Why you should book ahead for Tokyo 2020 accommodation: Cary Grant film remembers room shortage of 1964 Games

The shortage of hotel rooms during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics was so infamous that it was used as the main plot device for Cary Grant’s final film – a mediocre comedy called Walk, Don’t Run (1966). In the opening scene, Sir William Rutland (Grant) arrives at the Hotel Okura two days earlier than expected, and although he is a frequent visitor and VIP guest, not a single spare room can be found.

A comic­ally overplayed flurry of apologetic bows between front-of-house staff, managers and Sir William himself ensues. Rather than waste time trying the new Tokyo Hilton (the city’s first international hotel), the Tokyo Prince or the New Otani (the Japanese capital’s first skyscraper) – all built in anticipation of the Olympics – he heads to the British embassy for advice. He ends up sharing a flat with the girlfriend of an embassy employee and a similarly displaced American Olympic athlete.

The Hotel Okura used in the film was mostly demolished several years ago – an action strongly protested and still lamented at savetheokura.com – then rebuilt in the form of two glass towers, which will open as the Okura Tokyo in September. Reservations begin this month, but the hotel announced last August that, although still under construction, it was already fully booked for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The first Tokyo Hilton was rebranded as the Capitol Tokyu Hotel in the 1980s, then demolished in 2006, but the New Otani and Tokyo Prince hotels are still in business, if you want to try booking a hotel with some Olympic heritage for next year’s Games. In the meantime, the Okura Tokyo is offering opening room rates from 80,000 yen (US$710) in the 17-storey Okura Heritage Wing and from 56,000 yen in the 41-storey Okura Prestige Tower from September 12 to the end of March. Visit hotelokura.co.jp for more details.

The InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu will open in French city in June

The InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu will open in June, although at the time of writing it is already fully booked until mid-July. The spectacular hotel in the French city of Lyon occupies a part of the new mixed-use Grand Hôtel-Dieu develop­ment, which opened last April in a former hospital complex known as Hôtel-Dieu de Lyon and dating back to the 12th century.

The InterContinental occupies the later main building, with 139 rooms and suites contained behind a grand 360-metre-long facade, and beneath a 72-metre-high dome housing a bar called – naturellement – Le Dôme. Great care has clearly been taken with the Grand Hôtel-Dieu project, and it is reportedly the largest listed-building conversion ever undertaken by the private sector in France.

Lyon – France’s third-largest city and a popular gateway to the Alps – can be reached daily from Hong Kong via Paris with Air France.

British Airways unveils fourth and final heritage livery

As we suggested might happen, British Airways’ “centenary” collection of four heritage aircraft paint jobs delved as far back only as the 1950s, and British European Airways’ “red square” livery. The aircraft sporting the BEA colours is an Airbus A319, which was unveiled last month and had been closely preceded by a BOAC-liveried Boeing 747. Later in March, two more Boeing 747s were unveiled, in British Airways’ old Landor (1984-97) and Negus (1974-80) liveries. All four were recently lined up under unfortunately gloomy skies for a photo shoot with a contemporary Airbus A319 at Heathrow Airport.

It would be great if Cathay Pacific could reproduce a similar series of historic liveries for its 75th anniversary, in 2021, although a return of the ubiquitous British flag – removed from all its aircraft starting in 1991 – does seem unlikely.

Deal of the week – two nights in Hanoi, Vietnam

Lotus Tours’ Hanoi package gets off to a fairly comfortable start with two nights at the Mercure Hanoi La Gare from HK$2,390 per person, twin share. Similarly priced hotels also worth considering are the Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi (from HK$2,450) and the Hilton Hanoi Opera (from HK$2,670). Top of the price list are the Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake and the Lotte Hotel Hanoi, which are offered from HK$3,000 and HK$3,050, respectively.

Flights with Cathay Dragon and daily breakfast are also included with this deal, which will be available until late December, with some seasonal surcharges. For more information and reservations, go to the Lotus Tours website.