Pullman arrives ahead of schedule in Bangkok

BANGKOK – Accor will officially re-launch its Pullman brand in Paris on December 10 although the first Pullman property in Asia is already up and running in Bangkok.

The 386-room Pullman Bangkok King Power (above) opened on October 15 and business has been brisk, reaching 100 percent occupancy on some nights, said general manager Christophe Vielle.

Accor is positioning Pullman as a four-and-a-half star hotel between the Sofitel, which is being taken upmarket, and Novotel.

“It will fill the gap left by Sofitel moving higher in the market,”said Vielle.

“Our market will be the businessman who can’t always afford US$300 per night but is happy to pay about 100 euros (US$150).”

Pullman will focus on the business traveller and will pay special attention to the meetings market.

“High-end incentives, corporate meetings and conferences will be a growing segment for Pullman Bangkok King Power. We intend to establish ourselves very quickly both in domestic and overseas MICE markets,” said Vielle.

Pullman Bangkok’s main ballroom can accommodate more than 1000 people and, as with the meeting rooms, is supported by the latest smart technology.

Guests also have the facility of an e-check-in tool on the hotel’s website and interactive TVs in the rooms.

Guests staying at the Pullman Bangkok in Rangnam Road also receive discounted shopping at the adjacent King Power duty free outlet.

Vielle said the hotel would pursue an aggressive pricing strategy, with a target of 30 percent of business coming via online Internet channels.

“I will also do away with a bad habit in Asia – that’s adding ‘plus, plus’ to every bill. Our prices in the restaurants and bars, and for the spa and fitness facilities, will be one fully inclusive price.

“I want to have our guests eating in the restaurants, so prices will be moderate. Rather than trying to make a profit from 30 diners paying huge prices, I’d rather have 200 in the restaurant and paying a more affordable price.

“It will be the same with the wine. Basically, there will be no mark-up because we want our customers to enjoy a glass of wine with the meal.

“Wine is a bit like the hotel swimming pool. You have to have it. If you don’t have a pool people will go elsewhere but you don’t make any money from it.”

Accor acquired the Pullman Hotels international chain in 1991 and transformed 27 Pullman hotels into Sofitels, while another 25 Pullman hotels became Mercure hotels.

In 2008 the Pullman network will have 45 hotels operating in 23 countries in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America. By 2015, Accor will have 250 Pullman hotels around the world.

The Pullman Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa will be the first Pullman in China. It is scheduled to open in January 2008 with115 villas with individual private swimming pools and a main building of 77 guestrooms, meeting rooms, ballrooms, a spa, recreation and fitness facilities.

Footnote: The term Pullman was used to refer to railroad sleeping cars that were run by the Pullman Company (founded by George Pullman) in the United States.

Specifically, in Great Britain, Pullman refers to the lounge cars operated by the British Pullman Car Company, of which the most famous example was the Brighton Belle between London and Brighton.