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Newly opened five-star Visama Mae Chan in northern Thailand is targeting small-group corporate buyout business with companies having the exclusive full run of the camp for the duration of their stay.

The fully five-star tented camp, which opened in December, is targeting corporate buyouts for board meetings, strategic planning retreats and incentive reward bookings. It is also making the property available for private takeovers by families, groups of friends and intimate wedding parties.

Each group will have a dedicated in-house event manager to make sure proceedings go smoothly.

The camp’s founders, VHG Hospitality Asia, have created a service culture and property that can host ten executives and their partners in ten safari tents imported from South Africa and adapted for northern Thailand.

VHG Hospitality Asia co-founder, Christopher Stafford, known for pioneering innovative hospitality projects such as I37 Pillars Hotel Chiang Mai, and at Anantara Hotels, says the property team can create a large variety of activities both inside the tented camp and in the surrounding areas of forested hills, rice paddies and small villages.

He cites guided hiking and biking trips, cooking classes, spa therapy, yoga, Tai Chi, archery, painting and pottery classes. Evocative temples, mountain landscapes and hill tribe villages are a short trip away.

The camp lends itself to both indoor and outdoor meetings. In the evening there is the option of star-lit fire-side movie screenings and BBQs at the Ambalama lounge area.

Stafford notes “With almost five hectares, our beautiful retreat offers a very private, bespoke and secure setting for companies. And all of it comes with a delightful touch of novelty due to the beguiling but beautifully functional nature of the accommodations – safari tents.”

The opulently-appointed tents, on raised platforms in a peaceful hill country setting, range in size from 48 to 80 sqm including a 12 or 20 sqm veranda. The largest tent has two bedrooms.

Amenities in all tents include air conditioning, mobile phone with concierge app, French press coffee pots, WiFi, rain showers, safety deposit box, refrigerator, his and her bathrobes and slippers, bathtub, large balconies and an evening turndown service.

The lodge’s food experience is key.

With advice from head chef Suphannat ‘Miu’ Amnuayrit, companies can request a personalised dining-by-design menu. Or everyone in the group can go full a la carte. As guests would expect from a top-end retreat, the culinary team can prepare a wide selection of Asian, Western, Thai and northern Thai options to immaculate standards.

There is also an option for corporate groups to give back.

Visama Mae Chan has a partnership with the neighbouring Friends of Thai Daughters Foundation. Three young women university graduates are already working at the resort, thanks to the foundation. There are opportunities for companies to support the charity’s work while at the camp.

On accessibility, Visama Mae Chan is a 40-minute transfer from Chiang Rai international airport, which is a 90-minute flight from Bangkok or a 130-minute flight from Phuket.

Find out more about Thailand’s newest luxury tented camp at maechan.visamalodges.com/

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