Wellness Resort
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Brand Strategy & Positioning – Defined a clear identity anchored in the Merchant Mansion story.
Tone of Voice – Crafted a graceful and authentic voice embodying the spirit of Chiang Rai to captivate guests and foster connections.
Naming – Renamed the hotel from Wiang Indra Resort Chiang Mai to Kahavadi and developed names for three F&B outlets.
Visual Identity & Applications – Designed a refined logo, colour palette, and brand collateral.
F&B Concepts – Created three distinct dining narratives rooted in culture and connection.
Kahavadi is a riverside retreat inspired by Chiang Rai’s historic merchant mansions — grand residences that once served as family homes, trading hubs and centres of cultural exchange along Southeast Asia’s crossroads. Reimagined for the present day, Kahavadi unites Lanna heritage with elegant contemporary design to create a refined journey of connection and exploration. Every element — from its culinary concepts to its curated ambience — immerses guests in an authentic, sophisticated, and tranquil northern Thai experience.
Kahavadi, formerly Wiang India Resort, needed a complete rebrand to relaunch a decades-old riverside property under Hilton’s Curio Collection. Our task was to create a distinctive identity from the ground up — including naming, positioning, voice, design, and guest experience — that would set the hotel apart in Chiang Rai’s evolving tourism market, attract international travellers, and establish long-term relevance within a global portfolio.
QUO leveraged the hotel’s distinctive design to carve out a positioning that highlights Chiang Rai’s cultural richness in a refined way. We introduced the ‘Merchant Mansion’ as the brand narrative, inspiring naming, tone of voice, and guest experiences that celebrate the discovery of northern Thai culture. Four brand experience pillars — Storied Heritage, Culinary Voyage, Embracing the Spirit of Nature, and Cultural & Social Epicentre — were articulated to guide the guest journey. We created the name Kahavadi, drawn from Thai literary roots meaning “wealthy merchant” and “walled place”, and codified a graceful, authentic voice to carry the story into guest communications. Finally, we designed the logo, colours, typography and collateral to visually express the brand’s distinct identity and positioning.
Kahavadi’s new identity has reshaped the hotel’s presence, giving it a distinct place and story within Hilton’s Curio Collection. With a cohesive new look, voice, name and guest experience, the hotel is ready to launch and build emotional connections with guests — inviting them to experience the flavours, heritage, and tranquillity of Lanna culture in a beautiful setting at the edge of the Mae Kok River.
With a distinctive identity and authentic narrative, Kahavadi is poised to build recognition as one of Curio Collection’s most characterful properties in Southeast Asia. The brand lays the groundwork for future storytelling, activations, and growth, ensuring Kahavadi continues to inspire travellers seeking meaningful discovery in Chiang Rai.
