Set on the edge of Victoria Harbour with a view of the Star Ferries crossing the bay, the Regent Hong Kong is preparing to become once again what it has always been since its beginnings in 1980: one of the Asian metropolis's emblematic hotels. Already owned by IHG since 2015 under the InterContinental banner, the hotel will be reverting to its original name at the end of the year. grand reopening in Juneafter two years of work. A change of name has been in the pipeline since the British group acquired the Regent brand in 2018.
In the same way as the Carlton in Cannes, which is following a similar path, the hotel will embody this new era for the Regent brand, based on modern luxury and inspired design. The hotel, which boasts extensive meeting facilities, including a ballroom that can accommodate 1,000 people, retains its original features. unique views of Hong Kongbut has been completely redesigned by designer Chi Wing Lo, who " summed up Regent's vision for creating something different and unique "according to Tom Rowntree, VP Marketing, Luxury Brands, IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Since last December, Hong Kongers have already been able to discover its various dining venues, including the two-star Michelin Yan Toh Heen, a steakhouse offering the finest meats accompanied by the most prestigious vintages, and its Lobby Lounge where they can enjoy tea or a glass of champagne in connection with the city's skyline. Residents will also be able to enjoy views from their rooms and suites - the hotel had more than 500 before it closed - thanks to a set of mirrored sliding doors reflecting the bustle of Victoria Harbour. " A beautiful view with no particular vantage point is just a postcard that anyone can buy; a view without a frame is just a view that has not passed through the lens of the eye." says designer Chi Wing Lo.
This reopening heralds further developments for the luxury brand in Asia, at a time when the continent is reopening to international travel and Chinese customers are getting ready to start travelling again. Following the opening of a Regent in Phu Quoc last year, and with new hotels in Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Kyoto and Sanya in the pipeline, the luxury brand will open a second hotel in Shanghai, the Regent Shanghai on The Bund, in the second half of 2023.
While IHG has more than 1,000 hotels in operation or planned in more than 200 cities in the Greater China region, the British group will continue to expand its presence there. In particular, InterContinental expects to open a hotel in Shenzhen in the third quarter, which will be very well suited to business customers, as it will be next door to the World Exhibition & Convention Centern, and will complete its offer. in Shanghai with the InterContinental Shanghai Harbour City. The upmarket lifestyle brand Kimpton, which made its debut in China in Suzhou, will also discover this destination in the second half of the year with the Shanghai Kimpton Qiantan, in the Lujiazui business district.
Major cities, secondary or tertiary towns, IHG's expansion in China is not exclusive. The country's third largest city, Guangzhou - Canton - will see the opening of a Hotel Indigo and a property from the contemporary voco brand. The Crowne Plaza business brand, meanwhile, will be setting up in Guangdong, Hangzhou, Jiangmen and Xi'an this year. Alongside its luxury and top-of-the-range brands, the British hotelier can also count on its flagship brands in the mid-range segments to consolidate its presence, such as Holiday Inn, expected this year in Beihai, Chengdu, Sanya and Xi'an, and above all Holiday Inn Express.
Among the key growth drivers for IHG in China and elsewhere, Holiday Inn Express prepares new hotels in more than 15 provinces and municipalitiesWith destinations as varied as Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Wuhan, as well as Changsha and Kunming, and third- and fourth-tier cities such as Zhenjiang, Jiangmen and Weifang. Also in the pipeline are two hotels dedicated to frequent travellers, one near Hangzhou airport and the other close to the Shanghai Pudong hub.
