In pictures: Five iconic features of the Excelsior hotel
The hotel was Hong Kong’s largest luxury hotel when it opened in 1973
The Excelsior hotel in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay has been thrusted into the media spotlight again on Wednesday after its parent company, Mandarin Oriental International said it withdrew the sale of the property as it did not receive bids that met its expectations.
Despite its current plight, the Excelsior hotel is a significant landmark in Hong Kong. Once Hong Kong’s largest hotel and the backdrop for the famous film, The Revenge of the Pink Panther, the Excelsior hotel has stood the test of time for over 44 years since its opening in 1973. The hotel also manages the famous Noonday Gun, a renowned yet mysterious legacy that represented the earliest of the British mercantile history
Here is a look at five iconic features of the Excelsior hotel.
Opened as Hong Kong’s largest hotel in 1973
If you ever wonder what an original prime real estate would mean in Hong Kong, look no further than the Excelsior hotel. Before any building was erected, the plot of land on which the hotel stands had already made a name for itself. The site was called “Lot No.1”, which is part of the lot sold to Jardines in the then British Colony’s first land sale in 1841.
When it opened in February 1973, the Excelsior hotel was considered the largest hotel in the city with 1,003 rooms. It currently only holds 848 rooms.