SO Sofitel Hua Hin, scheduled to open in February 2016, offers an imaginative beachside escape for guests seeking a luxurious, playful retreat. The resort, which features private access to Cha-am beach, is conveniently located two and a half hour’s drive from Bangkok.

“SO Sofitel Hua Hin acknowledges the growing market of travellers, particularly in Thailand and within Asia, who seek a fun- and design-led atmosphere with a distinct style and attitude,” said Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels, Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia. “There is an opportunity to create a fresh, vibrant scene in Hua Hin, and the perfect catalyst is the SO Sofitel brand, which is known for its progressive design, modern technology, surprising happenings and social experience.”

Photo Caption: (From Left to Right) Mr. Ianic Menard, Vice President Sales, Marketing & Distribution for AccorHotels Upper Southeast Asia; Mr. Gilles Cretallaz, Vice President Operations Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, The Sebel, Grand Mercure for Upper Southeast Asia; Ms. Valerie Barrios, Director Loyalty & Communications for AccorHotels Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia; Mr. Polpat Asavaprapha (ASAVA), Signature Fashion Designer of SO Sofitel Hua Hin; Mr. Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer for AccorHotels Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia; Dr. Khanchai Kiasrithanakorn, President of KS Resort & Spa Co., Ltd.; Mr. Eddie Kiasrithanakorn, Managing Director, KS Resort & Spa Co., Ltd.; Mr. David G. Daguise, SO General Manager, SO Sofitel Hua Hin, Mr. Donatien Carratier, Interior Director of SO Sofitel Hua Hin

Energetic, social and bursting with character, the SO Sofitel brand playfully combines sophisticated French elegance with the dynamic style of each hotel’s locale. Each SO Sofitel is an avant-garde masterpiece inspired by and featuring the work of a signature fashion designer: Kenzō Takada at SO Sofitel Mauritius, Karl Lagerfeld at SO Sofitel Singapore and Christian Lacroix at SO Sofitel Bangkok. Since opening in 2012, SO Sofitel Bangkok has become a marquee destination for international travellers and locals alike, drawn to the urban hotel’s stunning design, beautiful views and stylish restaurants and bars. Following such success, SO Sofitel Hua Hin is poised to become the next sought-after resort destination.

SO Sofitel Hua Hin’s ‘Imaginative Escape’ concept combines the destination’s style and the resort’s soul. Hua Hin has long been known as an aristocratic retreat – making it the perfect destination for luxury accommodation with a sense of refinement and a nostalgic seaside charm. The resort will especially appeal to design enthusiasts and trendsetters hoping to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Leading creative thinkers have been instrumental in defining SO Sofitel Hua Hin’s audacious, playful soul:

Award-winning Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag created the resort’s original bold structure, featuring an interwoven maze of open courtyards and private pathways. The property’s geometric lines and solid shapes, softened by a palette of naturally aged woods that blend with the beauty of the surrounding nature, create an environment of contemporary tranquillity.

Painting the canvas is Donatien Carratier, who brings to the new resort over 20 years of design experience in Asia. The forward-thinking interior designer, who focuses on luxury projects that demand iconic styling, is famed for creating deeply resonant environments in which vivid dreams blur with reality. Drawing inspiration from the Grand Gallerie de l’Evolution natural history museum in Paris, he is the visionary behind SO Sofitel Hua Hin’s ‘Evolution of Life’ theme, which begins with friendly animal statues that greet guests on arrival and proceeds to wild animal sculptures around the reflecting pond and rabbits hiding throughout the resort, literally putting a whimsical surprise around every corner.

For the private spaces, Donatien developed two vibrant room styles: SO Nature and SO Arty.