First opened its doors in Victoria Harbor in 1980 as Regent Hong Kong
Changed to Intercontinental Hotel in 2001, reopens as Regent Hong Kong in 2023
“Waited for 22 years” Over 1,000 locals gathered for Regent Hong Kong’s reopening event
Presidential Suite tour with chief designer Chi Wing Lo
The Corner Suite, which has received the most positive response since the opening / Photo=Regent Hong Kong
A legendary hotel buried in the memories of Hong Kong people has returned. Regent Hong Kong, which opened in 1980, is a place that holds memories of Hong Kong in the 80s and 90s. 2001, Regent Hong Kong closed its doors and operated as the Intercontinental Hotel. The building and the overwhelming Victoria Harbor view remained the same, but the symbolism and aura of the name ‘Regent’ could not be ignored.
Corner Suite Bathroom / Photo=Regent Hong Kong
The Regent Hong Kong, which only existed in memories, re-emerged in November 2023. At the news of the opening of Regent Hong Kong, more than 1,000 locals and about 50 journalists from around the world gathered. The grand opening event was lavish and massive, fully reflecting the continent’s scale. They even made an art book to commemorate the reopening of the Regent Hotel. The most memorable event was the first public tour of the Presidential Suite on the 9th. In the Presidential Suite, we met designer Chi Wing Lo, who was in charge of the overall hotel design, and heard his story.
# Regent, who shared the glory of Hong Kong in the 80s and 90s
The glory of Hong Kong also exists in the memories of Korean people, all in the 80s and 90s. In the era when overseas travel was not free, many people learned about Hong Kong through movies and built-up fantasies. Starting from “A Better Tomorrow” to “Chungking Express,” “Comrades: Almost a Love Story,” and “In the Mood for Love,” Hong Kong on the screen was like a different world.
The view of Victoria Harbor is framed in the rooms of Regent Hong Kong. / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
The 1980s were the time when Hong Kong received the most attention. Whether economically or culturally, Regent Hotel was the patriarch of Victoria Harbor during its heyday. All sorts of Western events were held at the hotel, and Hollywood stars like Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Taylor, and Brad Pitt frequented the hotel.
Regent Hong Kong was one of the most loved hotels by locals. Weddings were held weekly, and reunions and various events were lined up. The point that Hong Kong people were most interested in when they said Regent Hotel was returning was how much they could reproduce the old glory. Gaw Capital, which bought the hotel in 2015, also focused on this.
Goodwin Gaw, Chairman of Gaw Capital / Photo=Regent Hong Kong
Gaw Capital is a family business. As a real estate investment company, all family members hold key positions. The whole family was interested in the opening of the Regent Hotel. They each recalled memories of the old Regent Hotel and came up with ideas.
The owner’s family recruited the Hong Kong-born designer Chi Wing Lo for the overall hotel design. Born in Hong Kong and based in Italy, Chi Wing Lo had no experience in commercial facilities, but that point scored highly.
They asked me to come to Hong Kong without any explanation.
I received the proposal in early 2019.
There are many other famous designers.
If they entrust it to those who have already worked on hotels several times,
I think they thought it would become one of those hotels like Rosewood or Four Seasons.
Chi Wing Lo
Demolishing everything and building new is not the only way. The most important part of renovating the hotel was how to preserve points that can stimulate nostalgia. Elements that can recall the old appearance, such as the hotel entrance and fountain and the white marble staircase leading from the hotel lobby to the second-floor ballroom, are preserved throughout the hotel.
The sloping road and fountain leading to the hotel remain the same as 40 years ago. /Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
Brief History of Regent Hong Kong
Opened as Regent Hong Kong in 1980
In 2001, IHG Group bought the hotel and
changed it to Intercontinental Hong Kong
In 2015, Gaw Capital formed a consortium to buy the building
In 2018, IHG Group acquired the Regent brand
In 2020, Intercontinental Hong Kong ended its operations.
Remodeling construction began
Opened as Regent Hong Kong in 2023
# Asia’s Best Night View, ‘Victoria Harbor View’ at the Hotel
The Regent Hotel, located at the end of the Tsim Sha Tsui Peninsula, offers the perfect view of Victoria Harbor. Although there is a ‘Star’s Street’ promenade between the hotel building and the sea, it becomes a part of the landscape. The view from the window, where people walking against the backdrop of high-rise buildings mingle, exudes a serene vitality. It never gets boring, day or night.
Victoria Harbor View from the Hotel / Photo by Hong Ji-yeon, Travel+ Reporter
Regent Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road Regent, Tsim Sha Tsui
The Victoria Harbor view unfolds overwhelmingly when you enter the hotel lobby. The excitement continues in the rooms. Only three of 11 room types do not have a sea view. The hotel is in the hottest art hub in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Art Museum, Hong Kong Cultural Center, and K11 Musea, which opened in 2019, are attached right next to the hotel. K11 Musea is a shopping mall decorated with the theme of art and culture. It is a city regeneration project building representing Hong Kong, a space created in collaboration with over 100 architects and designers. Not only inside the building but also outside, artworks are exhibited. The West Kowloon Cultural District, where M+ and the Palace Museum are located, is about 1.55 miles away, a 5-minute taxi ride.
Victoria Harbor View at Regent Hong Kong / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
# Gala Dinner Scene with Over 1000 People Gathered
Gala Dinner Event to Announce the Opening of Regent Hong Kong / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
The grand opening gala dinner event began at 7 pm on the 8th. A red carpet was laid from the entrance to the marble stairs, the 2nd-floor event hall, and various broadcasting devices were installed. The dress code for the gala dinner was a ‘black tie.’ The old Regent Hong Kong was famous for ‘black tie’ parties. A black tie event was held again in this place, which was the Hong Kong social world stage in the 1980s. If the dress code says ‘black tie,’ men wear tuxedos, and women wear evening dresses.
Regent Hong Kong Opening Event with Over 1000 People Gathered / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
At 7 pm, people dressed up splendidly flocked to the hotel. The route was to take a photo at the photo wall after passing through the red carpet, pass the white marble stairs, and go to the grand banquet hall on the 2nd floor. Locals spent more time on the marble stairs than on the photo wall. The gala dinner started at 8 pm in the grand ballroom. Goodwin Capital Chairman gave a greeting, and all the related people went up to the stage and took photos. Jin Seung-ho, CEO of Korea Investment Corporation, also attended the event that day. In 2015, the Korea Investment Corporation cooperated with Goodwin Capital to acquire Intercontinental Hong Kong.
Regent Hong Kong Opening Event / Photo by Regent Hong Kong
After the banquet, we moved to the lobby lounge on the 1st floor. The event’s highlight was a performance show staged on the hotel’s full-length glass window. They danced, standing vertically, stepping on the glass window, relying on the line as if moving in the water. It was an impressive performance featuring the night view of Hong Kong Island seen through the enormous full-length glass window, the most significant advantage of Regent Hong Kong.
# Presidential Suite Tour with the Designer
Meeting Designer Chi Wing Lo at Regent Hong Kong Presidential Suite on November 9 / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
Chi Wing Lo conducted a brunch event with about 30 journalists worldwide on the morning of the 9th. The best room in Regent Hong Kong was the venue, the Presidential Suite. The hotel unveiled the Presidential Suite for the first time that day.
In a huge city, a hotel
should not just be a place to stay,
it should be a place of rest.
I designed the Regent Hong Kong
to be a peaceful and quiet
Chi Wing Lo
Designer Chi Wing Lo continuously held meetings with the mother of Goodwin’s chairman, Rosana Wang, and communicated with almost all hotel teams to carry out the design work. He said that the spread of COVID-19 in Hong Kong in August 2019, which restricted his movement, actually helped his work. The designer explained, “Since I couldn’t go anywhere else, I could work closely while staying in Hong Kong.”
Presidential tour conducted with designer Chi Wing Lo / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
The 69-year-old designer constantly studied and pondered for his first hotel project. He underwent quarantine six times while visiting his family in Europe. He says he learned much while staying at a quarantine hotel in Hong Kong. “The refrigerator is an example. When you go to a hotel, you must tilt your head to see inside the refrigerator. That’s so inconvenient. So, I put the refrigerator in a sliding drawer.”
Designer Chi Wing Lo, who was in charge of the overall design of Regent Hong Kong / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
Building a new hotel during the COVID period was a series of crises. In April 2020, 85% of the original design plan had to be revised. As material supply became difficult, construction costs gradually increased, and time became pressing, forcing a redesign.
Presidential Suite View / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
Chi Wing Lo said, “There’s something that becomes easier when a problem arises. What was blurry becomes clear, and the requirements are organized.” For example, the window sill in some rooms is a prime example. They made a sill for window cleaners when the old building was first built. They tried to fix the window frame during remodeling, but due to lack of time, they decided not to remove it and add design elements. This led to the creation of the ‘Bronze Garden.’ They collaborated with local artists to create bronze and iron tree sculptures placed on the window sills.
Regent Hong Kong Presidential Suite / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
The Presidential Suite was the most challenging part. 30% was changed, and 70% remains as it was. The aim was to create a space representing the past, present, and future. The Presidential Suite is used for accommodation and as a diverse event space. They made separate entrances for the 16th floor, which houses the living room and reception room, and the 17th floor, which houses the bedrooms.
Presidential Suite Bathroom / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
The bathroom, decorated with jade-colored marble, has not changed much from its appearance 40 years ago. Bathroom amenities are prepared according to the guest’s preferred brand. There is also a swimming pool in the outdoor space, slightly over 200 square meters (approximately 2152.78 square feet). The two-story space overlooking the harbor view also has a fitness room equipped with exercise facilities. At the time of the visit, the hotel had not yet determined the price. The Presidential Suite information is not yet posted on the hotel’s website.
Presidential Suite Outdoor Space / Photo by Hong Ji Yeon
Chi Wing Lo said he finds inspiration in real life. He believes that design is closer to life than art. He also mentioned, “Design is to alleviate discomfort,” and “I design while thinking about what will be used.”
By. Hong Ji Yeon
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