ONYX Hospitality Group is introducing Saffron Collection, a portfolio of individual boutique hotels and resorts each narrating their own timeless tale, to complement the ongoing regional expansion of Amari, OZO and Shama.
Conceptualised as a portfolio of hotels that creatively interprets compelling stories of the personalities and history associated with each destination, Saffron Collection will initially be available in Hanoi, Penang, Bangkok and Aranyaprathet in Thailand, with plans for further expansion across the Asia-Pacific region.
ONYX Hospitality Group’s Oriental Residence Bangkok will be reintroduced as a Saffron Collection property, with The Five Residences Hanoi scheduled to open in October 2020 as a new-build addition to this collection. This will be followed by the mid-2021 opening of The George in Penang, and the early 2022 opening of Indochina Hotel in Aranyaprathet, Thailand.
Each Saffron Collection property will serve as a timeless showcase of the continuous legacy of the landmarks, people or legends that made a lasting impact on the destination and neighbourhood. Travellers will be captivated by the distinctive soul and character of each hotel. They will be connected with the past and present with compelling tales presented through specially-commissioned postcards, journals, exploration maps, mixology concoctions and bedtime stories.
At the heart of every Saffron Collection lobby, a customised cocktail cabinet will take pride of place. Offering a select list of mixology concoctions from the locality complemented with one signature cocktail representing each Saffron Collection property, travellers can interact with tales from their journeys and find inspiration for their next storied destination. As the Saffron Collection portfolio expands in the years to come, travellers can expect a growing list of signature cocktails designed for each property.
“Saffron Collection is driven by our quest to create a distinctive portfolio of boutique hotels and resorts that appeal to guests who want to be immersed in the stories and legends of the places they visit,” said Douglas Martell, President and CEO, ONYX Hospitality Group. “Each Saffron Collection property aims to create memorable experiences through locally-relevant design and sensitive integration into the past and present of a destination. For owners and investors, Saffron Collection is also our way of preserving the compelling moments in a family, a corporation or a building and area’s history, and reinterpreting them towards memorable experiences for our present and future travellers.”
By the end of 2020, Saffron Collection will be present in two cities:
Oriental Residence Bangkok
Inspired by the tales and moments in history of the famed ‘Oriental Hotel’ along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Oriental Residence Bangkok is a modern-day city-centre interpretation of one of the world’s most revered hotels. Welcoming travellers since 2012, Oriental Residence Bangkok is flanked by the embassies of the United States and the Netherlands. The property features 145 suites, a collection of light-filled function rooms and the French-inspired Cafe Claire.
The Five Residences Hanoi
Conceptualised as a sanctuary for rest and revitalisation amidst the hustle and bustle of Vietnam’s capital city, The Five Residences Hanoi takes inspiration from the much-loved Five Elements Mountains (also known as Marble Mountains) of Central Vietnam. The property incorporates the five elements of nature – earth, fire, wood, metal and water – into its design and guest experience. Centrally located on Doi Can Street, the property offers 116 rooms and suites, neo-Asian dining at NAM and transformative treatments at MAAI Spa. Scheduled to open in October 2020.
Anticipated openings in 2021 and beyond include:
The George, Penang
Surrounded by the landmarks and cultural attractions in the heart of the island’s UNESCO world heritage listed old quarter, The George, Penang invites travellers to discover the history of the charming port settlement named after King George III. Located on Jalan Pinang on a storied site that was once a Chinese dispensary and then a sundry shop catering to the military, The George, Penang’s 93 rooms and suites, destination restaurant and rooftop pool will pay tribute to the area’s continuing legacy. This new-build hotel is scheduled to open in mid-2021.
Indochina Hotel, Aranyaprathet
A historic institution and the very first hotel in the Eastern Thai town of Aranyaprathet, IndoChina Hotel’s striking collection of two-storey European colonial buildings were established on estate acquired by the founding family’s matriarch, a philanthropist who donated much of her wealth to various charitable causes. The 120-room hotel will reopen in 2022 following an extensive restoration, and serve as a living showcase of the matriarch’s favourite textiles, jasmine flowers and Thai green curry recipes.
