hkskyline
September 8th, 2005, 04:11 AM
Four Seasons tops Central luxury
Hong Kong's newest hotel is the piece de resistance of the IFC development
Denise Tsang
7 September 2005
South China Morning Post
The 45-storey Four Seasons Hotel, the final piece of the jigsaw in the nine-year Hong Kong Station development in Central, opens its doors tomorrow with bookings for 38 per cent of the 399 deluxe rooms.
The six-star hotel's opening marks the completion of the International Finance Centre luxury commercial and hotel development that began in 1996, and comes just two weeks after the opening of the plush Landmark Mandarin Oriental boutique hotel in Central.
The first top-tier, large-scale hotel to open on Hong Kong Island since the Ritz-Carlton in 1993, Four Seasons has 150 rooms booked between September 12 and 15 at "competitive and fair" rates, according to general manager William Mackay.
The waterfront Four Seasons will cater to business travellers, offering hi-tech rooms and suites, whereas the 113-room Landmark Mandarin enveloped by office towers at Landmark of Central tempts deep-pocket leisure travellers with exclusive spa and trendy, fine dining facilities.
"Four Seasons focuses on giving fair value," Mr Mackay told South China Morning Post yesterday. "It will help restore the sector's average rate to a level which makes economic sense. Since the onset of the Asia financial crisis in 1997, room rates fell to a level that became a burden for hotels and they need to be restored to realistic levels."
He added that Four Seasons' opening could not have come at a better time following China's robust and rapid economic growth and a surge in global travel.
Four Seasons' corporate rates start at $3,300 per night for a 484 sq ft standard room with Victoria Harbour views exclusive of breakfasts, about 21 per cent off its published rate of $4,200; and $2,900 for a room of the same size with Peak views, about 23 per cent below its published rate of $3,800. This compared with Landmark Mandarin's internet rate starting at $2,700 for a 450 sq ft room inclusive of daily breakfasts.
Mr Mackay said that no corporate rates would be offered on Four Seasons' 54 suites, which are mostly on higher floors and range from $7,200 per night for a 732 sq ft suite to $40,000 for the 3,430 sq ft presidential suite.
Presidential suites at the Landmark Oriental and Peninsula hotel cost $42,000 and $39,000 per night. Not all the Four Seasons' facilities will be ready when the hotel opens its doors to guests. Mr Mackay said most of the suites, the 21,528 sq ft spa and French fine dining restaurant Caprice would not begin service until later this month.
However, he was confident of heavy bookings as several trade shows and global conferences such as December's World Trade Organisation ministerial conference are scheduled to be held here.
Hong Kong's newest hotel is the piece de resistance of the IFC development
Denise Tsang
7 September 2005
South China Morning Post
The 45-storey Four Seasons Hotel, the final piece of the jigsaw in the nine-year Hong Kong Station development in Central, opens its doors tomorrow with bookings for 38 per cent of the 399 deluxe rooms.
The six-star hotel's opening marks the completion of the International Finance Centre luxury commercial and hotel development that began in 1996, and comes just two weeks after the opening of the plush Landmark Mandarin Oriental boutique hotel in Central.
The first top-tier, large-scale hotel to open on Hong Kong Island since the Ritz-Carlton in 1993, Four Seasons has 150 rooms booked between September 12 and 15 at "competitive and fair" rates, according to general manager William Mackay.
The waterfront Four Seasons will cater to business travellers, offering hi-tech rooms and suites, whereas the 113-room Landmark Mandarin enveloped by office towers at Landmark of Central tempts deep-pocket leisure travellers with exclusive spa and trendy, fine dining facilities.
"Four Seasons focuses on giving fair value," Mr Mackay told South China Morning Post yesterday. "It will help restore the sector's average rate to a level which makes economic sense. Since the onset of the Asia financial crisis in 1997, room rates fell to a level that became a burden for hotels and they need to be restored to realistic levels."
He added that Four Seasons' opening could not have come at a better time following China's robust and rapid economic growth and a surge in global travel.
Four Seasons' corporate rates start at $3,300 per night for a 484 sq ft standard room with Victoria Harbour views exclusive of breakfasts, about 21 per cent off its published rate of $4,200; and $2,900 for a room of the same size with Peak views, about 23 per cent below its published rate of $3,800. This compared with Landmark Mandarin's internet rate starting at $2,700 for a 450 sq ft room inclusive of daily breakfasts.
Mr Mackay said that no corporate rates would be offered on Four Seasons' 54 suites, which are mostly on higher floors and range from $7,200 per night for a 732 sq ft suite to $40,000 for the 3,430 sq ft presidential suite.
Presidential suites at the Landmark Oriental and Peninsula hotel cost $42,000 and $39,000 per night. Not all the Four Seasons' facilities will be ready when the hotel opens its doors to guests. Mr Mackay said most of the suites, the 21,528 sq ft spa and French fine dining restaurant Caprice would not begin service until later this month.
However, he was confident of heavy bookings as several trade shows and global conferences such as December's World Trade Organisation ministerial conference are scheduled to be held here.