Situated in Chiang Mai’s charming historic district, the contemporary escape fuses traditional culture with every modern amenity.
BEGINNING THIS WINTER, luxury travellers to Northern Thailand can plan their trip around a fresh destination for discovering Chiang Mai’s unique heritage and Lanna culture. After completing an extensive renovation of the city’s iconic 30-year-old Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping opens its doors to bring the town’s artistic heritage to life by immersing guests in the vibrant culture of the ancient Lanna kingdom and refined comforts synonymous with InterContinental.
The new hotel is the first to open as a strategic partnership between IHG Hotels & Resorts and Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real-estate group, Asset World Corporation (AWC).
The country’s top design firm, PIA Interior, oversaw the hotel’s transformation, drawing on Chiang Mai’s distinctive heritage in engaging and memorable ways. Among the most striking updates are the decision to centre the guest experience on a serene lawn with a 600-year-old stupa while the arrival gate and lobby form the architectural core, greeting guests with textured rammed-earth walls evoking Lanna’s clay fortifications. Vintage furnishings and artefacts displayed throughout the hotel envelop travellers in the ambience of an antique drawing room, recalling the region’s past teak trade.
Chiang Mai’s Cultural Heart
Situated in Chiang Mai’s charming historic district, the contemporary escape fuses traditional culture with every modern amenity, resulting in a journey of cultural discovery and unmatched luxury.
Nestled in the heart of the city — with incredible views of the surrounding natural vistas — InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping is an alluring sanctuary that places guests steps from iconic landmarks, including Chiang Mai’s lively walking streets, its vibrant night bazaar, and the historic 13th-century Tha-Pae Gate.
Awe-inspiring Accommodations
The hotel will open with 240 guest rooms and suites featuring a collection of heritage artefacts and hand-crafted décor pieces commissioned from Chiang Mai’s talented creatives, who also worked on lacquered surfaces, intricate wood carvings and metal detailing on furnishings. Guests can choose from rooms facing the legendary Doi Suthep mountain or the charming streets of the old town, accented with historic architecture. Spa-like bathrooms provide space for rejuvenation with plunge bathtubs and separate showers.
InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping fully immerses guests in indigenous Lanna culture through bespoke activities like traditional toy and umbrella making, pottery workshops, and explorations of the thriving local arts scene. The Planet Trekkers programme keeps young explorers engaged with a variety of region-specific children’s activities throughout their stay.
Unique Dining
InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping’s five dining and bar venues showcase northern Thailand’s unique flavours, as well as modern Chinese cuisine.
Local artisanal influences shape the restaurant designs, like The Gad Lanna’s Warorot market-inspired interior. Upstairs, the signature Hong’s Chinese Restaurant & Sky Bar nods to the trade history between China and Chiang Mai with a lively modern teahouse and rooftop bar offering mixology and city views. Kam Lobby Lounge references the Yi Peng lantern festival in its traditional décor, serving afternoon tea by day and inventive cocktails by night.
Elegant Events
InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping’s collection of elegant event venues promises iconic celebrations, from the grand ballroom to a secluded central lawn with a 600-year-old stupa for unique old-town festivities. The manicured lawn offers a cultural hub for local art and music when not being used for events.
Filled with natural light, the elegant and functional meeting and event spaces evoke downtown Chiang Mai through the use of carved teak and references to historic figures and moments in the décor’s mix of furniture, photography and art. The majestic ballroom provides an exquisite setting for exclusive galas and weddings amid refined interiors and natural light.
For more information about InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping, please visit chiangmai.intercontinental.com
Article Sponsored by InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping.
Images courtesy of InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping.