Banyan Tree Bangkok Joins Hotel Icon for Thai Activities!

Hotel ICON in Hong Kong, a unique teaching and research hotel wholly owned by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and an extension of the School of Hotel & Tourism Management (SHTM), is thrilled to announce a collaboration with Banyan Tree Bangkok, a renowned hotel group from Thailand. This collaboration seeks to promote influential culinary delights and cultural exchange through a series of exciting events and promotions. The collaboration has been successfully arranged with the full support of officials from Thailand, including Royal Thai Consulate-General Hong Kong, The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), under the Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government and Tourism Authority of Thailand (Hong Kong).

Unlike any other, Hotel ICON is an upscale Hong Kong hotel in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui East, only 5-minute walk from the MTR Hung Hom station. Standing as a testament to Hong Kong’s creative energy and vibrant arts scene, Hotel ICON showcases work from the city’s celebrated designers and the world’s most acclaimed architects. Hotel ICON has 262 stylish guest rooms, with sizes from 36 square meters to 80 square meters. Located on level 9, Hotel ICON’s Angsana Spa is a tranquil oasis while the harbour-facing outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre allow guests to exercise while enjoying views of Hong Kong Island’s spectacular skyline.

Thai Food Influence Festival @ The Market, Hotel ICON
12 March to 30 April 2024
The collaboration commenced with a Thai Food Influence Festival at the renowned buffet restaurant The Market, Hotel ICON, showcasing the extraordinary talents of Head of Thai Cuisine Chef Renu Homsombat from Banyan Tree Bangkok. Chef Renu flew to Hong Kong to collaborate with Hotel ICON’s Executive Chef Danny Ho and SHTM students undertaking internship at the hotel in curating an exceptional Thai-themed buffet at The Market. This culinary extravaganza features authentic Northern Thai delicacies and will be available from 12 March to 30 April 2024. Chef Renu will be at Hotel ICON from 12 March for a week, infusing her expertise and passion into the culinary creations of more than 20 authentic Thai dishes from appetizer, soup, hot dish to dessert.

Chef Renu learnt to cook at an early age from her mother, who owns a small restaurant in her hometown. Being exposed to the culinary world since childhood, she decided right from the outset that she was going to become a chef. With her passion and dedication, she developed her skills and repertoire over the years to become an acclaimed chef. She is the mastermind behind Saffron’s culinary creations around the world, with her presence in 10 restaurants in 7 different countries spanning from Asia to Africa and all the way to the far-flung Americas. Additionally, she has been invited as a guest chef to join several promotions internationally, such as Lotte, Sheraton Hotels, Shangri-La, to name a few.

Launch Event at The Market
12 March 2024

To mark the launch of this exciting collaboration, a grand event took place on 12 March 2024, with the presence of esteemed guests including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand, Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Hotel ICON’s General Manager Mr. Ian Lee, Banyan Tree Bangkok’s SAVP/General Manager Ms. Nopparat Aumpa, Consul-General Royal Thai Consulate-General of Hong Kong Mr. Chaturont Chaiyakam, Consul (Commerce), Office of Thai Trade Commissioner, Hong Kong Ms. Pannakarn Jiamsuchon and Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Mrs. Phornmon Chansri. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially kick off the Thai Food Influence Festival.

Seminar at PolyU on Thai Food and Culture
14 March 2024
As part of the collaboration, a seminar on Thai Food and Culture will be held on 14 March 2024. Conducted by Banyan Tree Bangkok, this seminar aims to promote cultural knowledge sharing and discussions, both physically at Hotel ICON Academy, a co-shared space with the SHTM, and through an online video sharing platform.

4-hand Symphony of Cantonese Flavours

• 21 to 22 March 2024 – Banyan Tree Bangkok
• 27 to 30 March 2024 – Banyan Tree Phuket

The contemporary Chinese restaurant located on level 59 of Banyan Tree Bangkok Bai Yun and the signature restaurant The Watercourt at Banyan Tree Phuket will present 4-Hand Symphony of Cantonese Flavours Menu, a unique culinary collaboration between Executive Chinese Chef Chi Ki Wong from Hotel ICON, Hong Kong, and Banyan Tree Bangkok’s Cantonese resident Chef Simon Kin Man Kwok. The two master chefs will join forces to craft an exquisite eight-course culinary journey that blends traditional Cantonese cuisines with local influences. Diners can expect eight-course palatable dishes such as a trilogy appetizer highlighting jelly fish, crispy pork, and bird nest; Hong Kong-style sautéed Phuket lobster; classic steamed grouper in lotus leaf with a modern twist; and abalone steak with egg noodles.

Special Offer at Angsana Spa, Hotel ICON Hong Kong
To celebrate the Thai Food Influence Festival, Angsana Spa at Hotel ICON is launching the Glamorous Family Spa Voyage Package, offering parents the opportunity to indulge in a 75-minute massage and body wrap alongside their little ones, starting from HK$2,288. Additionally, spa packages of 2.5 hours or more are available with an enticing 18% discount. Package is available from 1 March to 30 April 2024. All spa therapists at Angsana Spa are accredited by the prestigious Banyan Tree Thailand Spa Academy.

Very Hong Kong Room Offer, Hotel ICON Hong Kong
Hotel ICON’s Very Hong Kong Room Offer enables guests to save up to 15% when booking the hotel 14 days in advance. Whether guests are visiting Hong Kong for business travel, a family holiday, a romantic escape, or a personal retreat, they can immerse themselves in a remarkable hotel experience throughout their journey. Offer is available until 31 August 2024.

For details: https://www.hotel-icon.com/offers/very-hong-kong-package

“We are thrilled to embark on a groundbreaking collaboration with Banyan Tree Bangkok, presenting a rare and exceptional opportunity for our culinary teams to engage in a transformative educational exchange. By sending our chefs to their esteemed establishment and welcoming their chefs to Hotel ICON, we aim to foster a dynamic cultural exchange where both parties can learn, grow, and push the boundaries of culinary excellence. This collaboration epitomizes our unwavering commitment to continuous learning and development, propelling us towards new heights of culinary innovation and mastery.” Mr. Ian Lee, General Manager of Hotel ICON.

“Thailand takes great pride in its culinary prowess which stands as a vital pillar of the country’s most crucial soft power. With an exquisite blend of traditional herbs and aromatics, Thai food offers a diverse yet signature flavour profile, establishing itself as an iconic presence in the culinary world. Renowned Thai dishes such as Tom Yum Goong and Pad Thai have also become a cherished part of the daily life of many Hong Kongers.

The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Hong Kong welcomes the collaboration between Hotel ICON and Banyan Tree Bangkok, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to deliver the exceptional quality and tantalising taste of Thai cuisine.” Mr. Chaturont Chaiyakam, Consul-General of Royal Thai Consulate-General, Hong Kong.

“Thailand has long been recognized as “the kitchen of the world“.  Blessed by abundant natural resources and continuous development in R&D and food-technology, Thailand is now one of the largest food exporters in the world.  The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government, had been dedicating its efforts to promote Thai products and services via different strategic approaches, including Thai SELECT certificate to market Thai cuisines, Thai Hom Mali Rice logo to educate consumers, and varieties of in-store promotions, etc.

By collaborating with reliable partners like Hotel ICON with support from Banyan Tree Bangkok and PolyU, we are confident that “The Market – Thai Food Influence Festival 2024” will further create public awareness to showcase what Thailand can offers.  Meanwhile, I hope you all will enjoy authentic Thai taste, filled with tasty cooking ingredients along with the renowned healthy choice of aromatic rice from Thailand!”  Ms. Pannakarn Jiamsuchon, Consul (Commercial), Office of Thai Trade Commissioner, HK.