CHIANG MAI, Thailand ā August 31, 2021 ā MeliĆ” Chiang Mai has welcomed an executive chef and director of food and beverage who bring more than four decades of combined experience to the new urban hotel slated to open December this year.
Thai national Suksant Chutinthratip (Billy) and Filipino national Jay Tadifa Abiang have been named executive chef and director of F&B respectively, taking charge of the F&B team set to place the hotel on Chiang Maiās culinary map with two restaurants that pay homage to Spainās famed gastronomy.
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Suksant Chutinthratip
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Equipped with 27 years of hospitality experience, Chutinthratip comes to the hotelās pre-opening team after working as the executive chef at Hotel Nikko Bangkok, Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa, and Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok. He was also an executive sous chef for SkyCity Auckland Entertainment, managing VIP and gaming restaurants, as well as Renaissance Ratchaprasong Bangkok Hotel.
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Jay Tadifa Abiang
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Nine of Abiangās 16 years in the hospitality industry have been in hotel management with MeliĆ” Hotels International. Prior to his appointment at MeliĆ” Chiang Mai, he was the executive assistant manager at The Reed Hotel Managed by MeliĆ” and the F&B manager at MeliĆ” Ba Vi Mountain Retreat in Vietnam. He also worked at MeliĆ” Hanoi as assistant F&B manager as well as a banquet manager and bar manager.
Beginning his hospitality career in 1994 as a cook helper at The Ambassador Hotel and Convention Centre Bangkokās Le Bistro, award-winning Chutinthratip climbed the career ladder at various properties including Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, a Luxury Collection Hotel Bangkok, The Peninsula Bangkok, Lotus One in Dubai, Raffles Singapore, The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel Bangkok, and Le Meridien Bangkok.
After completing a Bachelor of Science with a double major in tourism management and hotel and restaurant management at Baguio City in the Philippines, Abiang started his career as a bartender at Hanoiās Press Club. He has also been a restaurant supervisor and manager at My Way CafĆ© and Lounge in Hanoi and an operations manager in Au Lac Do Brazil Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City.
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āWith Billyās wealth of experience at an impressive list of luxury hotels, working in many a pre-opening team, and Jayās rich knowledge of the MeliĆ” brand and its Mediterranean food concept, we are well positioned to launch MeliĆ” Chiang Maiās dining landscape during these unprecedented times,ā said the hotelās general manager Edward E. Snoeks.
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Comprising a 22-floor tower fronted by an adjoining seven-floor podium building, MeliĆ” Chiang Mai will unveil a host of facilities including two restaurants, two bars, two lounges, a YHI Spa with seven treatment rooms, a fully-equipped fitness centre, swimming pool, ballroom and four other meeting spaces.
Signature restaurant Mai Restaurant & Bar on the 21st floor will specialize in contemporary Northern Thai dishes with Mediterranean influences, with chefs preparing each dish Ć la minute from an open kitchen. All-day-dining restaurant Laan Na Kitchen will offer authentic Mediterranean cuisine in a vibrant marketplace setting.
