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Several Bangkok Luxury Hotels Close This Week to Protect Guests and Employees

In case you aren’t aware, there is a major battle brewing in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan tourist hotel district where the InterContinental Bangkok, Grand Hyatt Bangkok, Four Seasons Bangkok, Holiday Inn Bangkok, and Courtyard Bangkok hotels are located. This is the sharpened bamboo poles and guns kind of street battle. Rocket propelled grenades were fired at a fuel depot near the airport today. See “Thai Government offers talks if protestors abide by law.â€

“Red Shirts†have been demonstrating for over five weeks in Bangkok and since April 3 the protests moved into the hotel area with encampments and barricades on the streets of one of Bangkok’s most prominent luxury hotel and business districts. This part of the city has become a “no-go†zone. The Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton stores are closed at the Gaysorn shopping mall. Thai military encounters led to some of the worst violence in the city in two decades earlier this month with 25 killed. Hotels and retailers in the area have lost millions of dollars in revenue and several hotels have closed for the time-being, citing guest safety as a major concern.

The InterContinental Bangkok and Holiday Inn Bangkok have both temporarily closed as of April 20 and are scheduled to reopen April 26. Four hotels in the demonstration area have over 1,500 rooms and employ 2,000 people. Renaissance Bangkok and the Four Seasons Bangkok are not currently taking reservations for hotel stays this week. Guests have been relocated to other hotels in the city, particularly the Sukhumvit area.

clothes on a clothes line
Slum Living in Bangkok City Center Tourist District (2004)

The Four Seasons and Renaissance hotel websites show no traveler notices regarding the protests and safety concerns for guests at these hotels.

InterContinental Bangkok website mentions the Red Shirt protests at the end of the hotel overview, but states the city Skytrain stations are open.

*** NOTE: The red shirt demonstrations in the City Centre at Rajdamri road are still ongoing and could affect street traffic around the hotel due to the volume of people. However, BTS Sky train and Ploenchit Road in front of the hotel are still operating. Report was announced that these rallies will go on with no violence. We suggest that you check with your Foreign Ministry for any updates and possible travel advisories. ***

Grand Hyatt Bangkok has the most detailed warning for potential guests located as the first paragraph of the Hotel Overview.

Bangkok, April 20, 2010 – Protests by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have been taking place in the vicinity of Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok since April 3, 2010. The government announced a State of Emergency in Bangkok on Wednesday, April 7. Visit News & Events to read more.

The link goes to this statement:                 

Media Statement on Latest Situation in Bangkok

Bangkok, April 20, 2010 – Protests by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have been taking place in the vicinity of Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok since April 3, 2010. The government announced a State of Emergency in Bangkok on Wednesday, April 7.
For the safety and security of our guests and employees, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok has at this stage decided to suspend all guest services and not to accept any reservations until April 24, 2010. Security measures remain at the highest level at the hotel. 

1 Comment

  • beste reisezeit May 18, 2010

    It is just horrible what happens in Thailand I was there two years ago and it was great. So I think this demonstrations have a really bad influence on the economie and especially the tourism.

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