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Ascott and Chelsea celebrate the successful conclusion of the 2024/25 Famous CFC tour in Bangkok
The power-packed two-day event brought together hundreds of passionate Chelsea fans and Ascott Star Rewards members from across the region, who took part in an exciting line-up of activities and enjoyed exclusive access to club legend Gianfranco Zola
28 Apr 2025
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Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola (first row, second from right) joined Ascott’s Chief Executive Officer Kevin Goh (third from right) alongside over 250 Chelsea supporters and Ascott Star Rewards members at an exclusive watch party held at Hobs at ICONSIAM, for the live screening of the Chelsea vs. Everton match on Saturday, 26 April.
Bangkok/London/Singapore, Monday, 28 April 2025 – Chelsea Football Club, in collaboration with presenting partner The Ascott Limited (Ascott), brought The Blues to Bangkok, Thailand, this past weekend with the fourth and final stop of The Famous CFC tour for the 2024/25 season. Ascott also hosted the first stop of this season’s global fan experience in Singapore last December. Both events featured special appearances by club legend Gianfranco Zola, bookending the tour with two unforgettable experiences.
As Chelsea’s Official Global Hotels Partner and the presenting partner of The Famous CFC for this visit to Bangkok, Ascott played a key role in bringing this thrilling event to life, underscoring its ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for both Chelsea fans and Ascott Star Rewards members. Marking Chelsea’s return to the city for the first time since 2017, the Bangkok edition of The Famous CFC took place over the weekend of 25 and 26 April 2025 at several venues, including Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok, Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok and lyf Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok – Ascott’s flagship properties in the city. The two-day event featured a watch party for the highly anticipated Chelsea vs. Everton match, along with exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola.
Gianfranco Zola said: “I had an amazing time at The Famous CFC in Bangkok – my second time with Ascott – and it was a true pleasure. The Chelsea fans in Bangkok were incredibly enthusiastic, and I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with them on such a personal level. The energy they brought was simply unbeatable and the trip was capped off with an important win at Stamford Bridge!’
Casper Stylsvig, Chelsea's Chief Revenue Officer, said: “The second edition of The Famous CFC with Ascott was a resounding success in Bangkok, and we are grateful for Ascott's support in delivering the many events. Their global network and resources have created new opportunities for us to connect with our fans overseas, particularly in Asia, and the weekend really highlighted the value of this - for us as a club watching our match against Everton with our passionate local supporters, delivering unforgettable experiences for Ascott Star Rewards members and also creating memories with Gianfranco and the local community groups from Childline Thailand.”
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola (third from left) and Ascott’s Chief Commercial Officer, Tan Bee Leng (first from right) posed for a group photo with teenage football players at an urban pitch in Bangkok, Thailand. Held on Friday, 25 April, the football session was part of The Famous CFC, Chelsea’s flagship international fan engagement event presented by Ascott, which kickstarted with a visit to The Hub Saidek, a drop-in centre for street children operated by ChildLine Thailand Foundation and supported by Safe Child Thailand.
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola shared football tricks and offered words of encouragement at a football session, to young players from The Hub Saidek, a drop-in centre for street children operated by ChildLine Thailand Foundation and supported by Safe Child Thailand. This initiative is in line with The Famous CFC’s cornerstone of giving back to local communities.
The incredible turnout and energy at The Famous CFC in Bangkok is a testament to the strong synergy between the Ascott and Chelsea brands. From the exclusive meet-and-greets with Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola to immersive fan activities, every moment was thoughtfully curated to bring joy and lasting memories to our Ascott Star Rewards members. It was a weekend that showcased the powerful connection between sports, community, and hospitality. The event reflects Ascott’s commitment to redefining hospitality on a global stage, by transforming a hotel stay into a heartfelt experience—one where our guests feel truly rewarded, celebrated, and part of something bigger. We are excited to bring this event and other extraordinary experiences to even more cities worldwide, delivering the same passion, energy, and warmth to our loyalty members and Chelsea fans around the world.
We are thrilled to carry this momentum into the upcoming opening of lyf Stamford Bridge London in the second half of this year. With its bold, experience-led and community-driven concept, lyf is the perfect match for the indomitable spirit of Chelsea and the vibrant pulse of Stamford Bridge. More than just a place to stay, the hotel will offer a social living experience that embodies the club’s passion. We cannot wait to welcome guests to a stay that celebrates the heart of London and Chelsea.
- Tan Bee Leng, Ascott's Chief Commercial Officer
The teens who use the Hub Saidek’s facilities enjoyed a fun morning of football with Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola, and participated in a mini-tournament at an urban pitch in Bangkok.
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola shared personal stories while reflecting on his illustrious football career and answered questions posed by media partners at the by-invite only Fireside Chat organised by Ascott on Saturday, 26 April. Held at Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok, the Fireside Chat that was attended by about 30 guests, was part of The Famous CFC, Chelsea’s flagship international fan engagement event.
On Saturday, 26 April, over 100 Ascott Star Rewards members had the chance to enjoy a breakfast of a lifetime with Gianfranco Zola at Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok as part of a special meet-and-greet event.
Highlights from The Famous CFC – Bangkok Edition
In line with The Famous CFC’s cornerstone of giving back to local communities, the Bangkok edition kicked off on Friday, 25 April, with Gianfranco Zola’s visit to The Hub Saidek, a drop-in centre for street children operated by ChildLine Thailand Foundation and supported by Safe Child Thailand. Safe Child Thailand, a UK-registered charity, collaborates with a network of local charities and non-profit organisations to support the disadvantaged communities of Thailand. The children and young people who use the Hub Saidek’s facilities enjoyed a fun morning of football and participated in a mini-tournament at an urban pitch in Bangkok, with Zola sharing a few football tricks and offering words of encouragement to the young players.
Chelsea fans capturing an up-close picture with Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola at Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok on Saturday, 26 April.
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola (right) joined The Ascott Limited’s CEO Kevin Goh and Ascott’s mascot, Cubby, for a picture in an immersive experiential zone, set up at a pre-match party at Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok on Saturday, 26 April.
Later in the day, Zola toured the Thai capital, soaking in its pulsating rhythm, and visited several of Ascott’s properties in Bangkok to film exclusive content for fans. These included Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok, lyf Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok and Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok, where he stayed during the trip.
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola enjoying a leisure moment by the outdoor pool at Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok, one of the official event venues for The Famous CFC in Bangkok.
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola was treated to a selection a local culinary highlights at lyf Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok, one of the official event venues for The Famous CFC in Bangkok.
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola enjoying a leisure moment at Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok, where he stayed at over the weekend for The Famous CFC in Bangkok.
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola was welcomed by Chelsea fans and Ascott Star Rewards members at an exclusive pre-watch party held at Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok on Saturday, 26 April.
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola enjoying a drink by beer sponsor Singha, at a pre-watch party held at Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok.
On Saturday, 26 April, over 100 Ascott Star Rewards members had the chance to enjoy a breakfast of a lifetime with Zola at Somerset Rama 9 Bangkok as part of a special meet-and-greet event. Fans interacted with Zola, took photos with him and the 2016/17 Premier League trophy, and basked in an unparalleled morning of excitement. The activities continued into the afternoon at Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok, where Zola engaged in a fireside chat, sharing personal stories, reflecting on memorable moments from his football career and answering questions from attendees. Just before the evening’s watch party, Zola also joined Ascott Star Rewards members at an exclusive pre-watch party, which featured an immersive experiential zone for photo opportunities and a suite of fan-engagement activities.
The excitement reached its peak with the watch party held at Hobs at ICONSIAM, where over 250 supporters gathered along the scenic Chao Phraya River for the live stream of the Chelsea vs. Everton match. The atmosphere was charged as fans from across the region united in their passion, cheering for their favourite team. Special video messages from Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernández, Christoper Nkunku, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Benoît Badiashile and Omari Kellyman, along with exclusive giveaways drawn by Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez, added to the thrill throughout the evening. The watch party marked the perfect conclusion to an extraordinary two-day celebration and the season’s Famous CFC global tour.
Fans who attended a watch party hosted by Ascott as part of The Famous CFC in Bangkok erupted into a roaring cheer when Chelsea Football Club scored a goal within the first half of the match between Chelsea and Everton on Saturday, 26 April.
A lucky Chelsea Football Club fan, who won a Chelsea football signed by members of the men’s football team, poses for a picture with club legend Gianfranco Zola (left).
Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola wrapped up an exciting watch party at Hobs at ICONSIAM in Bangkok, on Saturday, 26 April, sharing his excitement over the important win that the football team secured.
For the latest updates on exclusive offers from Ascott’s partnership with Chelsea, including the upcoming editions of The Famous CFC, please visit https://www.discoverasr.com/en/ascott-chelseafc.
About Ascott Star Rewards (ASR)
Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) offers members a range of exclusive privileges designed to elevate every aspect of their travel experience. From priority welcome services and access to airport lounges, to enhanced stay benefits such as car rental privileges, bonus ASR points, airline miles and travel vouchers, ASR ensures a seamless, start-to-finish experience. Beyond exceptional stays, ASR members also enjoy access to Ascott Privilege Signatures, which unlocks invitations to prestigious global events, including Premier League football matches, renowned tennis tournaments, and elite gastronomy and lifestyle experiences. To become an ASR member, sign up today at https://www.discoverasr.com/en/sign-up.
