Minor Hotels to bring NH Collection to Asia in 2023

Minor Hotels is set to introduce the NH Collection brand to Thailand in 2023 with a captivating resort in the heart of Chiang Mai. Located on the picturesque bank of the Mae Ping River, NH Collection Chiang Mai Ping River will become NH Collection’s first property in Asia.

Occupying two low-rise buildings right on the riverbank, the resort will be integrated into nature and the surrounding tranquil riverside landscape. In addition to 79 guestrooms and suites, some with private swimming pools, the new NH Collection will also feature a swimming pool and deck, a multipurpose space combining a restaurant, cafe, art space and bar, and a fitness centre.

To build a cohesive visual narrative, Narong Othavorn, Principal Architect at SO Architect’s, drew inspiration from the romance surrounding the golden era of travel when western adventurers journeyed to the farthest corners of the world. More specifically, they turned to local history by spotlighting Daniel McGilvary, an American missionary-statesman and scholar who lived and worked in Chiang Mai in the late 19th century. The resulting design concept marries Eastern mysticism and the Western spirit of exploration.

Honouring McGilvary’s legacy, the moody and eclectic McGilvary Bar features antique whiskey glasses on silver trays, banker’s lamps and a selection of antique curios. The bar’s design mixes classic and modern touches, including a hand-painted mural and locally crafted fixtures to reflect a timeless aesthetic the brand is known for. The adjacent café embraces modernity with luxe bubble-couches, minimalist details and clean lines. Connecting the two venues is the Ping Hill Gallery — a winding archway of fluted surfaces and undulating walls that will showcase contemporary Thai art on rotation. Outside by the river, 19th-century passion for adventure and fascination with expeditions are celebrated at a breezy campsite, with folding campaign chairs strewn on a grassy patch under tropical fronds.

A partnership between Osmo Ping River, a subsidiary of Osmo Properties Group and Minor Hotels, the development marks the debut of the NH Collection brand outside of Europe and Latin America, where the chain has 93 upper-upscale hotels housed in authentic and unique landmark buildings, carefully conceived with eclectic and elegant décor and full of historical and artistic references.

“The arrival of NH Collection in Thailand reinforces NH Hotel Group’s strategy of opening new hotels outside the traditional markets where we operate, such as Europe and America,” says Ramón Aragonés, CEO of NH Hotel Group. “We are proud to continue growing in new destinations such as the Asian continent and that our brands are so positively valued by our majority partner, Minor International, to achieve success in those markets.”

“NH Collection Chiang Mai, with its riverside location minutes away from the Old City, is a singular venue surrounded by history, culture and nature,” comments Dillip Rajakarier, Chief Executive Officer, Minor Hotels. “Every NH Collection experience is based on our promise to connect guests with the city’s soul, so getting the destination right was extremely important for our first NH Collection property in Asia. Together with our partner Osmo Ping River we look forward to giving the city of Chiang Mai a truly standout property that will speak of its standing as Thailand’s centre of creativity.”