What happened
The Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers Bangkok is facing an auction within 30 days after its owner, Royal Orchid Hotel (Thailand) Public Company Limited (ROH), defaulted on a sale-and-leaseback agreement. The hotel was sold to a real estate investment trust in 2021 for 4.5B THB, with a buyback clause requiring repayment of 4.873B THB by July 2026. ROH failed to meet this deadline, triggering the auction process. Despite the ownership dispute, Starwood (a subsidiary of Marriott) continues to operate the property, and guests should see no immediate changes. The hotel remains profitable with mid-70s occupancy. However, it is unclear whether the new owner will retain the current Marriott/Starwood management or convert the brand, which could impact Marriott Bonvoy members' experiences and earning potential at this specific property