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With its high ceilings and broad hallways, brass-sculpture decorations, one hardly feels like one is visiting a traditional hotel property.

The spa facility is elegant and has a swimming pool on the deck of the building.

The hotel is surrounded by the King Power complex, which has a duty-free shop and a first-class theatre facility for traditional Thai performing arts.

Make no mistake, Pullman Bangkok King Power is already the talk of the town as a fine property. It boasts of 386 rooms and is now getting well known for its excellent but affordable cuisine (compare the prices of its dishes and wines with other five-star hotels).

I was rather impressed with Christophe Vielle, the general manager, who greeted me at the executive floor of the hotel. At 44, he is young and energetic. He is a man of action, pays great attention to detail and is yet very down to earth. He is the driving force behind the hotel property, which launched its services in October last year.

Vielle, a French national, has been in Thailand for the past 20 years. He started his way up in the food, beverage and hotel industry at the age of 15, travelling and working around Asia before landing up in Bangkok. He is now ready to consider Bangkok as his permanent address - if immigration officials allow it.

Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel has been recording an average occupancy rate of 74 per cent since its launch. Vielle said he is surprised because the management had expected occupancy to stand at 66 per cent. He attributed the hotel's success to a combination of product quality and the Accor/King Power team-up.

Given its recent launch, Pullman Bangkok needs to attract local attention as quickly as possible as a venue of choice for eating out and banquets.

Vielle said the hotel's food-and-beverage offerings are priced competitively. Every bill is at net value (without any additional charges).

This translates into value for money. It is also attracting good banqueting business, prompting the expansion of the ballroom and meeting facilities.

The Accor/King Power combination provides the management backup.

There are now 25 Pullman properties. Over the next three years, the number is expected to touch 150 worldwide.

Its location, which is a three-minute walk to the SkyTrain Victory Monument Station, lies at the heart of Bangkok. It is about half an hour away from the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Competition is really tough in the hotel industry in Bangkok, which is likely to see another 21 properties coming up in the next 12 months.

So far, Pullman Bangkok has received positive ratings from customers. Tripadvisor.com had initially rated it as the No 2 hotel on value. Now it is rated fifth, which is still impressive, given the large number of hotels in Bangkok.

Pullman Bangkok now is gearing up to serve the leisure and corporate market, which accounts for 45 per cent and 55 per cent of its business, respectively.

Around 70 per cent of its customers are from the rest of Asia, such as Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Singapore, while the rest are from Europe and Australia.