As the final touch in its HK$300 million makeover, the Miramar Hotel has reinvented itself with a hipper and snappier new name. As of today, the 51-year-old hotel will shorten its title to - ta da - The Mira. The more modern moniker was revealed yesterday at a press luncheon, which included a brief tour of the new Wi-fi-gadget-filled rooms and suites. We had heard the hospitality unit owned by Lee Shau-kee had wanted to rebrand itself into something a little more contemporary, but it seems our speculation that it would be changed to the M Hotel was a bit off.
'No, that would sound like we trying to copy the W Hotel, and we don't want to copy,' said Peter Yu Tat-kong, the group general manager. 'We wanted something new, unique and easy to remember.'
He further explained that the name was also that of a red giant star in the constellation Cetus, and was Latin for 'peaceful and perfect'. Not to mention that it's easier for mainland guests to pronounce than the tongue-stumbling old name. Apparently, the company had used two consulting firms in the process, but it was Henderson Land heir Martin Lee Ka-shing who came up with the slick handle. For now only 120 of the close to 500 rooms are in operation, but the rest will come on board shortly. At the press conference, hotel manager Dirk Dalichau (pictured) hinted at more changes. 'I've been doing extensive spa research. Most spas have an oriental component, so we'll probably go in a different direction.'