National Landmark ICONSIAM Marks 1st Anniversary with Global Events

Seven years ago, ICONSIAM started as a mission — to transform the Chao Phraya River, and Bangkok’s so-called ‘Thonburi side’, into one of the city’s key business and tourism hubs, in order to spread prosperity to the surrounding communities. Today, a year after the landmark first opened its doors, ICONSIAM is now reputed as a game-changing destination that has played a huge role in revitalising our riverside.

With a tantalising portfolio of 7 Wonders at ICONSIAM, offering a variety of best new experiences — it is only to be expected that the mega development would be recognised as a national landmark, attracting local visitors and tourists alike.

In the words of Chadatip Chutrakul, director of ICONSIAM Co., Ltd., and chief executive officer of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd, “We are very proud to be able to bring to life ICONSIAM. Recognised for its major contributions to tourism, ICONSIAM has been cited as a model retail development that has pioneered revolutionary ideas in a project which has successfully combined art, tradition, innovation, world-class architecture, entertainment, and extraordinary shopping experiences as never before. The pride of Thailand and Thai people, it has contributed a lot to surrounding communities and businesses on the Chao Phraya River.”

A lot of other stakeholders are in agreement. Managing director of CBRE Thailand, Aliwassa Pathnadabutr tells us that “Klongsan and Charoen Nakhon had always been quiet districts and off the radar of real estate developers, but have now become golden areas. ICONSIAM is a catalyst development that has sparked tourism, investment, and property development on the Thonburi side of the river.”

As ICONSIAM celebrates its one year anniversary, we look back at the milestones it has achieved, and look ahead into what celebrations lie in store — knowing ICONSIAM, we naturally expect nothing short of spectacular — as well as what exciting projects await in the pipeline for the luxury destination.

What we Love Most: The Positive Economical Impact

While many of us view ICONSIAM as a monumental development of flashy lights and even flashier designer flagships, it’s important to remember that behind the fortress of modern design and jaw-dropping spectacle is a large-scale project that has improved the livelihoods of thousands from the surrounding communities. Already the destination has created over 300,000 new jobs, and on a more national-scale level, has also brought in over THB5,000 million in foreign investments through tenant stores. 

These economical influences are seen most clearly in the SOOKSIAM we’ve all come to know and love. The ever-popular replica of our iconic floating markets is not only a provider of authentic and delightful Thai street bites, but has also brought together a great number of local artisans, small business owners, and community enterprises — nearly all of which had never had the opportunity to trade in the city before. From having nowhere to display their products and crafts, to now being set on a stage that receives up to 70,000 visitors on the daily is a huge success in itself — and its through initiatives like this that we can’t help but fall for ICONSIAM’s charms. 

What Keeps Us Going Back: The 7 Wonders

From the Iconic Multimedia Water Feature and River Park outdoors, to the constantly buzzing SOOKSIAM, and the recently unveiled ICONSIAM Art Space, there is always something to look forward to at ICONSIAM. For instance, TRUE ICON HALL — the first world-class conference centre in Thailand, located on the 7th floor of ICONSIAM — offers a seating capacity of 2,700 to support meeting events with the best technology in Southeast Asia. Also worth mentioning are The Phenomenal Arts Collaborations – this is the collation of great art pieces from Thai artists who are art masters, national artists, local artists from around the country as well as the creations of foreign artists.  Gold Line Monorail links with the MRT Green Line from Charoen Krung Road to Taksin Hospital and spans three stations.    Service is expected to start in mid-2020.

What we love most, however, is the impact all these elements have had in elevating the stature of Thailand on the world stage — putting us out there as a destination of creativity, culture, and cutting-edge development while also contributing to the rise of Thonburi as a metropolis of the future. Comparable to England’s London Eye and Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, having a new must-visit global landmark of our own has done wonders to Bangkok’s riverside, and visiting tourists got the memo — cue a 90% occupancy rate increase of 5-star hotels in the Chao Phraya River area.

The Future: What’s In Store?

True to ICONSIAM’s style of being constantly at the helm of innovation, this naturally isn’t the end for ICONSIAM — far from it, in fact. Further down the pipeline is a lot to look forward to, including a new amusement park ‘Super Park’, the French fine-dining ‘blue by Alain Ducasse’, and much more.

The Celebrations: The Celebrations of Glory — 10 Global Events

Ringing in its first year anniversary, celebrations are expected to be beyond spectacular. Consisting of ten spectacular global events, ICONSIAM will be investing over THB300 million from now until December to celebrate its first birthday — extravagant, but not too extravagant for the mega development. Luckily for us, these celebrations coincide with the upcoming New Year, meaning there’s plenty to get excited about when it comes to where to count down into 2020. Among the celebrations will be The Celebrations of Glory ICONSIAM, the customary light and sound spectacles along the Chao Phraya River — the same iconic performances that won all our hearts last year, made better. Also along the river, we’ll see the ICONSIAM Chao Phraya River of Glory, which includes a mega loy krathong festival event, as well as a performance of Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in Thai traditional-wear. Siam Takashimaya and SOOKSIAM get their own one year anniversary parties, and we’ll also be welcoming TRUE ICON HALL during the period of festivities — along with Southeast Asia’s biggest lego fair ever held.

For those looking for a bit of Christmas joy and cheer, be sure not to miss out on the Bangkok Illumination 2019, as well as the Amazing Thailand Countdown 2020, where we bid farewell to the old, and welcome the new.

Special credit card privileges will again be available during the celebrations, including partnerships with One Siam Kasikorn credit cards and Siam Commercial Bank, among others. For more details, or to find out more about the festivities that lie in store, call 1338 or visit iconsiam.com.

The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

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