Dubbed the most expensive commercial dinner ever organised in the Asia-Pacific, the event drew a total of 40 guests, including five locals and 15 paying diners from the United States, Europe, the Middle East and other Asian countries.

"I couldn't reveal the guests' names, but we have two gaming tycoons, one based in Asia and the other in London. Other guests include wealthy businessmen in energy, infrastructure, real estate, investment and other sectors," said Deepak Ohri, the hotel's managing director, who hosted the dinner.

The event, which started at 6pm and lasted past midnight, included a 10-course meal prepared by six Michelin-starred chefs from France, Italy and Germany, and a large selection of some of the rarest wines.

Ohri said the hotel would donate the profits from the event to HM the King's Chaipattana Foundation and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).

Ohri said earlier that there were as many as 8.5 million millionaires around the world who spend an average of US$224,000 (Bt8 million) per person per year on lavish events at hotels and resorts, so lebua Hotel had decided to tap this highly lucrative segment.

He added that several of the 15 paying guests had arrived in Bangkok in private jets.