Towering over the Ping River and bustling Night Bazaar in the heart of Chiang Mai in Thailand’s mountainous north, Meliá Chiang Mai is the first five-star hotel to open in Chiang Mai since the onset of the global pandemic. The 260-key urban hotel’s jewel in the crown is 360-degree rooftop bar Mai The Sky Bar – the highest in the city – on the 22nd floor. Featuring two bars connected by a glass bridge, Mai The Sky Bar offers spectacular views of the River Ping to the city’s east and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west.

The Melia Chiang Mai is housed in a 22-storey tower and a podium building. The facilities include two restaurants, the YHI Spa, a fitness centre, a swimming pool, and, the pièce de résistance, two rooftop bars connected by a glass bridge.

As Thailand reopens, the hotel will serve a mix of leisure and business travelers, especially since it will offer executive-level accommodations with access to a private lounge.

There’s a lot to look forward to here, from the penthouse views in the 113-square-meter The Level Presidential Suite to the two interconnected rooftop bars connected with a glass bridge with a panoramic view of the legendary Doi Suthep Temple.

Despite the worrying situation (due to the global pandemic), the city’s tourism industry is banking on an eventual recovery, as evidenced by the planned opening of new five-star hotels in Chiang Mai by international chains Melia and InterContinental … Edward E. Snoeks, general manager at the Melia Chiang Mai, is hopeful that the Charming Chiang Mai plan will go ahead. “A scheme similar to the Phuket sandbox is a helpful and productive idea as it offers new opportunities for Chiang Mai’s tourism sector,” he says.

Drawing on Meliá’s Spanish origins, the hotel will pay homage to Spain’s famed gastronomy and quickly place itself on the city’s culinary map with two exquisite dining options. The hotel’s signature restaurant will specialise in contemporary Northern Thai dishes with Mediterranean influences, with chefs preparing each dish à la minute from an open kitchen. The all-day-dining restaurant Mosaic will offer authentic Mediterranean cuisine in a vibrant marketplace setting.

Hundreds of hospitality workers in Chiang Mai and across Thailand are vying to secure jobs at Meliá Chiang Mai as the hotel prepares to start welcoming guests … Owned by Thailand’s real estate group Asset World Corporation and launched by Meliá Hotels International, the 260-key hotel will open with about 150 employees, and will employ a total of 240 people.

Meeting facilities will include a 358 sqm ballroom (which is connected to an outdoor swimming pool and poolside bar), three function rooms on the tower’s second floor above the lobby, and a 175 sqm function room with an outdoor terrace on the podium building’s top floor.

Spotlighting ivory-centric interiors with golden nuances that personify the highlands’ enchanting history and culture, this soon-to-open hotel screams luxury. An urban property offering majestic views of the Ping River, centrally-located Meliá Chiang Mai houses 260 rooms, – of which 38 rooms and suites are deluxe accommodations encompassing exclusive access to certain amenities. The landmark of the hotel is the 360-degree rooftop bar located on the 22nd floor, making it the highest spot in the city. Other facilities include a fitness centre, a rejuvenating YHI Spa, a kid’s club, and five dining options.

Melia Chiang Mai is also situated in the heart of the city and is close to many tourist attractions, and is only 6km from the airport

Meliá’s signature treatment institution YHI Spa will also make an appearance in the property alongside two restaurants focusing on Mediterranean and Northern Thai cuisine, two lounges, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a ballroom, and four conference rooms.

Although it’s sure to appeal to most travelers with a little money to burn, the hotel seems primed to cater to business travelers and groups above all.

The captivating, contemporary design pays tribute to the province’s charming history and culture while the futuristic 360-degree rooftop bar on the 22nd floor comprised of two bars connected by a glass bridge – offers visitors spectacular views of the river and mountains.

Situated at the banks of the magnificent River Ping, this palatial, tropical getaway haven is a sight to behold. An amalgam of Chiang Mai’s cultural roots and contemporary designs, Melia Chiang Mai’s interior oozes artistic elegance.