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Noting the continuing trend among travelers to choose boutique-style accommodation,Agoda developed the list to highlight what the company considers to be the bestboutique options available in the region.
As CEO Michael Kenny commented, Many hotels these days are marketing themselves asboutique when actually they do not fit the definition of boutique as we classify it.We define a boutique hotel as a smaller, personalized alternative to larger hotelgroups and brands. Boutique hotels are characterized by tailor-made service as wellas unique designs and features that appeal to a niche market.
Kenny elaborated that while big brand hotel names are still the most popular choiceamong Agoda customers, there was a strong increase in boutique hotel bookings.
We are very aware of the trend that has emerged with boutique accommodation overthe last five years. Our own analyses have shown that this trend is particularlyevident among young professional travelers, whilst more mature business and leisuretravelers tend to stick to hotel brands they are familiar with. In an agedemographic of 25 to 35 years around half of those customers will prefer to book aboutique hotel.
While dependable star-ranked standards and facilities remain key selling points ofinternational hotel chains, boutique hotels push personalized treatment andaesthetics. The downside to not abiding the star-ranking system, however, is thathotels that label themselves boutique could be lacking in amenities or services inwhich guests expect in their accommodation. This is why Agoda decided to create atop 10 list.
Besides having to fall within Agoda s definition of boutique, the selection criteriafor the top 10 list included each hotel s popularity in terms of customer bookingsand reviews.
It is important to note that hundreds of boutique hotels have literally been builtin the SEA region within the last 10 years. While many of these are legitimate,there are also hotels which are labeling themselves as boutique in a somewhatdeceitful way. Being boutique should equate to providing high quality service andluxury as defined by unique qualities and personalized attention. By creating a listof the crème de la crème boutique hotels in the region we at Agoda are helpingcustomers to narrow down their choices and also look at their own criteria forselecting this type of accommodation, Kenny said.
Agoda s Top 10 Boutique Hotels in SEA are:
1. Kemang Icon Jakarta, IndonesiaIf Conde Nast s Traveler included this hotel it in their Hot List 2007, you expectit to be hot, and Kemang Icon lives up to its reputation. This boutique hotelartfully combines contemporary modern designs with art deco in cool tones andtextures. Eight Courtyard and four Edge Suites are all individually designed withpersonalized bathroom scents, accessories and amenities. All guest preferences arenoted prior to check-in so that the fruit basket, coffee and tea, i-Pod selections,toiletry brands and even lighting settings are adjusted to your taste before youeven enter the room. The Edge tailors every meal to suit a guest s taste andhealth requirements. Fancy playing chef for the day? Shop online from their grocerylist and the fresh goods and produce will be delivered right to your door. TheKemang Icon truly is a delightful marriage of chic and warmth, giving birth to anunrivaled multi-sensory journey, where almost every single facet of quality livingis personalized.
2. The Scarlet Hotel, Singapore, SingaporeDramatic, passionate and decadent are qualities at the heart of the Scarlet Hotel.Housed in a 1924 Art Deco building and a row of 1868 early shop houses on thehistoric Erskine Road are five themed suites with names like Splendour and Lavish,26 Executive and 24 Premium rooms and 15 Deluxe and 24 Standard rooms. The hotel hasgone to great lengths, decorating each room with specific personalities in mind.In-room features include one-for-one evening cocktails, personal bars with gourmetselections and a pillow menu. With a restaurant named Desire that serves provocative contemporary cuisine and abar called Bold, a playful sinfulness seems to come naturally to this hotel.
3. Dream Hotel, Bangkok, ThailandFrom the bed to the bar, the Dream Hotel is pure glitz. The interior is covered witha generous selection of colors accompanied by ethereal lighting techniques,producing an outspoken extravagance. With 100 stylishly themed and pet-friendlyguestrooms, the highlight is the Dream Bed , which was carefully devised andcreated to truly provide guests with a good night s sleep. This über trendy hoteloffers personal shopper services and pre-loaded iPods and their Avatar Spa featuresa creative range of facials, massages, full body and Thalmer Thalasso SPAtreatments.
4. AKA Hotel Resort & Spa - Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikhan, Thailand Fifty-one spacious villas amply secluded from one another, spread across 10 acres oftropical landscape, with natural lakes and a hillside backdrop. Drawing from thephilosophy of the AKA, a hill tribe with origins in the Tibetan Highlands andYunnan, China, the resort flawlessly blends spirituality, tranquility and simplicitytogether, transposing these qualities into the architecture, the Zen spa and theirdining services. With private infinity-edged pools, garden terraces, privatecourtyards and sala roof gardens, this luxury retreat is the perfect escape fromcity life and a perfect way to pamper the soul.
5. Hotel de la Paix, Siem Reap, CambodiaDesigned by the renowned Bill Bensley, a combination of art deco and traditionalKhmer styles distinguishes the Hotel de la Paix, which is built around a palatialinner courtyard with stone gardens and water features. This landmark in the heart ofSiem Reap offers guestrooms and suites, categorized under five unique preferencesand designs and accompanied by personalized assistance. French Chef and authorJoannes Riviere brings exceptional dining experiences to the table withinternational and seasonal Khmer dishes, while Mediterranean, Italian, organic Khmercoffee and drinks and gourmet picnic baskets for temple visits are lovingly preparedat Café de la Paix.
6. S15 Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok, ThailandSmack dab in the heart of Bangkok s business and shopping districts, the new S15Sukhumvit Hotel is 72 stylish rooms decked with Italian light fixtures, marblebathrooms and sleek, contemporary furniture. The essence of this boutique hotel sdesign is an understated elegance that distinctly contrasts with the city srelentless bustle, allowing guests to gather and re-energize themselves after a dayspent exploring the City of Angels. All public areas and guestrooms have Wi-Fihigh-speed Internet access and the business center offer laptops and mobile phones.Another great way to unwind is to take advantage of the hotel s in-room spaservices.
7. 3 Nagas Luang Prabang, LaosTo enter the Boutique Hotel 3 Nagas is to enter three historical buildings protectedby the UNESCO World Heritage Organization. Restored to its original Laotian style,the hotel is of exotic, wooden floors, traditional torchis walls and clay tileroofing. A total of 12 rooms and 3 suites with their own unique designs make up thisauthentic hotel in the heart of Luang Prabang.
8. The Nam Hai, Hoi An, VietnamHigh ceilings, luxurious en-suite bathtubs, spacious bathrooms, raised platforms,split-levels coupled with unobstructed views of the South China Sea make up the 60One-Bedroom Villas and 40 Pool Villas at The Nam Hai. Immediately, one will be takenby the sheer magnitude of space and seclusion at this exclusive, beachfront resortspa stretched across 35 hectares along Ha My beach. All villas are equipped withrain showers, iPods, 24-hour concierge and 24-hour in-room dining. Set around alagoon close to the beach is The Spa, featuring customized regimens to suit eachguest s needs and well-being.
9. JapaMala Resort Tioman Island, Malaysia (East coast of Malaysia) Eco-friendly, teak Sarang Villas, Sea Cliff and Tree Top chalets nestle in the lushjungles of Tioman Island with the sights and sounds of aqua blue waters and thewhite sand beach appealing to your senses. Guests can even make their own catch offthe jetty and the hotel will cook the fresh seafood accordingly. Another option isto head over to the Tamarind Terrace Restaurant featuring all-day, casual, alfrescodining and specializing in Thai and Indochinese cuisine. A protected marine park,dive sites and furtive jungle surround this secluded, luxury resort.
10. Trisara, Phuket, ThailandThe emphases at Trisara are privacy, simplicity, peace and space. Forty-two villasand suites have been given a clean, contemporary look with subtle traditional Thaitouches where private infinity edged pools meet sweeping views of the Andaman Sea.Apart from massages, body treatments and facials, the Trisara Spa specializes inyoga and meditation and offers the Trisara Punti Purification and Revitalisationprogram in partnership with expert herbalists. Other features at this exclusiveresort & spa include complimentary iPods in the library with a wide range of music,customized private dining and a private bay surrounded by a ring of coral reef.
So, let s get experiences on your personalize boutique accommodations start fromthis top list and enjoy your trip..Let's GO, Agoda.com
