Standard International opens new Asia flagship hotel in Bangkok's 2nd-tallest skyscraper
Standard International is moving beyond its reputation as a brand perhaps best known for attracting the glitterati to its towering hotel in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.
The brand's newest hotel is a little more than 8,600 miles east. The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon officially opened this week in Thailand’s largest city. The hotel includes 155 guest rooms and suites within King Power Mahanakhon — a 1,030-foot skyscraper that is one of Thailand’s tallest.
The third time’s the charm when it comes to hotel development: This property was previously going to fall under Marriott International’s Edition brand, but then Accor claimed it would be home to the world’s first Orient Express hotel. The smaller Standard brand ended up being the one to cross the finish line on opening day.
A major milestone
The Bangkok opening is important for Standard International, as it is a major achievement in the company’s quest for international expansion. Plus, it’s proof that a smaller, hip brand can win out over much bigger players like Marriott and Accor.
“This iconic flagship hotel of The Standard represents an extraordinary phenomenon in the hospitality industry not only in Asia, but globally as well,” Srettha Thavisin, chairman of Standard International, said in a statement. “We are confident that The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon will have huge success in delivering the ultimate hotel experience — unlike any other in Thailand.”
The company also has a hotel in the Thai resort destination of Hua Hin.
Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon worked with the Standard design team on art installations in the hotel’s public spaces, which include a nod to Standard’s first — and now shuttered — hotel in Los Angeles. A video installation in the lobby, “Heaven’s Gate” from artist Marco Brambilla, references Hollywood dreams and excess; it builds on that first hotel’s rotation of art installations. Hayon is also working on the company’s upcoming hotel in Lisbon, Portugal.
Guest rooms range from 430 square feet to a sprawling, 1,550-square-foot penthouse. Standard bills the guest rooms as “beautifully understated” and “balanced by bold, glamorous touches such as the softly-lit bar area and retro-style furniture.” The penthouse includes a full kitchen, a bathroom with a soaking tub and indoor plants. The opening announcement describes it as “a stately home where good times reside.”
Amenities include a pool with city views and bar service. A 24-hour fitness facility includes workout equipment from Peloton and Clmbr, as well as group classes and personal training.
'See and be seen' at The Standard
The real draw at the Bangkok hotel, like others in the Standard network, is the food and beverage programming. It appears the Standard International team is looking to make lightning strike twice when it comes to being a hub for the "cool" crowd.
Thirteen years after its 2009 opening, The Standard, High Line in Manhattan is still the pinnacle of the “see and be seen” atmosphere. In the notoriously flash-in-pan restaurant industry, it’s impressive that a rooftop bar like Le Bain manages to be just as difficult to get into today as it was back before Instagram officially launched.
Madonna and Cardi B have both performed atop the bar at the Boom Boom Room — another sky-high venue at the New York City hotel — following the Met Gala in recent years.
Can the Standard team achieve the same thing in Bangkok? They certainly seem to be trying.
The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon includes six bars, restaurants and nightlife venues. The Standard Grill, which has a location at the Manhattan hotel, will have a Bangkok outpost. Similar to the High Line hotel, this Standard's dining and drinking options dominate the hotel’s higher levels. Ojo, a Mexican-inspired restaurant by chef Francisco “Paco” Ruano, is on the 76th floor of the hotel. The Standard team maintains Ojo will be in the same league as the Boom Boom Room as well as Decimo, a rooftop restaurant at The Standard, London.
Sky Beach, a rooftop cocktail bar, is on the 78th floor of the Bangkok hotel while Mott 32 — a Chinese restaurant featuring Cantonese, Beijing and Szechuan fare — will feature an open-air terrace when it opens next month.
“We love rooftops at The Standard, and we love to bring the party to the rooftop,” Standard International CEO Amber Asher said with a laugh to TPG ahead of the hotel’s opening. “It's going to have all the things that The Standard can offer — incredible programming and different artist installations and lush greenery in the middle of Bangkok — so we’re very excited about it.”
Standard International might not be the biggest hotel company out there, but it certainly punches above its weight when it comes to brand awareness. It also has a massive international expansion underway beyond its home market of the U.S. Future hotels are slated for Lisbon, Dublin and Brussels in Europe as well as Melbourne, Australia, and Singapore.
Clientele in each of these cities should be excited for what is in store, as the Bangkok strategy shows this brand isn’t reserving its "cool"-factor resources in New York City.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.