Opens: October 2015

The luxury boutique resort company AKARYN Hotel Group is poised to inject a new sense of hip, urban style into Thailand’s northern capital with the upcoming launch of akyra Manor Chiang Mai on October 1. For anyone sick of thatched bure style the new hotel will be a welcome change in Chang Mai injecting some urban - inspired cool into the area.

The location of the hotel as well as its all-suite, cutting-edges style is also worth noting. It is situated in the new hip neighbourhood of Nimman Haemin, a precinct buzzing with boutiques, energy and arty types sipping java in  coffee shops and something stronger in the cool bars and restaurants. 

The five star hotel is a 30-key all-suite luxury hotel, with 23 suites at 610 sq ft and seven larger suites (1050 sq ft) created around a courtyard-within-a-room concept. It has already been accepted as a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member.  Which is as it should be since the inspirational founder of AKARYN Hotel Group, Anchalika Kijkanakorn, became the first female Chairman of the Board for  leading hospitality group Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) in 2013.  So if she doesn’t know a SLH-worthy hotel, who does?

Kijkanahorn chose the location with care,” this is where the cool locals hang out and guests can tap into that buzz and energy, yet also be able to retreat to absolute privacy. ‘Hip, cool, high service and super private’ are the words that spring to mind. Think Notting Hill, before the movie Notting Hill", She says.

AKAYRN Hotel Group collaborated with  Singapore’s Interior designers, Manor Studio  to create the hip All-Suite Hotel in Chiang Mai.  Head designer Chaw Chih Wen is the former protégé of Cesar Pelli Architects in New York. His work has been selected for exhibitions such as La Triennale di Milano (2007)  and Tokyo Designers Week (2010). He is also the 2012 A'Design Award winner for Interior Space and Exhibition Design. 

The hotel’s exterior facade  definitely has the wow-factor. It is inspired by Chiang Mai's old city wall, which survives in varying states of crumbled brickwork throughout the old quarter of the city. 'The wall separates old and new, so the ancient city wall is the inspiration for the facade. It looks iconic, but we are not just pursuing 'wow' for its own sake,” Mr Chaw said. “We want the hotel to be perceived as something natural, a curved, organic part of the landscape, created over time with many layers. The colours are also very natural, a palette of browns and greys.” 

Inside the design details just keep on coming. There are lavish bathrooms, separate his and hers dressing areas, and a fantastic centrepiece in each suite  - a white marble circular bathtub in an open courtyard, with privacy preserved by a custom-made screens.

On the rooftop is a spectacular infinity pool  with glass sides and RISE, the rooftop pool bar. The perfect place to be to  watch  the sunsets over Doi Suthep. The hotel’s restaurant, Italics will serve Italian cuisine “with a twist” and  pizzas from a wood burning oven. 

Bangkok’s brightest will be flocking to the unveiling party held at Italics restaurant in Bangkok (A version of Italics will be the  talian signature restaurant at akyra Manor Chiang Mai).

The hotel also aims to be a centre of arts and exhibitions, arts aficionados  who check in in August check out the celebrity photographer Andy Gotts exhibition of  Hollywood stars at their most quirky. The exhibition will be the first in a series of regular shows by prominent artists and photographers to be shown at the new urban resort.

 “This is a new chapter in our development. says Anchalika Kijkanakorn, “we have worked for more than a decade in wonderful off-the-beaten-track beachfront destinations.. at akyra Manor Chiang Mai we will add a higher sense of art and style, courtesy of our partners at Manor Group. It's a perfect combination, in a perfect location”.

Also in the AKARN portfolio are: AKARYN Samui Resort and Spa,  akyra Chura Samui,  Aleenta Resort and Spa Phuket-Phang Nga  and  Aleenta Resort and Spa Hua Hin-Pranburi (which was the first resort  and built on the site of the Kijkanakorn family's original beach home in 2003) . 

 akyra Manor Chiang Mai is offering an introductory rate of THB4,900 ++ until 30 Nov