Unfolding Legacies Marks a Century and a Half of Hospitality at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

(IN SHORT) Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has commenced its 150th anniversary celebrations with Unfolding Legacies, a multi-year programme running through March 2027 that highlights the hotel’s cultural heritage, hospitality traditions and ongoing evolution. The initiative opened with a gala under royal patronage and includes an immersive historical exhibition, a new commemorative publication and a series of collaborations spanning jewellery, fragrance and fashion. Combining reflection with contemporary creativity, the anniversary underscores the hotel’s enduring influence as a landmark on the Chao Phraya River and a global icon of luxury hospitality.

(PRESS RELEASE) HONG KONG, 2026-Feb-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has launched the first chapter of its 150th anniversary celebrations with Unfolding Legacies, a multi-year programme that honours the heritage, people and cultural influence that have shaped the hotel since its founding along the Chao Phraya River. Running from January 2026 through March 2027, the initiative reflects on the property’s past while setting the tone for its continued evolution.

The anniversary programme opened with a gala dinner on 14 February 2026 in the Royal Ballroom, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The evening brought together an international circle of chefs, in collaboration with the Club des Chefs des Chefs, to present a six-course culinary experience inspired by state banquets from five nations, culminating in a tribute to Thai gastronomy. The event also included performance art and orchestral music, underscoring the hotel’s longstanding connection to culture and the arts.

Net proceeds from the gala are being donated to the Ratchasuda Foundation to support education and empowerment initiatives for persons with disabilities, alongside a financial contribution from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. A charity auction featuring bespoke anniversary pieces and artistic collaborations further reinforced the programme’s philanthropic focus.

At the heart of the first chapter is Unveiling Our Origins, an immersive exhibition inviting guests to explore defining moments in the hotel’s history through archival materials, interactive storytelling and contemporary interpretation. The exhibition traces the evolution of the property from a riverside landmark established in 1876 to a cultural crossroads that has welcomed generations of travellers, writers and artists.

The launch is accompanied by a new edition of The Oriental Book, a chronicle combining rare imagery, personal recollections and historical narratives that capture the traditions of hospitality passed down through decades of service.

The anniversary programme also introduces a series of limited-edition collaborations reflecting shared values of craftsmanship and cultural memory. Jeweller Margot McKinney created a commemorative collection inspired by the hotel’s iconic lobby and lantern motifs. In partnership with Parfums Dusita, the bespoke fragrance Light of Bangkok evokes the city’s atmosphere through notes of lemongrass, jasmine, ylang-ylang and sandalwood. A capsule collection developed with Sporty & Rich blends contemporary wellness aesthetics with the hotel’s signature celadon green, marking the brand’s first collaboration of this kind in Asia.

Unfolding Legacies represents the beginning of a broader anniversary journey that will continue to introduce new chapters exploring culinary traditions, influential voices and evolving guest experiences. As Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok enters its 150th year, the programme positions the milestone not only as a reflection on history but also as an invitation to shape the future of one of Thailand’s most storied hospitality institutions.

About Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Built in 1876 and ideally located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Mandarin Oriental, has been delighting guests ever since. The 331-room hotel has been an inspiration to a host of world-renowned writers from Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham to Barbara Cartland, after whom many of the suites are named. The hotel presents 11 restaurants and bars, from traditional Thai cuisine to Michelin starred French fine dining at Le Normandie. Private shuttle boats provide access to The Oriental Thai Cooking School, Sala Rim Naam and Terrace Rim Naam, the hotel’s Thai restaurants, award-winning The Oriental Spa and Fitness & Wellness Centre located across the River; as well as the nearest sky train station (Saphan Taksin) and ICONSIAM, Thailand’s latest and largest shopping mall, and home to The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

SOURCE: Mandarin Oriental Hotels