Boutique hotel pays tribute to key moments in Cambodia's history

The Mane Boutique Hotel and Spa has put a unique spin on the concept of historic hotels in Cambodia. Each of the rooms and suites in this hotel has been named and inspired by key years of Cambodia's history. Every detail throughout the hotel, from the furniture to the decoration, has been carefully thought out to reflect the given year, making this the ultimate accommodation for anyone seeking a full immersion in Cambodian culture.

Much of the appeal of holidays in Cambodia is owed to the south-eastern Asian country’s rich cultural history with key tourist attractions including UNESCO World Heritage sites like Angkor and the Temple of Preah Vihear.

One boutique hotel in Siem Reap is offering guests the ultimate accommodation from which they can truly experience cultural holidays in Cambodia. The Mane Boutique Hotel and Spa in the Wat Damnak area of Siem Reap has named and modelled each of its rooms and suites after pivotal years in Cambodia’s history after the age of Angkor.

The owner of the Mane Boutique Hotel and Spa, Mane Key, recently spoke to The Phnom Penh Post about her unique take on historic hotels in Cambodia;

"It’s important for boutique hotels to have rooms that are different to each other. We wanted our rooms to tell stories, so each room is decorated according to a different time in history- after the independence period and then after the Khmer Rouge. We wanted our guests not just to come and learn about the temples but to learn about all Cambodian history from our hotel."

Ms. Key spent months sourcing the right antique furniture for each room, some of which she acquired from her grandmother’s own collection. The Mane Key Boutique Hotel also features the work of local artists; from woven silks and handmade floor tiles to wood furnishings crafted by a 72-year-old specialist furniture maker from Kampong Cham and handmade pieces from sculptors and weavers from the Banteay Meanchey province.

For example, the 1907 room in this historic Cambodia hotel pays tribute to the year the provinces of Preah Vihear, Siem Reap and Battambang were returned to Cambodia. The room is decorated with furniture from the French colonial era and features Cambodian silks in a colour palette of brilliant gold and orange.

When asked about her favourite room Ms Key conceded that it would have to be 1992, stating that it represents a “time when Cambodia finally had peace. It was the first time for Cambodia to have an election. It was a new start, a new beginning for the country. All Cambodian people felt very happy. I can remember, and still feel, how everybody felt at that time”.