Long known as a leisure hub, Pattaya has become a leading destination for business travellers lately, too. Located within earshot of such key hubs as the Map Ta Phut and Laem Chabang Industrial Estates, but blessed with a beachside setting and high-octane entertainment, Pattaya offers a perfect place for business leaders to rest their heels at the end of the day.
In the heart of it all is the Hilton Pattaya. The hotel not only offers five-star accommodation and easy access to Pattaya’s top attractions – it also comes equipped with a superb range of facilities that cater to the needs of today’s travellers in the meetings, incentives and events sector.
Across two floors, the Hilton Pattaya provides a number of amenities and facilities that cater to small, medium and large groups. This includes a business centre, the latest audio and visual technology, three meeting rooms and a 640-sq-m Seaboard Ballroom.
For business groups, the main attraction might be the three meeting rooms and a boardroom on the 15th floor. Each of these offers flexible space and can accommodate up to 90 people. Combined with state-of-the-art technology, the rooms are ideally equipped for small- to medium-sized meetings.
The ballroom, meanwhile, has become a popular place for wedding receptions, both amongst local group and international guests. It is easy to see why.
The ballroom features the same design cues and elements that distinguish the rest of the property. The recently refurbished carpet comes in a soft, sandy colour, while dangling chandeliers and a dark-tinted reflective ceiling provide a greater sense of space and fluidity, as well as the feeling of being one with the water.
The ballroom also has an outdoor balcony, a great place to catch some fresh sea breezes during breaks. Add to that a choice of wedding menus and support from the hotel’s wedding specialist, and couples can rest assured that all facets of their big day will go off without a hitch.
No matter the event, the Hilton Pattaya’s location is sure to be a hit. Pattaya Beach is directly across the road from the hotel – in fact, every room in the hotel takes in a sea view. Guests can escape to the sands in less than five minutes. Adventures further afield are just as convenient.
Five golf courses are found within 50 kilometres of the hotel, including Siam Country Club, the first privately owned golf course in Thailand, and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Laem Chabang International Country Club.
Guests can reach Koh Larn – occasionally known as Coral Island – by boat in less than 20 minutes. The Nongnooch Botanical Garden is likewise a short trip away, and cultural experiences, including the Sanctuary of Truth, a magnificent wooden temple built without nails, is just down the beach road.
Even closer are the attractions found within CentralFestival Pattaya Beach, Southeast Asia’s largest beachfront, lifestyle, shopping and entertainment centre. The hotel is linked to this complex, which houses more than 300 shops and restaurants, as well as a 16-lane bowling alley and a 10-theatre SFX cinema.
From 11am until 11pm, an elevator takes guests directly to CentralFestival, too, so groups travelling with families do not have to worry about transportation.
Adding another dimension to meetings groups and wedding parties are the Hilton Pattaya’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. Earlier this year, the Hilton Pattaya donated more than B250,000 to Habitat for Humanity, a figure that was raised with the support of its guests. This year, the hotel team hopes to raise even more funds for a good cause.
As part of its “Teddy for Charity” campaign, the Hilton Pattaya gives teddy bears to those who purchase the hotel’s afternoon tea set at Drift (priced at B1,200 net). On top of red velvet jam rolls, blueberry cheesecake, cranberry scones with clotted cream and smoked salmon and cream cheese wraps, guests receive a choice of coffee or tea and a cute teddy bear.
That is not all. Anyone can purchase a teddy bear dressed to the sevens in a colourful raincoat for B599, which are on display at every restaurant and frequently showcased on the smart TVs found in every guestroom.
Thanks to these efforts, the teddy bear has become something of a mascot for the hotel. More importantly, the Hilton Pattaya team has been able to help build homes to families in need in rural Baan Bo Kwang Thong in Chonburi Province. That means volunteering in the actual construction process, too: moving bricks, laying bricks and digging the pit for the house.
The “Teddy for Charity” campaign continues this year, helping groups give back to the local community while also walking away with something to commemorate their stay in Pattaya.
While tourism may be Pattaya’s calling card, the Hilton Pattaya is proving this city can justifiably be called a leading destination for business travellers and event groups, too.
For more information about the Hilton Pattaya’s meeting services and facilities, please visit www.pattaya.hilton.com. To learn more about the “Teddy for Charity” campaign, or to purchase a teddy bear, please visit www.facebook.com/PattayaHilton or call 038 253 000.
