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Tag: Siam Paragon

  • Thailand’s Jim Thompson plans global expansion

    Thailand’s Jim Thompson plans global expansion

    A Jim Thompson flagship store will open in Bangkok’s Siam Paragon tomorrow as a preliminary step in a five-year global expansion plan.

    Similar flagship stores have been announced for Hong Kong and Singapore, and other major international retail destinations.

    The luxury brand’s first flagship, it is next to Bombyx, one of Jim Thompson’s five restaurants, and integrates touchscreens to give customers access to the catalogue as well as animated representations of its designs.

    These adaptations reflect the brand’s commitment to going digital (just two years ago it did not have a website or sell products online). It plans to launch it first online store soon in Thailand, to be followed by online stores abroad following the establishment of physical retail locations.

    Jim Thompson’s expansion plans have been presented to the board of the owner, The Thai Silk Co, by its first chief executive Gerald Mazzalovo, who has been seeking new locations and partners taking charge two years ago. He was formerly chief executive of fashion labels Bally, Clergerie and Loewe, and group president of Salvatore Ferragamo.

    The Thai Silk Co already exhibits its Jim Thompson, No.9, Fox Linton and Studio B home-furnishing products in five countries but for now offers its clothing and personal goods only in Bangkok, Malaysia and Singapore.

    Mazzalovo says Bangkok is an obvious choice for the first flagship store, given that the brand’s history and identity are so closely connected to the Thai capital. Within the next five years the company will set up similar flagship locations in London, Paris, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai – in that order, says Mazzalovo.

    His idea is that expansion to Europe first will help it build its reputation as a global brand before
    moving into the Chinese market.

    He says China is one of the most profitable opportunities for the brand, but the market there is much more likely to welcome the brand when it has established a name in Europe, rather than only in Southeast Asia.

    Global ambition

    Mazzalovo believes the company has all the makings of an international fashion house.
    “We have the ambition of going global because we have a lot of the prerequisites needed, including more than 70 years of heritage, know-how and historical anecdotes,” he says.

    The company’s values of authenticity and mystery are still anchored in its founder Jim Thompson, a Princeton and University of Pennsylvania graduate who arrived in Thailand in 1946 after working in Southeast Asia for a US wartime intelligence agency. He disappeared mysteriously in Malaysia in 1967.

    Meanwhile, the company opened a fabric showroom this year in Bangkok and will open a high-end contemporary restaurant in the next few months.

    Mazzalovo says the firm is highly profitable despite competing against brands like Chanel, Ferragamo, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada. He considers the company to be closest to Hermes in terms of product and brand management.

    In this first year with the company he recruited 15 designers and assistants from Korea, Italy, France, Finland and Thailand. The company employs 3000 people and has nearly 40 boutiques around Thailand.

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  • Reinvented Siam Discovery wins two awards

    Reinvented Siam Discovery wins two awards

    Siam Discovery – The Exploratorium, Thailand’s first hybrid-retail destination and lifestyle specialty store which opened in May, has won two awards.

    A reincarnation of the old Siam Discovery, the store was named Best Retail Development and Best Commercial Development in the latest Thailand Property Awards.

    Best Commercial Development award from Thailand Property Awards 2016

    Best Retail Development award from Thailand Property Awards 2016

    Siam Discovery is owned by Siam Piwat, which also owns and runs Siam Center, Siam Paragon and Paradise Park shopping centres, and jointly owns megaproject IconSiam.

    “Siam Discovery has broken every rule of Thailand’s retail industry to offer exciting experiences and creativity,” says Siam Piwat CEO Chadatip Chutrakul.

    Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Piwat and Oki Sato, Chief Consultant for the overall design inspiration for the new Siam Discovery

    “The awards reflect the success of the distinctive design and the ideas behind it by a team of design experts such as Nendo’s Oki Sato and Urban Architect, who came together and imbued the architecture of the refurbished Siam Discovery with elegance and uniqueness.”

    She says the new concept permeates “every single design detail” across more than 40,000 sqm, including open space.

    Dan Tantisunthorn, Charnchai Cherdchuwongthanakorn, Paiboon Jaikla_ Siam Piwat's Senior Executives collected award from Suwat Liptapanlop_ representative of the judges

    “Even the product displays and stores of more than 5000 brands are decorated to match the personalities of each specific Lifestyle Lab on each floor. This gives our customers the freedom to browse for products that suit their stories and interests, and make shopping both convenient and a fun exploration.”

    In their 11th edition, the Thailand Property Awards aim to boost the stability and efficiency of the country’s real-estate market and encourage entrepreneurs.

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  • DTAC service center flagship store ‘dInfinite’ at Siam Paragon

    DTAC service center flagship store ‘dInfinite’ at Siam Paragon

    The new dtac service center flagship store, dInfinite, was launched at Siam Paragon Department Store with the concept ‘the endless digital experiences’. The store has been re-designed to enhance the customer experience through the use of digital services.

    The service center was designed by Whitespace Ltd., a professional retail design company. The key service area has been arranged to serve two main functions: counter service and consultation. The layout reflects of how retail stores have changed overtime; the transaction counter is no longer a key area as e-service, Speedy Queue, allows customers to easily queue online and to check out anywhere in the store.

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    Rather than waiting in line to pay ones bill, customers are urged to spend their time discovering, testing, and experiencing dtac’s newest devices. Cutting-edge smart phone models are available for customers to interact with at the Smart Table. The latest trends of gadgets and accessories are also available for customers to tryout in the Experience Corner.

    Moreover, the dInfinite flagship store delivers convenience and entertainment through the use of digital devices including a touchscreen e-brochure wall with the most up-to-date dtac promotions and at the Knowledge Table big screen tablets are used to live-stream entertainment via dtac Music Infinite and Primetime apps.

    When customers walk into dInfinite, they will feel at home and welcomed by the casual and warm ambience of the store. The cozy mood and tone is enhanced by custom-made wood furnishings, comfortable seating, wood floors and a black and gray color palette. Circular lights on the ceiling and the use of the dtac logo symbol on the walls throughout the store adds a sense of energy and excitement as well as reinforces the brand.

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  • Forevermark Asia launches in Korea, Thailand

    Forevermark Asia launches in Korea, Thailand

    De Beers Group of Companies has launched its diamond brand Forevermark in Asia – with new partners in South Korea and Thailand.

    It is now available in more than 1700 outlets in 38 consumer markets.

    In South Korea, Forevermark Asia launched with licensee partner Golden Dew, which has started selling the brand in 11 of its stores. Golden Dew was founded in 1989 as Korea’s first jewellery brand, says De Beers, and has a presence in more than 70 department stores.
    In Thailand, the brand launched at the opening of an exhibition at Siam Paragon, one of Bangkok’s largest department stores. With its new licensee partner, diamond retail chain Jubilee Diamond, Forevermark will be available in stores across the country, says De Beers.
    Forevermark CEO Stephen Lussier says the brand has had remarkable growth since being established eight years ago.

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  • The Mall Group plans further expansion

    The Mall Group plans further expansion

    Despite a tougher retail market, The Mall Group in Thailand plans to expand this year, allocating 5 billion baht (US$139.8 million) for new projects and upgrades.

    CEO Phaibul Kanokvatanawan says this includes 800 million baht pegged for a new building behindThe Mall Bang Khae.

    Parking will also be increased to 3800 spaces from 3000, and the remaining 4.2 billion baht will pay for an extension of two malls in Nakhon Ratchasima, scheduled to open soon. After relaunching its Korat project in September, total space at the complex will be 200,000 sqm.

    Two billion baht will be spent on developing Blue Port, the group’s latest retail project in Hua Hin. About 80 per cent complete, this project is scheduled to open in October, earlier than planned.

    Part of the budget will be allocated renovating The Mall Bang Kapi to respond to the rapidly changing customer profile of the area.

    While competitors have expanded their retail complexes on Rama IX and Ekamai-Ram Intra, including Crystal Park Phase II, Central East Ville and Show DC, Phaibul is optimistic, saying his company will thrive by both catering to core customers across a complete range of products and fostering brand loyalty.

    However, the spending power of Thai consumers has not improved despite heavy consumption at the end of last year sparked by a government tax break, he says. Also, overseas tourist levels are back to normal at Siam Paragon, The Emporium and EmQuartier since the Lunar New Year holiday.

    “We want the government to speed up the airport extension to attract more tourists to Thailand.”

    Phaibul says the company expects sales growth of 5 per cent to 52 billion baht this year.

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  • Siam Paragon innovative strategy to bait customer

    Siam Paragon innovative strategy to bait customer

    Discounts of up to 80 per cent and a chance to win prizes – including gold bullion – are key elements in a Chinese New Year campaign at Siam Paragon and Siam Center in Bangkok.

    Running from February 3 to March 13, the Siam Prosperous Chinese New Year 2016 campaign is offering 7.5 million baht ($200,000) in prizes for lucky shoppers. The aim of the event is to attract both locals and international tourists to the two malls, which feature fashion and lifestyle brands.

    A feature of the campaign is a free daily performance of The Magic of Seven Animals of the Gods by Hong Kong performance troupe Lok Chee Fu, at the Parc Paragon events space, where the celebrations will be officially launched on February 4.

    Marketing executive Chanisa Kwewruen of Siam Piwat, which runs the two centres, says the annual festival attracts more tourists each year, especially from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

    Chanisa Kaewruen, Deputy Managin ... am Piwat (center) and model

     

    “Tourists of Chinese descent comprise nearly 50 per cent of the foreign tourists who visit the two shopping centres.

    “Also, this Chinese New Year marks the first time the ASEAN Economic Community is officially involved.”

    Shoppers will receive a lucky-draw coupon for every 2000 baht they spend. The main prizes at stake include gold bullion worth 1 million baht (one winner), a model of the Royal Barge Suphannahongmade of 99.9 per cent yellow gold by Prima Art (two winners) and eight propitious trees made of 99.9 per cent yellow gold by Prima Art (20 winners). The 24 top spenders of the week will each win a 100,000-baht treatment from The Scarlett Clinic.

    Privileges are also offered for holders of participating credit cards.

    Meanwhile, the Siam Chinese New Year Sale from February 3 to 14 offers discounts of up to 80 per cent on leading brands. Special Siam Ang Pao (also known as Siam red envelopes) are also given away to shoppers from February 6 to 8, enabling them to win gift vouchers and discount cards.

    Ten Siam Paragon customers who spend 300,000 baht on February 8 will each receive a TWG hamper worth 10,000 baht.

  • Freak accident injures Siam Paragon patrons

    Freak accident injures Siam Paragon patrons

    Sixteen people, mainly children, were injured when a tent at an outdoor event crashed down on them at a Bangkok shopping mall on Saturday.

    Strong winds are blamed for the tent collapsing at Siam Paragon shopping mall, according to acting police chief Lt. Gen. Sanit Mahathaworn.

    He says the tent flew up about a metre in the air and wooden signs attached to the back of the tent flew off and injured nearby people. Among the injured were at least 12 children between about six and nine years old. They were among dozens of people at a “Pokemon Day” dance party as part of Thailand’s Children’s Day celebrations.

    One mother was trying to protect her child, but both received broken legs. They were taken to a nearby hospital along with the other victims. Only two persons were kept in hospital.

    In a statement, Siam Paragon said it “regretfully apologised” for the accident on behalf of the event organisers, which included other Thai companies.

    Mahathaworn said police would press criminal negligence charges against the owners of the company that installed the tent. They could face up to three years’ prison and a fine of 6000 baht ($165).

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  • Siam Paragon in Bangkok Ranked 6th Place as the World’s Most Talked-About Places

    Siam Paragon in Bangkok Ranked 6th Place as the World’s Most Talked-About Places

    Siam Paragon, Thailand’s world-class shopping destination, has gained prestige to Thailand after being ranked 6th as the most talked-about places among people around the world in 2015 and being the only place in Asia that has made the top 10 rankings — according to the ranking of 20 most popular places globally talked about in 2015, announced early December by Facebook.

    Opened in 2005 with an investment budget of THB 15 billion (USD 375 million), Siam Paragon Shopping Center is a world-class shopping and lifestyle phenomenon, welcoming over 300 leading international luxury labels and cutting-edge local names that suit the needs of all visitors to its 500,000 square meters of retail space in the heart of Bangkok.

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  • Bangkok retail rents hold firm despite competition

    Bangkok retail rents hold firm despite competition

    Bangkok’s retail market is now “the most competitive it has ever been” – yet there is another 1.1 million sqm of retail space under construction.

    When complete, by the end of 2017, that will bring the total completed supply of mall space in the Thai capital to nearly 8 million sqm – all in a market currently characterised by weak consumer sentiment and slow retail sales growth.

    But despite the intense competition, a leading property expert says Bangkok retail rents – in malls, anyway – are holding firm.

    In a column (which you can read in full here) written for the Bangkok Post Spectrum magazine CBRE Thailand MD Aliwassa Pathnadabutr, says the proliferation of new brands setting up shop in Bangkok, and the expansion of existing branded chains is fuelling unprecedented competition in the city.

    “In the upcoming festive season, we expect to see major retail developers competing with heavy promotions and retail events in a bid draw consumers and capture their holiday spending,” Pathnadabutr asserted.

    “The expansion by retail developers in the CBD and suburban areas, entry of new local and international retailers, combined with a challenging economic outlook and weak consumer sentiment is all adding up to the mix.”

    Pathnadabutr says the recent openings of EmQuartier and Central Embassy have intensified competition for existing CBD malls like the high-end Gaysorn, and the giant CentralWorld and Paragon centres.

    “As the major retail centres are chasing after the same group of consumers, retail events and promotions have become ubiquitous leading to a cut-throat competition and heightened promotion campaigns, particularly gearing up to the festive season where consumer spending typically peaks.”

    Expansion and development of suburban centres – like the Future Park Rangsit expansion which marked its soft opening in the last fortnight – may draw customers away from the CBD malls, although Pathnadabutr expects their impact to be limited and growing tourist base will keep the numbers up in the larger centres.

    Despite the competition, retail rents have held their own in Bangkok, according to Pathnadabutr.

    “It is often difficult to measure retail rents as there is a big range even within a single development. Prime retail rents in Grade-A downtown shopping centres range from THB1800 to 4500 (US$50 – $125) per sqm per month for ground floor spaces and THB1200 to 2380 (US$33 – $66) per sqm per month for suburban malls.

    “This level has been maintained throughout 2015 despite the growing competition.”

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  • Siam Paragon and Siam Center to welcome festival of happiness

    Siam Paragon and Siam Center to welcome festival of happiness

    World-class shopping center Siam Paragon and Siam Center, The Ideaopolis—shopping destinations in the heart of Bangkok forever beloved by Thais and tourists—is throwing a big year-end campaign “The Season of Siam Celebration”, offering unrivalled promotions to boost spending during the festival of happiness. The campaign allows shoppers to select the right gifts for their beloved ones and to have a chance to win a number of world-class prizes worth over 5 million baht, from 19 this November to 10 January 2016.

    Chanisa Kaewruen, executive vice president to Marketing and Business Relations of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd, says, “Each year marketing promotion campaigns during the yearend and the upcoming new year are one of the biggest promotional activities and every shopping center will launch its own smart strategies to attract local and international shoppers to spending during high season. This year Siam Paragon and Siam Center is launching “The Season of Siam Celebration” campaign, offering the most desirable year-end promotions. Aiming to bring happiness to shoppers, this campaign has great support of AEON credit card, Millennium Auto Company Limited, True Corporation Public Company Limited and Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Company Limited. The highlight of the campaign is a range of world-class prizes which will be easily given away to customers. Simply spend every 2,000 baht to have a chance to win a grand prize: a luxurious BMW 320i M Sport and many other prizes such as Siam Gift Card and Club 21 Gift Card. Members of Platinum M Card, VIZ Card, AEON credit card, True, and Muang Thai Smile Club will be granted a double coupon.”

    Furthermore, a series of prizes will be given away as part of a sales boost throughout December. Spending of 30,000 baht and more instantly gets an exclusive gift from renowned brands in Siam Paragon and Siam Center—a quota of 200 available. From 25 this December onward shoppers will have a chance to win a one-of-a-kind prize, first ever made in Thailand, a Limited-Edition Snow Globe. Those spending 50,000 baht and more at Siam Paragon instantly get a Limited-Edition Siam Paragon-Patterned Snow Globe. And those spending 30,000 baht and more at Siam Center also get a Limited-Edition Siam Center-Patterned Snow Globe. The exclusively made snow globes are limited and will attract a lot of interest from local and international shoppers.

    “Siam Paragon and Siam Center also give a sense of importance to customers who also join membership of ours. That is to say, the first fifteen members of Platinum M Card with top spending will be granted an exclusive trip to Japan with luxury accommodation and a Michelin-star dining experience. The first six members of VIZ Card with top spending will win an iPhone 6s as well.

    “The company is confident that shoppers will enjoy “The Season of Siam Celebration” campaign, which encourages them to spend during the year-end festival. It is expected to attract over 150,000 shoppers per day to spend at Siam Paragon and Siam Center. As a result, shops in the two shopping centers will get agreeable sales—as planned definitely,” says Siam Piwat’s executive vice president.

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  • Siam Paragon announces Bt100m sales campaign

    Siam Paragon announces Bt100m sales campaign

    Siam Paragon yesterday announced it would invest about Bt100 million in its biggest campaign of the year, “Siam Paragon 10th Anniversary: The Prismatic Phenomenon”.

    There will be two thank-you campaigns: a 10-week promotion with 100 prizes running from tomorrow to December 18 and a 10-day celebration including a series of “world-class” events and gifts.

    Siam Paragon is one of the major shopping centres on Bangkok’s Rama I Road, jointly developed by Siam Piwat Co and The Mall Group, Thailand’s two giant retail developers. The 10th-anniversary campaign is aimed at increasing customer traffic at Siam Paragon by 5 per cent and to increase spending per transaction by 10 per cent.

    Mayuree Chaipromprasith, senior executive vice president for marketing at Siam Paragon Development, said the strong partnership between Siam Piwat and The Mall Group had made Siam Paragon a retail phenomenon and a true “world-class shopping destination” that attracts more than 200,000 local and international shoppers a day.

    “Our loyal customers who have high purchasing power and are members of our Platinum and Scarlet cards have not been significantly affected by the prolonged economic difficulty. We have seen their purchasing value and earning of points on their cards increase a significant 24 per cent year on year in the first three quarters of this year.”

    Chamnarn Maytaprechakul, executive vice president of Siam Paragon Retail, who is also chief marketing executive of The Mall Group, said the explosion that hit Ratchaprasong Intersection in the middle of August had little impact on the number of foreign tourists coming to downtown Bangkok. Foreign visitors disappeared from the Ratchaprasong and Rama I areas for only few weeks and traffic is now back to normal.

    “However, with Thailand’s GDP anticipated to increase by only 2.5 per cent this year, we believe that the overall retail sector in Thailand will increase by no more than 5 per cent in total sales this year,” Chamnarn said.

    He added that people’s shopping behaviour had changed along with the economic difficulty, as they come to the shopping malls to eat and buy only necessary goods. The launch of attractive value-for-money campaigns will allow shoppers to decide more quickly what they plan to buy in the future.

  • Kumamon arrives in Thailand

    Kumamon arrives in Thailand

    The first official theme stores of Japanese bear character Kumamon have opened in Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok.

    Kumamon is a mascot created by the government of Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. It was created in 2010 for a campaign called to draw tourists to the region after the Kyushu Shinkansen line opened. Now it has grown into an internationally-recognised character, especially in Southeast Asia where Japanese and Korean cartoon and animated characters, and fashion trends, are quickly adopted.

    The first Kumamon store opened on the third floor of Siam Paragon shopping centre, at B-Trends in late July. That was followed by a more recent opening at Studio B Trend in the Emporium shopping centre.

    The Thai rights to Kumamon have been acquired by ICC International, who invited Kumamon’s creators to visit Thailand during a recent trade fair.

    ICC says it plans to open more themed stores inside premium department stores in Bangkok and in other Thai provinces.

  • Retailers offer cross-border privileges

    Retailers offer cross-border privileges

    Five retail giants have teamed up with a Thai mall operator to offer a cross-border privileges programme for shoppers.

    Siam Piwat, owner of Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery and Paradise Park, is partnering with South Korea’s Lotte, Hong Kong’s Times Square, Robinsons of Singapore, Sapporo Parco of Japan and Galeries Lafayette of France in the Global Privilege Partnership program.

    Together, the retailers will launch a “massive international campaign”, offering both local and international shoppers “ultimate shopping experiences and above average privileges”. The partnership is the first of its kind in Thailand’s retail sector.

    Mayuree Chaipromprasith, Siam Piwat’s senior vice-president for business promotion, said Siam Piwat is honoured to lead the campaign and to be trusted by the five retailers who selected Siam Piwat as their exclusive partner in the customer relationship management (CRM) programme across the borders to ensure cardholders enjoy maximum benefits.

    “Siam Piwat sees working together in the form of partnership and collaboration as a way to develop a mechanism to stimulate more international consumer spending in Thailand. At present, the majority of visitors to Siam Piwat’s shopping venues are of the B group and higher. They have high purchasing power, love to travel, live a modern lifestyle, are into trendy innovations and expect above average services,” said Chaipromprasith.

    She added that Siam Piwat expects 400,000 visitors a year to participate in the programme, which should generate 6 billion Thai baht annually in consumer spending.

    “The Global Privilege Partnership has the largest number of leading countries working together. Not only will it serve to grow traffic to Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery, but it also offers value for money in terms of benefits and privileges enjoyed by members of the Platinum M Card for shoppers at Siam Paragon and VIZ Card for shoppers at Siam Center, Siam Discovery and Paradise Park.”

    The Global Privilege Partnership programme offers premium privileges to Platinum M Card and VIZ Card members of Siam Piwat as well as holders of membership cards issued by the five international partners. Shoppers enjoy benefits, including five to 50% discounts from more than 2,000 stores in the five popular shopping destinations and the same VIP service as they would have in their home countries.

    Among those services are personal assistants on hand to give members information at the partner shopping venues, welcome gifts worth more than THB 3000 and service at an exclusive lounge.

    Siam Piwat expects to expand the programme to include five more countries next year.

  • Glitzy Malls of Asia – Bangkok

    Glitzy Malls of Asia – Bangkok

    Central Embassy is Bangkok’s latest challenge in the luxury retail sector, not only to older malls like the SiamParagon but also to Singapore and Hong Kong as a retail destination.

    It is big and spacious with very wide walkways to ensure that it does not get packed even on busy days. It positions itself as an “ultra luxury” mall. This means, among other things, that a movie ticket here costs upwards of 1,500 baht (US$45), prompting one blogger to wonder if it comes with butler service and gold-encrusted movie stubs.

    The high-end cinema on Level 8, however, is one of the few distractions. Most of the mall is focused on just fashion and food. Fashion, in this case, includes not just the usual big international brands. More significantly, Central Embassy showcases a good selection of Thai designers. This is fully in line with the owner’s stated vision to “introduce Thailand to a global audience of taste makers and opinion formers.”

    Also consistent with this vision, the sprawling 5,000sqm supermarket and foodcourt at the basement, called Eathai, features only Thai food, with cuisines from different regions clearly differentiated. There is also a section on street foods and a cookery school. Big, colourful murals, along with walls constructed from traditional Thai kitchen utensils, add to the ambience. Other cuisines can be enjoyed at standalone eateries on the upper floors.

    The mall’s architecture is spectacular, although it takes some imagination to see how it is inspired by wats (temples) and other traditional Thai architecture. It is in the details, where traditional patterns, materials and fabrication methods are interpreted in a modern setting. The façade spans 200m and has a skin of three-dimensional ceramic tiles and protruded aluminum to project a different view with each step. Central Embassy is a sight to behold.

    Luxury and more at Siam Paragon

    SiamParagon redefines luxury to include more than just fashion, watches or jewellery. It means you can buy a luxury car too. Choose from Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lotus, Lamborghini, BMW, Hammar, Maserati and more. Or how about a Bentley or a Rolls Royce?

    For tourists and the Thai elite, this is the premier shopping destination. With a gigantic Paragon Department Store covering 50,000sqm over six floors, plus some 270 other shops, SiamParagon is ranked one of the largest luxury malls in Asia. But if you are not in the league for luxury goods shopping, there are lots more to do – so much more that one writer considers it “demeaning” to call SiamParagon a mall.

    One big attraction is the Siam Ocean World. Occupying some 10,000sqm at the basement, this is one of the biggest walk-through aquariums in Southeast Asia where visitors can scuba dive to get up close and personal with sharks and rays. A new attraction called Kidzania allows children to get a realistic taste of adult careers, like being a dentist or a fire fighter.

    Then there is theCineplex with 14 halls, one of which has the biggest screen and highest seating capacity in Asia. The Krunsri IMAX theatre, at 8-storeys high, is also one of the biggest in the region. There is also a 38-lane bowling alley, a karaoke, an outdoor park, an exhibition hall, an opera house, a section devoted to traditional Thai arts and the Royal Paragon Hall, a 5,000-capacity venue for concerts, conventions and other special events.

    Plus, there is an incredible range of F&B outlets featuring cuisines from around the world, at prices that range from affordable to very expensive. Even if all you want is a Starbucks coffee, SiamParagon offers a choice of at least five Starbucks outlets.

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