InterContinental Chiang Mai the Mae Ping by IHG — Hotel in Chiang Mai Province

We reached InterCon The Mae Ping a little before 4pm. Check in with amiable Ms Nui was smooth and were assigned 14/F which I later mentioned to her that it's unlucky for Asian guests, esp around CNY.
We had their complimentary afternoon tea @ Kam Lobby Lounge that is served daily from 1430 to 1630. Unfortunately we have to say it was not fantastic as expected especially the scones were nowhere near what they should be--but like stringy bread. What was worse, they served scones with whipped cream. When I asked for clotted cream, none had any idea what it is. If it were 3-4 star hotel I would understand, but it is InterCon and certainly this is very substandard. The homemade jam was a dullish slop and tasted bland. Ordered low fat milk cappuccino and it arrived lukewarm. Initially asked for skimmed milk yet again they had none. The afternoon tea arrived not in three-tier stand but on 2-3 separate plates, and none of the sandwiches, pastries or savoury + sweet bites were tempting enough for an encore. The same "Kam Lobby Lounge" serves snacks and drinks from 5:30pm onwards all the way till 10:30pm. It was a delight to walk in during that period for some cool drinks with infinite supply of finger foods which fared better than that served in the afternoon tea. The pool food was ok, service was apt but maybe someone needs to proofread the menu in greater details : " chicken warp ( chicken wrap ) " , " salad bow ( salad bowl ) " to name but a few. All staff were most keen to offer good service, yet the mediocre food and drinks we had tried were a letdown and did not do their diligent & affable staff justice. As for our bathroom, it was a bad case. The shower leaked and flooded the entire floor cos there's a big wide gap at the bottom of the shower door. We had to immediately request for 4-5 towels to soak the leaked water up. The next night we made sure we lined the entire floor and shower edge with loads of towels to ensure a dry and clean floor after shower. The showerhead has three jets to choose from and thankful that the pressure was not weak. The rainshower is surprisingly more powerful than most rainshowers offered in other leading hotels. Shampoo+ conditioner & shower gel were of good quality.

Air-con in the room was noisy and no wall sockets in bathroom for shaver and electronic toothbrush. A/C was so noisy that we had to switch off the one in the bedroom area to leave the one in the room entrance for ventilation in order for a quiet night of sleep, moreover it was too cold to leave both on. Hairdryer was finally discovered in one of the outside drawers and not conveniently placed in the bathroom. The interior designer did not plan well cos the bathroom door opened outward, so close to the bed that you need to be careful as the one sleeping close to the bathroom might bang onto it if not careful.

The handbasin drainage was snail-pace slow cos the plug only leaves a tiny gap that makes normal if not quick draining impossible. The most disastrous part was the bathroom ceiling that started leaking, and dripping so vigorously that a small pool was quickly formed on the floor that two technicians had to come up at midnight to fix it. Luckily it could be fixed so we needn't change rooms, but deep yellow stains can easily be seen on the ceiling board, so this leakage has been a recurring issue. Once the technicians pried open the ceiling boards, they had a bucket ready to catch the water gushing out so they're familiar with such faults. It also exuded a faint stale odour from such stagnant pool of water. Each room is fitted with an electronic scale for those who is weight conscious. Tea sachets and coffee capsules replenished daily. Lobby bathroom has a handbasin in each cubicle but as there was no hand towel or paper towel provided, it is understood why the floor had drips. It is only when one goes out to the communal handbasin to wash hands do they have hand towels and dryer, so why install a hand basin in the individual cubicle when there is nothing to dry the hands with?

On a side note, the external white walls that surround the hotel apparently belong to InterCon, so their staff should go outside to sweep and clear rubbish, i.e. to also pay attention to the cleanliness around that external hotel area. The many times we walked past the back of the hotel, cans + bottles + waste paper were seen lying around the skirt of the white wall as well as strewn all over the top landing ( like the mantel of a fireplace ) where the narrow open space is seen as a convenient rubbish dumping place for passers-by.
The award winning new F & B Director Attila Koermoeczi probably needs to really work closely with the head & sous chefs to upgrade the dishes and proofread the menus while Mr Peter Pottinga the GM has to kick off a lot of follow-ups to remedy the flawed areas in order to justify what is expected of a new and 5* hotel.

Seems the InterCon Mae Ping has quite a lot of areas to improve on before it could really live up to the prestigious IHG reputation. Being new is not an excuse for all these oversight cos the IHG group must have got a pool of talent to run any outlet in any part of the world. The IHG HR and training department should send people of the right calibre to run their hotels old or new.

I am the IHG Rewards Club Member but it somehow did not pop up and nobody could...

I had the opportunity to stay here for one night. The room was upgraded according to IHG Ambassador benefits to a Premium Mountain View room, including Diamond Ambassador benefits such as a 600 THB F&B credit, welcome amenity, etc.

Concierge: This was the first stage where I encountered them. I received an excellent welcome at the hotel's door. Everyone smiled and said, 'Welcome,' and there was a welcome drink from the hotel to enjoy.

Front office: The receptionist provided standard service, along with the benefits of various stays. However, she forgot to recognize me as an IHG Diamond Elite member, following protocol. Even though it's not a big deal, it shouldn't be forgotten. I would also like to praise the intern, who escorted me to my room and provided fluent and excellent information about the hotel and rooms.

HONG’s Skybar: HONG's Skybar is one of my favorite rooftop bars in Chiang Mai. The décor blends modernity with traditional Lanna vibes, creating a unique atmosphere. The menu features delicious Chinese cuisine, with appetizers that pair perfectly with drinks. I highly recommend trying the MALA SHREDDED CHINESE CABBAGE and TIGER PRAWN SALAD, which are must-orders and absolutely delicious. For drinks, they offer unique cocktails inspired by Chiang Mai, such as the “INK MOK” cocktail featuring jackfruit as an ingredient, and the “CNX FLOWER FIELD” lovely color. “The Smoky Old Fashioned” is beautifully presented, complete with magnificent decoration, and releases smoke when opened. The service is impeccable, with attentive staff paying attention to every detail.

Club InterContinental lounge: Although the Club InterContinental lounge will only open in Phase 2, the hotel has opened a restaurant called The Gad Lanna. This temporary setup, which converts part of the restaurant into a Club InterContinental area, does not quite resemble a true club lounge. It lacks the privacy, exclusivity, and full experience of InterContinental life, synonymous with luxury and world-class hospitality, that one would expect from a genuine Club InterContinental. I’m sorry can’t confidently say that is Club InterContinental. Moreover, before the stay, the lack of a greeting email from Club InterContinental made it feel like any other place should be. The food, cocktails, and service are top-notch. However, the sparkling water brand (Chang brand) should be one that matches the Club InterContinental lounge.

Breakfast: The club lounge breakfast is served in the Gad Lanna restaurant. It's a buffet-style breakfast, not all-you-can-eat. You'll need to walk a bit to reach the food. The food options are diverse, and the ingredients are excellent, especially the croissants, jam, and butter. They also offer northern Thai dishes.

Room: The Premium Mountain View room has a view of Doi Suthep. The rooms and bathrooms are impeccably decorated and equipped with all the amenities. Additionally, modern electronic devices such as wireless chargers, Type-C USB chargers, and smart TVs that can connect to streaming TV services are provided.

Other: The hotel, swimming pool, rooms, and restaurants are beautifully decorated, creating a very impressive atmosphere that blends traditional Lanna art with modern design. Another personal highlight for me is the selection of beautiful and elegant utensils, plates, spoons, forks, coffee mugs, and tea kettles.

Overall: If you are seeking luxury in terms of relaxation, dining, and gatherings, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Chiang Mai The Mae Ping is the perfect choice for your trip...

Stay: 11/25/24-11/28/24 (3 nights) Accommodation: Booked a King Premium Mountain View

(NOTE, we would rate this 4.5 stars, but felt it was a little closer to 5 than 4) The InterContinetal Chiang Mai - The Mae Ping was really a great value for a very nice property. The location could almost not be better in Chiang Mai with this property being situated on a little bit quieter side street, but also right near some major attractions like the night market.

Let us start by saying that the lobby of this property is breathtaking. We almost did not quite expect it given how affordable rates are and given the more laid back atmosphere of Chiang Mai. It was really a wonderful space and ushers you into this gem of a destination.

After that the rest of the property did not disappoint relative to price point and expectations. The rooms themselves were spacious, albeit a bit of a funky layout that left an oddly cramped bathroom. And while the bedding was not nearly close to the best we had on our trip, the overall room was expectedly up-to-date and fit our needs well.

While we did not visit the pool, it was a great space and the adjacent bar looked like the type of spot we would normally relax at. The fitness center had ample room and a good variety of equipment (although the keycard entry and exit was a bit finicky). And then the outdoor space behind the property was a really nice touch that added just an extra bit of charm.

The rooftop bar was a really welcome addition and felt like something you would more expect to find in Bangkok or Singapore. We really liked it up there and the service was outstanding.

Our rate included breakfast and while they had a wide array of different selections, it was not a huge standout of the stay. Certainly serviceable, but it just felt like they could have gone a little bit further to really make it a highlight.

Finally, the spa was the one item that really felt like an afterthought in this property. While we enjoyed our massages, the space was literally just a corner of the building that utilized the same standard room layouts for the reception and individual treatment areas. We decided to not hold this against the property as it appeared they were doing some pretty sizable additions, which we hope includes a standalone spa. And also the fact that you can literally walk out the front and across the street to get a pretty good $9 massage at 4-5 different facilities.

Again, while we liked this hotel we really felt like it was the value that drove our 5/5 rating. If it were more expensive then it would easily fall to a 4 (really 4.5) out of 5 because of a few shortcomings. We are excited to see what additions they are making on the south side of the parcel and hope to visit Chiang Mai again in the future. There are some notable things IHG could do to improve this hotel, although some may not really be feasible: • The layout (at least of the premium room) is really unfortunate; there is so much space that it could have easily accommodated a larger bathroom with more counter space and an actual section for the tub as opposed to it feeling like it was just dropped in the center of the room • Slightly better breakfast quality • A spa space that actually feels like it was meant to be a spa (maybe this will be addressed...