A first look at the St. Regis Hong Kong, which throws open its doors today
The plush five-star hotel boasts Hong Kong-inspired interiors by top designer André Fu, restaurants led by Michelin-star chefs and a wealth of luxe services and amenities
The name St. Regis conjures visions of New York in its golden heyday, and the opening of the St. Regis Hong Kong is a reason for celebration.
When John Jacob Astor IV opened the first St. Regis in New York in 1904, it wasn’t designed as a hotel in the strictest sense. Rather, he wanted a place where he could host his friends, among them luminaries of the era.
For the St. Regis Hong Kong, celebrated Hong Kong-born interior designer André Fu was brought on board, and he took into consideration the history of the brand and the hotel’s location – Wan Chai – when drawing up his plans.
“We love our location because we are sort of the bridge between Central and Quarry Bay. And, as you know, Quarry Bay has a lot of offices, so we are the closest five-star hotel to that area,” says Derek Flint, general manager of the St. Regis Hong Kong.
Within the hotel, lighting fixtures reminiscent of old Hong Kong’s gas lamps and wall panels resembling Chinese shop shutters abound, in a nod to the brand’s East-meets-West design concept. Heritage is important to the brand, as is the notion of building and expanding on it.
“When we look at St. Regis Hong Kong, our goal and vision is to pay homage to the legacy of the brand, and to put in a more modern reinterpretation for the 21st century,” says Flint. “A lot of our iconic rituals, like the butler service, afternoon tea and the ‘sabering’ of champagne, will have a modern twist.”
“For example, the butler service. Usually in most hotels, the butlers are introduced by a knock on the door to your room after you check in. In our hotel, they are actually going to meet you kerbside.”
In fact, butlers are available to all guests staying at the establishment if required.