Le Bua, Bangkok's ultra-luxury hotel on Silom Road, is organising a Bt1-million-per-plate dinner banquet on February 10 for some of the world's wealthiest corporate and individual clients.

Deepak Ohri, managing director of the Thai-owned 198-room hotel, part of the 67-floor State Tower, said yesterday that 40 seats would be available for the dinner event and 25 are already taken.

The dinner would be served at the Sirocco, Distil, Mezzaluna, Breeze and Cafe Mozu outlets, all located at The Dome on the roof of the tower.

"We have also reserved 10 seats for invited VIPs so there are now five seats left," Ohri said, adding that the US$25,000 price is probably the highest ever for a commercial dinner in Asia-Pacific.

Indian-born Ohri said multinational millionaires who have booked a place include those from the top echelons of Microsoft, Exxon-Mobil and Standard Chartered Bank.

"They're all in the Forbes 500.

From Microsoft, it's not Bill Gates, but those at the very top level of management. There are also several private bankers and industrialists.

"It's expensive because of the very fine food and wine lists. We've got Michelin-star chefs to cook the seven-course dinner. For the wine list, we've stocked 1961-vintage wines, which are the most expensive part of the dinner event," he said.

Recent research shows that there are about 8.5 million millionaires worldwide, each spending an average of more than $200,000 on hotel and other events annually, he said.

Well-heeled clients are what Deepak aims to attract to Thailand to raise the country's tourism profile. There are many fine first-class hotels and incomparable hospitality here, but services are cheaper than in many countries.

Most five-star hotels cater to the local high-so crowd and expatriates, with superb dinners in key festive seasons. This New Year, many hotels have come up with special dinner packages at a cost well below the price quoted by Le Bua.

The Oriental Hotel will offer exquisite dining at its River Side Terrace on New Year's Eve. Featured will be international foods and drinks and a prime location to enjoy the grand fireworks display on the banks of the Chao Phya River. Terrace dining costs Bt8,000 per person, while Lord Jim's will also feature a gala dinner at Bt14,000 per person. The China House Restaurant will provide a similar event at Bt6,900, and the hotel's famous French restaurant Normandy will put on a sumptuous repast for Bt17,000.

The Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel is preparing some special activities. It plans to sell a gala New Year dinner at the Thai Tara Thong Restaurant for Bt6,900. The hotel is also offering a dinner plus complementary wine and party set at the Royal Orchid Suite for Bt8,900.

Marriott Resort and Spa, located on the other side of the river, will attract guests by laying out an international dinner buffet at The Market for Bt8,900. At its Vigs restaurant, the cost will be Bt5,500. And dining at the Japanese restaurant will require Bt3,200.

The Rose Garden River Side Resort is promoting a gala dinner with traditional cultural show for a price of Bt1,500.

The Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square plans to celebrate New Year's Eve with a special offer at its Chinese restaurant for Bt800-Bt1,500.

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