BANGKOK – A downtown hotel announced its arrival on the business-class lodging scene this month with a major enhancement to its entertainment offerings. The Kinnaree Hotel and Spa, which describes itself as “an international-class hotel conveniently located in Bangkok’s Central Business District” has completed a ฿45 million renovation with its crowning achievement: the upgrading of its lounge bar band from Filipino to Canadian.
“We’re obviously very proud of our many major feature upgrades, but the new Canadian band really establishes us in the four-star class,” said hotel general manager Piyarot Chittraphan. “Along with more finely appointed rooms and our new horizon pool, our guests can now enjoy the international pop music stylings of genuine Caucasian-looking musicians.”
Starting February 14 as part of the Kinnaree’s Valentine’s Day soft-relaunch, the lobby lounge bar, which has been renamed Whispers, will feature performances by Take 6, a seven-member cover band that comes all the way from Ottawa, Ontario.
Billing itself as a “high-energy, rock-pop-fusion group playing yesterday and today’s favourites,” Take 6 specializes in Top 40 radio hits, light hip-hop, and Latin-flavored dance tunes. With its two lead singers, light-skinned African-Canadian Reynold Waterman and former professional touring dancer Belinda Lipinski, Take 6 will entertain the patrons of Whispers Wednesdays to Sundays from 9pm to midnight.
Tuesdays night will be Samba Night, with free dance lessons from 6 to 8pm and half-price rum cocktails for ladies.
“Take 6 has played on three continents, in places as exotic and premium as the Osaka Hyatt and the Zagreb International Jazz Festival,” said Piyarot. “We’re very proud and excited to have these North American musicians represent the new Kinnaree.”
In addition to the Canadian band, the hotel has also hired non-Asian bartenders from the Ukraine to complete the lounge’s new upgraded crystal-accented décor and to serve the new gourmet martini drinks on the menu.
According to Piyarot, the new upgrades, combined with the Kinnaree’s convenient location on Surawong Road, makes the hotel an attractive choice for both tourists and businessmen. However, he believed that Whispers would also become a first-choice nightlife destination for expatriates and sophisticated Thais who were seeking an upscale night on the town.
“With Take 6, Whispers is now on par with BarSu at the Sheraton and Spasso in the Hyatt,” he noted. “Having a Canadian cover band in a hotel lounge sends a clear message that no one can mistake.”
The bar’s former house band, Manila-based Easy Train, can be seen playing nightly at the Chang Beer Garden at the Ratchada Office Tower Annex courtyard, near the Lad Phrao intersection, every night until the end of February.
