|
 It
will
be seven years this summer that the British relinquished their residual
rule over
Hong Kong
to the Chinese, but
whatever apprehensions the city’s residents had of being re-annexed to
the mainland have been drowned out
by the glitz and clatter of what is arguably the world’s most
efficient free-market city. The New Territories, the northernmost of
Hong Kong’s four distinct areas, may share a 20-kilometer border with
mainland China, but the hypermodernity of Hong Kong Island to the south
might well be of a different world. Indeed, Chinese policy is that a
single government presides over two systems, and the growth and
prosperity of
Hong Kong
seems to be assuring
its autonomy for the decades to come. Crowded and frenetic, peaceful and
illuminated, a night in
Hong Kong
can feel like a night
as a lighthouse keeper, watching over the energies generated in the
world’s busiest deepwater port. With the world’s most efficient mass
transit system (the MTR), surprisingly vast oases of contemplative green
space, and the best shopping and guest services to be found anywhere in
Asia, a few days is precious little time to digest this far-flung urban
wonder.
At
the center of this aura is
Pacific Place, and rising from its
rooftop is the 61-floor Conrad Hong Kong, an architectural marvel that
climbs into the night sky and lays peaceful watch on the feverish
activity far below. High-speed elevators whisk guests from the grand
lobby below, up into a unique, ellipsis-shaped hotel, offering guests stunning views of either Victoria Peak or Victoria Harbour from any one of the 513 lavish and spacious rooms. The list of accolades is astonishing. With
awards from every major travel and business travel magazine rolling in year after year, the Conrad Hong Kong has an indisputable spot reserved among
the best 50 or 75 hotels in the world. Included among the
513 rooms are 46 suites on five exclusive Executive Suites that crown
the tower. Accessible only by room key, the executive section of the
Conrad includes a glass-enclosed lounge on the 59th floor,
offering the best seat in the city for complimentary buffet breakfast,
coffee, tea, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. All rooms feature spacious
marble bathrooms with separate shower,
bathrobes, slippers, and for the business traveler, all the services to
seem like an office away from home. Fax machines, broadband Internet
access, three international direct dial telephones with private voice
mail, and electronic safes ensure an efficient and private office space
at all hours. What sets the Conrad apart, though, is its peerless
business center. For the unprepared business traveler, mobile phones and
PCs are available for rental, and for the Executive guest at Conrad Hong
Kong, small details like complimentary local calls and pressing service
enhance the experience.
The
temptation is to stay within the friendly confines of the hotel, but
with more than 200 great shops and restaurants located directly beneath
the hotel in Pacific Place, the allure can be
hard to resist. Four world-class restaurants located right within the
hotel, though, should provide enough counter resistance. Nicholini’s,
an authentic Northern Italian restaurant, is the Conrad’s signature
dining room, and 12 years as “Hong Kong’s Best Restaurant” in the Zagat-like Hong Kong Tatler should be reason enough to make
reservations for at least one night. If the praise of the city’s
eminent review magazine isn’t enough, take the word of those who know
best. In 1999 and 2000, Nicholini’s
earned the “top Italian restaurant abroad” as presented by former President Oscar Luigi Scalforo. It is the only
restaurant in
Asia
to ever receive the award. Brasserie on the Eighth, specializing in French and Continental Cuisine, offers
the perfect atmosphere for a casual business luncheon. Cantonese
creations of a sophisticated ilk form the menu at The
Golden Leaf, while a broad spread of tasty international fare can be
found at the Garden Café. The  evening grill at the Poolside Patio has terrific steak and seafood dishes, and the Lobby
Lounge and Pacific Bar are superb choices for a cocktail before dinner, or for
a few more afterward to assist the digesting process.
With such impressive amenities—one floor of the hotel is occupied by a full-service fitness facility, heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and massage therapy stations—the hotel’s prestigious ranking in travel industry circles is not surprising. For the business traveler, its credentials are even more impressive. The hotel’s Grand Ballroom, a column-free, 8,000 square foot facility with studio-like acoustics, can accommodate more than 600 guests for dinner and over 1,000 for cocktail service. 11 additional conference rooms make it the most versatile conference center in Hong Kong.
With no discernible reason to leave the Conrad Hong Kong, guests should still venture out into the city, which features phenomenal shopping options and the best public transit system on the continent. In addition to the MTR, ferries to Kowloon, across Victoria Harbour, are just minutes away on foot. A visit to Victoria Peak, an amazingly lush environment considering its proximity to the downtown core, offers the best views of Victoria Harbour, Kowloon, and the Outlying Islands. With such an influx, guests should not be surprised that, for a price, a round of golf can be arranged at one of the city’s five courses. Seven years after its turning over to China, Hong Kong’s progressive, free-market spirit still sings out as loud as ever.
Where
to Stay
Conrad
Hong Kong - http://www.conrad.com.hk
- Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
- Tel.: (852) 2521 3838 - Fax: (852) 2521 3888
Email: hongkonginfo@conradhotels.com
|
