The Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong is a flagship of the Mandarin Oriental group, which owns 18 luxury hotels in the Americas, Europe and Asia, including The Oriental in Bangkok. Three more are in the pipeline. The first of the group's hotels, The Mandarin Oriental, opened in Hong Kong in 1963. Then known as The Mandarin, Hong Kong, it was immediately ranked alongside The Ritz in Paris, The Connaught in London and The Grand Hotel in Rome by Fortune magazine. Since then it has consistently gained accolades for excellence in service. In 1987, The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group was floated on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. From the start, the hotel aimed to cater for the expanding number of business and leisure travellers arriving in Hong Kong. In time, The Mandarin Oriental's reputation for excellence began to attract the rich and famous. The hotel has 486 guest rooms and 55 suites, including 12 designed with Asian, Mediterranean and European themes. The lobby serves as one of Central's most comfortable and convenient meeting places. The famous and fashionable can be seen in the hotel's opulent dining spots, including Vong, Man Wah, the Mandarin Grill, The Cafe and the Chinnery Bar, a favourite among businessmen. 'The Mandarin is definitely one of the places to see and be seen in Hong Kong. It has a wonderful sense of style and tradition,' says general manager Peter Lowe. He believes that 40 years in the Hong Kong hospitality market has given the hotel time to develop a strong identity and create a genuine sense of loyalty among staff and guests, giving the Mandarin a distinctive edge. 'We are celebrating 40 years as Hong Kong's premier address, and we have a number of activities planned for later in the year. We plan to be delighting guests for another 40 years!' MANDARIN oriental Central Tel: 2522 0111
