Conrad Bangkok

After the pandemic, travel trends have changed and travellers now tend to stay in hotels that have implemented eco-friendly and sustainable practices. The Conrad Bangkok operated by Hilton Worldwide is one such hotel that can attract environmentally conscious tourists because it is committed to sustainable practices including reducing waste and connecting to local communities.

Located on Wireless Road, guests at the Conrad Bangkok have convenient access to public transportation, parks, shopping venues and other entertainment venues. Upon entering their room, guests are welcomed with a handmade elephant silk doll that they can take home. The cute elephant doll, which represents the national animal of Thailand, is a project the Conrad Hotel has collaborated on with local communities in Chiang Mai since 2004. This handmade souvenir makes guests happy as well as provides local people employment opportunities.

The Conrad Bangkok sends leftover scraps of soap to the Hilton's Soap for Hope Programme, which turns the used soap into new bars, so zero waste ends up in landfills. Bulk bathroom amenities replace single-use bath amenities to reduce plastic waste.

Guests may enjoy their breakfast buffet at Café@2 or The Executive Lounge in the hotel. The surplus of untouched food from the daily breakfast buffet is donated to Scholars of Sustenance, the first food rescue foundation in Thailand, to reduce food waste. Donations go to agencies that service the local community, low-income individuals and refugees.

Playground. (Photo: Ralf Tooten)

Design and Facilities

The Conrad Bangkok features luxurious art deco spaces furnished with modern Thai accents. With 32 floors and 391 guest rooms, visitors can choose from eight types of room including Deluxe Room (41m²), Terrace Suite (102m²) and Presidential Suite (238m²).

Guests can enjoy spending time in the fitness room, yoga room, tennis court and swimming pool, all located on the 7th floor. With many large glass windows and high ceilings, the spacious fitness room is a pleasant and airy so visitors can enjoy exercising with adequate personal space.

Surrounded by a lush green landscape and high-rise buildings as a backdrop, the rooftop swimming pool is an excellent place to hang out with friends and family among a beautiful city view. Under a wooden circular roof next to the swimming pool, a playground features various climbing equipment for children, a pink see-saw and an orange tube slide, which is great fun for the kids.

Not far from the pool, there is a rooftop garden of various herbs and vegetables such as coriander, butterfly pea, spinach and Thai basil. This urban garden is 100% organic. The herbs and vegetables are also used as ingredients for dishes in the hotel's restaurants.

Spending time in the Season Spa with its serene atmosphere and skilful therapists may help guests feel relaxed. There are 11 treatment rooms and hydrotherapy facilities including a sunken Japanese tub, a whirlpool spa and a steam room.

Deluxe King Room. (Photo: Ralf Tooten)

My Room

I stayed two nights in the 41sqm Executive Room decked out in a contemporary art deco style with a blend of some modern Thai elements. The room is bright with a floor to ceiling window to enjoy the captivating city view, especially the beautiful night scenes. Complementaries for the Executive Room include breakfast at the Executive Lounge, daily afternoon tea, evening cocktails and canapés.

The room features a king-size bed with many large pillows. The mattress and pillows were a bit too soft for me, but since the bed was large, I managed to find a spot that felt right. Guests can enjoy watching entertainment shows by connecting an application on their smart phone to a smart TV on a wall. Among several chairs in the room, the office chair at a working desk was very comfortable. The bathroom area took up almost half of room space and was separated from the bedroom by a glass wall with a curtain. In the bathroom, there is a shower area, a bathtub and a smart toilet. Next to the big mirror, there is another makeup magnifying mirror.

Liu, a Cantonese restaurant. (Photo: Ralf Tooten)

Dining

Situated on the 3rd floor, Liu, a Cantonese restaurant, and KiSara, a Japanese restaurant, are decorated in a chic and stylish design with furniture of more traditional design. At Liu, there are rounded wooden tables and oriental wooden chairs with red pillows and napkins to add a Chinese vibe. KiSara appears in minimalist interior design with Japanese aesthetics.

Dishes at Liu and KiSara are served with impressive presentation and offer authentic flavour using fresh and high-quality ingredients. At Liu, guests should not miss ordering fresh-made dim sum and delectable double-boiled fish maw soup with sea conch, dried scallops and black garlic. For KiSara, succulent sashimi, tempura and grilled dishes are recommended.

Seasons Spa. (Photo: Adam Bruzzone)

The Executive Lounge for breakfast. (Photo: Ralf Tooten)

Leisure Experience

I experienced a one-hour facial treatment at Season Spa. The massage room is huge; it is divided into a changing room with a toilet and an area with two massage beds. When the therapist saw red rashes on my face, she decided to use organic and herb products that suited my skin. Even though it was a facial treatment, my feet were washed and my head and neck were massaged. This facial treatment is recommended since it helps to reduce stress, muscle tension and tighten skin.

I also participated in the Soap for Hope workshop to learn how to make new hygienic soap from used soap. Since the hotel works with many local communities, I joined a cycling trip to Bang Krachao, aka, the green lung of Bangkok, which is one of the hotel's collaborations with communities for creating handmade items for guests such as herbal inhalers, water balm and bamboo hand fans. If guests are interested in the Soap for Hope workshop and/or visiting Bang Krachao, they can contact the hotel concierge team for further information and arrangements.

Fitness room. (Photo: Ralf Tooten)

Verdict

The Conrad Bangkok offers what travellers expect from a 5-star hotel including a stylish and elegant room, fine dining, high-quality amenities and excellent service. The only downside is their dishes at Liu and the Executive Lounge took a long time to serve. However, with its sustainable practices, the Conrad Bangkok is an excellent option for the environmentally conscious tourist.

Conrad Bangkok is at 87/3 Wireless Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok. Call 02-690-9999, email bkkci.info@conradhotels.com or visit facebook.com/conradbangkokhotel.

The elephant dolls are a project that the Conrad Hotel has collaborated with local communities in Chiang Mai since 2004. Suwitcha Chaiyong

A community on Bang Krachao collaborates with the Conrad Bangkok to create handmade items for guests, such as herbal inhalers and water balm. (Photo: Suwitcha Chaiyong)