Trang Hotel is not located in the southern Thai
province bearing the same name but in Bangkok. The hotel is situated
in an unlikelylocation – Wisutkasat – not a prime business district.
Located adjacent to Khao San road, the hotel is popular among
international visitors, while government officials find room rates
affordable. From time to time high-ranking officials or those who
prefer not to be seen check into the hotel for business or private
functions.
Although not as old as the Oriental, Trang Hotel is almost 50
years old. In its early years it operated under the name Vieng Sawan
Hotel, not to be confused with Viengtai Hotel that was already
operating in Khao San are.
When it first opened its doors to visitors, the hotel charged 40
baht for a room fitted with fan, related its owner, Sawasdi
Hoontrakul, a native of Trang province in southern Thailand.
From Vieng Sawan, the name was subsequently changed to Trang
Hotel after Sawasdi and his affiliated companies took full control
of the property.
Later in 1963, he went into a joint partnership and opened the
Manhattan Hotel on Sukhumvit 15, about the same time as Asia,
Ambassador, Siam City, and Mandarin hotels appeared on the scene.
Since the partnership did not prove fruitful, Sawasdi withdrew
from the Manhattan and began focusing on Trang Hotel and his frozen
seafood business in Trang.
Even though it’s been around since 1957, most city residents are
not even aware that it exists. It’s better known among foreign
visitors, travelers from the provinces, particularly government
officials.
But the name can be confusing. As the story goes, once the hotel
was chosen to host a meeting of government officials. Half of the
participants ended up Trang province, and the rest is history
reminisced
Since the confusion incident, we add “Bangkok” after the name to
be “Trang Hotel, Bangkok”.
Today, the hotel is run by second-generation Hoontrakul heirlooms
and has changed dramatically since it’s opening. |