for the hip and young people. Something chic and interesting always happens in this city especially in Nimmanhaemin Road, the now classified trendiest area of Chiang Mai.”

The Akyra Manor Hotel, managed by Akaryn Group and owned by Manor Group, has finally opened. This hotel is designed with a concept of “Art Hotel” for anyone who is inspired by art, movie and photography.

There are 30 rooms with the size of 60 – 100 square meters, a semi-outdoor oversize bathtub, and 5-star hotel facilities i.e. Italics Restaurant, Rise Bar with outdoor pool, and a Fitness Room.

The other highlight of this hotel is that each room is decorated with limited-edition photographs by world-class celebrity photographer Andy Gotts. Each room displays portraits of famous Hollywood superstars like George Clooney, Robert de Niro, Al Pacino, and Cate Blanchett depicting their different facial expressions.

Akyra Manor Chiang Mai is located on Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 9. So which superstar would you wish to stay with?

For more information, please contact:
Tel (053) 216-219 ; www.theakyra.com/chiang-mai

(Source: Image Magazine, Thailand, http://www.image.th/article.php?content_id=60)

Check It Out: Akyra Manor Chiang Mai – A Classy Touch of Thailand

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The Akaryn Hotel Group has paired with Singapore design outfit Manor Studio to develop an all-suite, five-star hotel opening in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on October 1.

In the northern city’s bustling arts and food precinct, the Akyra Manor Chiang Mai features 30 suites, each built around a private indoor courtyard, a glamorous rooftop bar and glass-sided swimming pool plus signature Italian restaurant.

Claiming an urban, design-driven vibe, the hotel has its own room fragrance and music mix and will open with an exhibition by British portrait photographer Andy Gotts, the first in a series of regular shows by leading artists.

While designer Chaw Chih Wen has created a cool, citified sanctuary, the hotel’s stylised facade is inspired by Chiang Mai’s ancient crumbling city wall. There are 23 suites at 60sq m and another seven at 100sq m with lounges and balconies. All guestrooms have a large bathroom with enormous marble tub and dressing areas, oversized towels, natural cotton gowns and locally sourced unguents. Beds are dressed in 430-thread-count Egyptian cotton; other features include LCD TV with cable stations, iPod dock, coffee machine and Wi-Fi. The Small Luxury Hotels of the World member also has a fitness centre offering yoga classes on demand.

DON’T MISS: The opening special of two nights in a deluxe suite for two, breakfast, welcome drinks, bottle of sparkling wine and strawberries and a three-course dinner; THB12,380 ($485), to November 30.

DINING IN: Executive chef Phubase Chuprakong oversees the hotel’s RISE rooftop pool bar and Italics Italian restaurant, sourcing organic produce (augmented by a rooftop garden) to reinterpret Mediterranean classics. Signature dishes will include sea bass puttanesca, slow-poached prawns with parsley, garlic and lime, and 12-hour coffee-braised beef short rib with duck-fat gnocchi. Phuket-born and Melbourne-trained Chuprakong most recently worked under Michelin three-star chef Eneko Atxa (founder of Spain’s Azurmendi) at the Iniala Beach House, Phuket.

DINING OUT: A short walk from the hotel you’ll find Hong Tauw Inn serving traditional northern Thai food; also check out Wawee Coffee.

ASK THE CONCIERGE: Jump the free hotel shuttle to Chiang Mai’s famous night bazaar with its food, live music and handmade garments and artworks. And don’t miss sunset over Doi Suthep from the hotel’s rooftop pool bar.

CHECKING IN: Rooms from $191 with breakfast. More: www.theakyra.com/chiang-mai/.

ALSO TRY: The Library Koh Samui; Double-Six Luxury Hotel, Seminyak; Macalister Mansion, Penang.

ACCOMMODATION BUZZ:

• Sri Lanka joins the Anantara stable later this year with the opening of Tangalle Peace Haven Resort on the country’s southern coast; set in a 17ha coconut plantation, the resort will feature 120 guestrooms and 32 pool villas

• The all-pool-villa Six Senses Ninh Van Bay in Vietnam has opened a three-bedroom hilltop retreat featuring a large infinity pool and ocean views, accessible only by off-road buggy or on foot; from $US2800 ($3937)

• From October 1 to December 23, Belmond (formerly Orient-Express) is offering 30 per cent off suite or premium accommodation at member hotels across Asia, including the Belmond Jimbaran Puri in Bali and Belmond Governor’s Residence in Yangon, Myanmar

• Celebrating a famous former guest, Paris’s Le Meurice is offering a Pop Art package, valid from October 2 to February 7, featuring breakfast, lunch or dinner and two no-queue tickets to the Andy Warhol exhibition at Centre Pompidou; from €1040 ($1643) a night

• Sofitel will progressively feature Revealed, a photo exhibition of great artists at work, in its Australian and New Zealand hotels, kicking off at Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour on September 15; it has been curated by Picasso’s grandson, Olivier Widmaier Picasso.

(Source: The Australian)

Travel One to Watch: Discover Cosmopolitan Chiang Mai

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The award-winning boutique AKARYN Hotel Group has announced the launch of the new five star, all-suite akyra Manor Hotel, opening on 1st October in Thailand’s Rose of the North, Chiang Mai.

The luxury design-led retreat will reinvent the concept of the city hotel, bringing new life to downtown Chiang Mai with contemporary urban space for entertaining and relaxing in the heart of the vibrant Nimmanhaemin art district”

In a collaboration between the pioneering AKARYN Hotel Group and renowned Singaporean design house Manor Studio, the hotel’s design is unique to Chiang Mai. Akyra Manor has been accepted as a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Anchalika Kijkanakorn, visionary managing director and founder of AKARYN Hotel Group said: “It has long been a personal dream of mine to launch a project in Chiang Mai, a city I love. In a clever juxtaposition with the city’s famed jungle surroundings, temples and historic culture, we are excited that akyra Manor will provide a sophisticated and decadent hideaway thanks to the award-winning design talents of the team at Manor Studio.”

Led by talented design visionary Chaw Chih Wen, the bold and edgy sophistication of the 30 guest suites provide a sanctuary from the buzz of Thailand’s northern capital. The 23 akyra Deluxe suites offer a spacious 610 sq ft of living space, while seven decadent akyra Manor Suites at 1050 sq ft will give guests a stylish expanse of space to unwind. A signature of the AKARYN Hotel Group concept of ‘Outdoor Living In’, the ‘courtyard-within-a-room’ design sees a covered outdoor hot tub and indulgent bathroom as the focal point of each suite. All are equipped with the latest smart technology, naturally sourced toiletries, an espresso coffee machine and complimentary Wi-Fi.

The distinctive exterior is inspired by the crumbling brickwork that forms the city’s ancient wall, hiding a hedonistic haven in the form of a hip rooftop pool bar, Rise. The cool place to be seen in downtown Chiang Mai with creative mixology and a stunning glass walled pool, guests and corporate travellers can gaze over the city sky-line.

The hotel’s flagship dining experience, ITALICS, will offer a clever interpretation of contemporary Italian cuisine, created interactively in a state-of-the-art show kitchen. Embracing a SLOW food concept, guests will feast on locally-sourced and home grown ingredients with a proven provenance.

Anchalika said: “Akyra Manor is situated on Soi 9 Nimmanhaemin, the city’s most happening art and culture boulevard. The wealth of art galleries, independent boutiques and inviting coffee shops create a real buzz. The hotel will also be an active patron of the arts, with the lobby and guest suites a living gallery of creative works.”

Destinology offers 3 nights in a Manor Suite from just £198 per person, saving £150pp, based on two sharing on a bed & breakfast basis, and excluding flights. Book by calling 01204 821 419 or visiting www.destinology.co.uk. This offer is valid for travel until 31 October 2015.

(Source: House of Coco)

Travel + Leisure, Southeast Asia

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"The new urban-style hotel on cafe-lined Nimmanhemin road welcomed its first guests last month with a premiere exhibition of Andy Gotts’s photography, featuring off-screen portraits of some of Hollywood’s most recognisable faces, such as Nicole Kidman, Scarlett Johanson and Kevin Spacey. With this offer, you’ll receive a signed limited-edition print. The Deal Special opening rates: a night in a Deluxe suite, from Bt4,200 for two, through October 31. Save 45%. theakyra.com"

Classic Reinvention

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A new attraction in Thailand’s buzzing dining scene, Italics delights palates with its unique reinterpretation of Italian fare.

It’s hard to ignore Bangkok’s dining scene, which is as fabulous as it is eclectic. A recent addition to the string of dining rooms with Michelin-star affiliations is Italics. Opened in April, the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef James Noble has quickly gotten the attention of the well-heeled.

The restaurant is located away from the city’s colourful, more chaotic districts, in the upscale Soi Ruamrudee district that is home to embassies, prime residences and offices, and has a gourmet village vibe. It serves up Italian favourites with a twist. While traditional fare like pizza, pasta and grills features on the menu, there’s always a surprise on your plate, be it Thai basil in a caprese salad or tom yam sauce slathered over pastrami meatballs, inviting the diner to enjoy comforting Italian favourites but in a different way. For even more creative options, try unusual dough balls with Thai pesto and crispy garlic, or the watermelon topped with cured pork belly.

Not innovating just for the sake of it, this Thai influence highlights the restaurant’s commitment to provenance. All of its ingredients, from Parma ham to mozzarella, are painstakingly sourced from Thailand’s farms and the range of produce available in the country. The thyme in the roasted mushroom spaghetti and the basil and oregano that top the grilled sea bass come from Italics’ very own herb garden, where a range of herbs is carefully tended.

The sustainable approach is a refreshing change that goes down well with diners’ conscience, when many other restaurants use only imported ingredients.

Another surprise not expected of a casual dining restaurant is the dash of theatrics. When you order a pizza, the chef emerges from the kitchen, skilfully tossing and swirling the pizza dough before it goes into the brick pizza oven. Put it all together and you get a completely new, livelier way to go Italian.

Now, it’s not just Bangkok where gourmands can go for Italics’ exceptional food. In August, the restaurant opened its second outlet in Chiang Mai where it is the banner restaurant in the five-star boutique hotel Akyra Manor Chiang Mai. A partnership between Akayrn Hospitality Management Services and Singapore-owned Manor Group, the restaurant houses indoor and outdoor dining areas, a coffee bar and a deli bar. Rich leather and distressed wood lend a warm, cosy feeling to the black, white and grey-themed establishment, where wall art depicting local farmers and livestock was carefully chosen by the design house Manor Studio to reflect the restaurant’s sustainability promise.

Italian food that comes with this much style and conscience certainly deserves attention!

ITALICS
• 63/3 Soi Ruamrudee, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand
• Akyra Manor Chiang Mai, 22/2 Nimmanhaemind Road Soi 9, T.Suthep, A. Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand italicsrestaurant.com

(Source: Tatler Singapore | Page 219)

Where to eat in Chiang Mai?

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Italics, Innovative Italian. Pretty cool name! This hip and happening restaurant is in the lobby of Chiang Mai’s newest boutique hotel, Akyra Manor.

The decor is rather fresh and modern. The ambience is sophisticated, stylish and cool (air-conditioning cool)!

As it was a lovely day out, my friend and I decided to have our early lunch on the terrace, which happens to also have more of a relaxing atmosphere. It was nice to just sit there, chill out and slowly enjoy the meal and do a bit of people watching.

And the food? That’s what we’re here for, and Italics does not disappoint. The menu is very interesting, with a variety of innovative dishes created by the Executive Chef Phubase that you won’t find elsewhere.

Highly recommended was Chef Phubase’s signature dish, the Coffee Braised Short Rib ( 695 baht) . This is beef marinated in coffee, and slow cooked in duck fat for over 24 hours, resulting in super tender beef that’s packed full of flavour but still had kind of soft roundedness to it (from the duck fat?). The beef was served in a little pot over some spinach, and also with gnocchi cooked in duck fat. The gnocchi was wonderful – slightly crispy and hard on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. It was like, wow, when everything was eaten together. The only downside for us was that this dish was quite rich and we couldn’t finish it all. Lucky we had some green salad that we ordered separately. I didn’t think of it at the time, but I think the beef would have been perfect with a glass of red wine.

Now the Garden Greens Salad (220 baht) was no ordinary “green salad”. It also contained marinated pepper and grilled vegetables, coated in a light balsamic dressing, and served with a generous amount of parmesan. It was a great salad, very enjoyable to eat. Eat slowly to enjoy the different flavours and textures.

As for the appetiser (sorry, we’re going backwards!), East Meets West (250 baht) was suggested to us. This is almost like 2 dishes – a selection of “cured and smoked” sausages, and a sweet potato and edamame salad. The sausages were very strongly flavoured and quite salty, but they went well with the lovely, milder tasting sweet potato and edamame salad (in a kind of mayonnaise dressing). The salad is a bit like a Japanese style potato salad with edamame added to give a little crunch. Great idea!

For dessert, we had the Banana Ricotta Cheesecake (220 baht). This wasn’t what I was expecting in terms of taste and texture. The cheesecake itself was incredibly smooth and surprisingly not sweet at all. The base also had an interesting texture, (which I can’t work out!), but it wasn’t like other cheesecakes that I’ve had. All in all, it was quite lovely.

Towards the end of the meal, Chef Phubase, and the Hotel Manager, Chris came round for a chat and asked for feedback. The restaurant (and hotel) was opened just a couple of days before. Apart from a couple of minor things, I think pretty much everything was great.

The staff was very friendly, from the guy who valet parked my car (yay! parking is available!), to the restaurant manager, Cy, and the waiters/ waitresses who took turns to man the terrace, making sure our water is topped up – very attentive service indeed!

Incidentally, Chris mentioned that they will be implementing a “Resident’s Program” where residents can get 15% discount. So, if you live in Chiang Mai, it would be worth asking about this when you visit the restaurant.

Italics is an interesting addition to Chiang Mai’s food scene. The service and food is great. If you’re looking for somewhere for a special night out, or even just looking for something a bit different, the restaurant is worth checking out.

Italics
22/2 Nimmanhaemin Soi 9
T Suthep, A Muang
Chiang Mai 50220
Website: http://theakyra.com/chiang-mai/akyra-manor-italics/
Opens: Daily 11am-11pm
Tel: 053 216 219

(Source: http://cm-eat.blogspot.sg/2015/08/italics-restaurant-akyra-manor-hotel.html)

The New Italics Restaurant

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The NEW Italics Restaurant opened at Akyra Manor Hotel Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 9 on 10 August 2015. Italics is all about traditional Italian recipes combined with local ingredients. Open daily from 7am until 11pm.

Christophe Gestin, Resident Manager, explained he wants Italics Restaurant to appeal to local residents as well as hotel guests, Therefore they are giving away ‘Resident Discount Cards’ until the end of August 2015; the discount card entitles customers to 15% discount on food and beverages for ONE Year.

Signature dishes include Coffee Braised Short Ribs, served with duck fat & homemade gnocchi (695THB), Spinach Ricotta Calzone (280THB) Chiang Rai Four Cheese wood fire Pizza (320THB), Wood Fired Italics Lasagna (390THB), and Grilled Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad (320THB). For desserts the Hot Chocolate Lava Cake served with vanilla ice cream (250THB) and Banana Ricotta Cheesecake (220THB) are recommended. Many other choices for breakfast, lunch or dinner are available. All prices are subject to VAT & Service Charge.

Check out the August issue of Sppon & Fork or September issue of Citylife Magazine for further details For reservations or further info 053-216-219 or email fb@akmc@theaykra.com.

(Source: Citylife Chiang Mai)

Manor Group (Thailand) in collaboration with YMCA Sao Hin build five Local Dams in Chiang Dao National Park

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On 10 August 2015, the staff of the Akyra Manor Hotel, Chiang Mai together with YMCA Sao Hin and students from Hauy-Pao School, Na-Waii School and Thung Khao Phuong School came together to construct five local check dams.

These check dams were built to slow down the flow of water in the river so that the water remains at a correct level during the dry season. One other benefit of the check dam is that it can help maintain soil moisture, hence, preventing forest fires. With the cooperation of the volunteers, the check dams were built over two days.

With Manor Group’s sponsorship, we hope to contribute to the local community by educating the new generation about the environment and improve lives, not just for our customers, but also for the people living in the vicinity of our project sites.

Manor Group gives back to the community through provision of jobs, training, and livelihood programs and also in the preservation of the environment to ensure that the success of the projects translates to a more harmonious life for a greater number of people.

S’pore’s Manor Group to Open Chic New Hotel in Chiang Mai

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MANOR GROUP, a real estate investment and development company based in Singapore, will open a hotel in Chiang Mai in October, aiming to cash in on the growth of tourism there and to pave the way for further investment in Thailand and neighbouring countries.

John Lim, founder and chief executive officer, said the group had invested Bt300 million in the hotel in Chiang Mai. This is the first step for Manor Group’s foray into the hotel business in Thailand as well as other countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

In Thailand, the group already runs a wide range of businesses. It is responsible for Italics Restau-rants, while Manor Studio Thailand Co handles design and architectural projects, and the latest entity, Manor Suite Chiang Mai Co, owns the Akyra Manor Chiang Mai Hotel.

Lim said a Thai hospitality firm, Akaryn Hotel Group, would manage the hotel under its Akyra brand via a 10-year contract with Manor Group. Akaryn also owns and operates the Aleenta resorts in Phuket, Phang-nga and Hua Hin-Pranburi, as well as the Akyra Chura Samui resort. Akaryn Group is gearing up for next year’s launch of Akaryn Koh Krabeay, a resort and spa on its own private island in Cambodia.

The Chiang Mai hotel has 23 deluxe suites at 56 square metres and seven larger suites at a spacious 97 sqm. It is located in hip Nimmanhaemin Road, which is known as “coffee street” and is a growing centre of the city’s booming art scene.

“Chiang Mai has too many three-star hotels, so we went all the way to do an all-suite five-star hotel, with a courtyard-within-room concept, very generously sized suites and a minimal, contemporary and decidedly urban feel, as that is what the market here was lacking. There is an extreme shortage of high-end hotels there. Occupancy rates are 80-100 per cent at the best hotels,” Lim said.

He said the hotel’s official launch, originally scheduled for this month, had been pushed back to October because of unforeseen construction delays. Lim said Thailand had great potential in the logistics sector as both the overall population and gross domestic product per capita are moving upwards.

Known for its abundant natural resources and strong manufacturing sectors, Thailand has always been an export-strong country. However, as per capita GDP increases and as the country moves towards becoming a developed country, new trends are created and modernisation takes place, so its imports are also moving up quickly, he believes.

The growth of cities outside Bangkok and the connectivity linking them are also contributing to the growth of logistics demand. Cities such as Hua Hin and Chiang Mai are good examples of such cities. The high-speed rail links that will eventually be built will also provide more connectivity.

For hospitality, tourism, food and beverages, Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s major travel destinations. The core of any hospitality industry is the people involved in it, and Thailand never fails to reflect the inherent service mentality of its culture, Manor Group believes.

When looking at travel blogs and sites, the quality of service at a wide array of hotels and restaurants can vary. High-end hotels and restaurants are relatively consistent and well received by many, though it’s also a fact that quality of service at the middle to lower end has received mixed reviews, the group has noted.

(Source: The Nation)
Correction: MANOR GROUP is not “a design and architecture enterprise” but rather “a real estate investment and development company.”

Manor Group Sets out Thai Investments, with Focus on Hotel and Restaurant Businesses

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English Translation:

The number of foreign tourists continue to grow even with the current unstable political situation. It seems though that it only has a minor effect to the travel industry and Thailand is still a very attractive country for investors.

Mr. John Lim, The MD and Founder of Manor Group Singapore, mentioned that he had started his business in Singapore by developing small properties, however the investments in Singapore have high risks because of high expenditures especially for a plot of land. To invest in other countries is a good alternative especially in the hospitality industry. Beach destinations are not the main idea and he prefers a unique design building to create memorable experiences.

The first country for his project is Malaysia with the Edison Hotel in Penang and the second one is in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The akyra Manor Chiang Mai, with an investment of 300 million Baht and managed by the AKARYN hotel group, is a 5 star hotel located in Nimmanhaemin area. It is scheduled to open in October 2015.

Akyra Manor Chiang Mai takes its inspiration from of a state of the art concept. A hotel for people with strong interest and passion for art and photography, it comprises of 30 keys with 23 Akyra Deluxe at 60 sqm and 7 Manor Suites at 100 sqm. With its outstanding design compared to other buildings in the same compound, the average room rate is between 200 – 300 USD.

The hotel room rates in Chiang Mai ranges from 10-20 USD to 400 USD. The akyra Manor is rated 5 star hotel; therefore, the rate strategy focuses on 5 star services, focused on delivering the best and memorable personalized services with the outstanding and unique design of the building and its facilities.

Manor Group continues to look for and plans to develop more properties in Thailand. Plans include a second 5 star hotel property in Chiang Mai with a total investment of 400 million Baht, a co-working space and hotel in Bangkok targeting Thong Lor area. For both areas, Manor Group will take over existing buildings by reconditioning and designing the interior and exterior by their own experienced and professional design studio.

The concept for the Bangkok property is to meet the demands of new generations who are looking to set up their own businesses where a working space, small meeting room combined with accommodations will be provided with reasonable room rates as compared to the other competitors in the area.

Manor Group also works on an F&B business where “The Italics” is their first Italian fusion concept restaurant in Soi Ruamrudee, Bangkok. Within 2-3 years’ time, Manor Group plans to expand the restaurant to 6 branches. The expansion of the restaurants will be mainly located within new hotel properties and a few stand-alone units.

After Thailand, Manor Group has plans to develop more hotel properties in Penang, Malaysia and further extend their business to new destinations like Tokyo and South Korea where tourism is constantly increasing.

Apart from hotel businesses and restaurants, Manor Group also handles a logistics company in Singapore which they plan to develop in Thailand as well.

(Source: Post Today, Thailand | Business-Marketing Section | Page B4)

Akyra Manor Chiang Mai Targets a Younger Affluent Crowd

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MANOR Group will launch the 30-suite Akyra Manor Chiang Mai this October, as part of its planned 500 million baht (US$14.2 million) investment in Thailand’s hospitality and F&B sectors, said CEO John Lim.

The Singapore-based developer has invested about 350 million baht in the hotel, which is located in the west of the city near Chiang Mai University and will be managed by the Akaryn Hotel Group.

According to Lim, the property will leverage its contemporary design, high service standards and hallmark F&B offerings to differentiate itself in the market, as well as pricing rooms in the US$200-US$250 segment.

Lim admitted he was “taking a bit of a risk” developing a property with an investment cost of about US$333,000 per suite, but he was confident that the high-design city hotel would create the demand needed to hit the profitable occupancy rate of 70–90 per cent.

“Currently Chiang Mai has a lot of properties at the US$10 per night market and the traditional five-star properties at about US$200 per night,” he said. “There are also some very successful luxury boutiques charging US$400 per night. So we’re targeting a different guest, someone who’s younger, design conscious and wants to stay in an iconic property.”

Akyra Manor, which also has meetings facilities, will focus on its F&B offerings, including the poolside/rooftop Rise Bar, to attract customers in a city with a burgeoning café culture but lacks high-concept branded venues.

Manor Group recently opened Italics restaurant in Bangkok, a joint venture with Akaryn, and plans to develop another property in Chiang Mai.

(Source: TTG Asia)