The Diary of a Hotel Addict
Unveiling Peninsula Hong Kong's New Harbour View Room
© yohanes.budiyanto, 2012
Finally! The wait is over and it is time to unveil the first phase of Peninsula Hong Kong's massive HKD 450 million renovation project that will be fully completed in 2013. The first phase involved room enhancement project on the Peninsula Tower (Phillipe Starck's iconic Felix restaurant on the top floor remains untouched); while renovation on the original building will follow suit on the second phase.
I have waited with much anticipation from the beginning of this year to see the new contemporary look as I have never been a fan of Pen HK's classical design. I was pleasantly surprised to see the overall remodeling as it transformed the hotel so dramatically that I could hardly recognize it. Well, except for its bathroom, which sadly remained largely untouched.
While the new rooms are modern in design and has a harbour view to die for, the room itself is sadly very small and cramped for the price tag. At 42 m2, it is hard to call it spacious, in comparison to not only other top Hong Kong hotels with the same price category such as the Ritz-Carlton (50-65 m2), Landmark Mandarin Oriental's L600 Rooms (56 m2), and The Upper House (70-80 m2); but it is also considerably smaller than its other sister properties in Shanghai and Tokyo, which has a minimum area of 50 m2 and a wider frontage that allows for a separate dressing area.
What it lacks in space is compensated by the comfort value and technological offerings, which is undoubtedly unrivaled anywhere in the world. The Peninsula Hotels pioneered and revolutionized the hotel industry's in-room technology with the introduction of many unique features, such as a Nail Dryer, Outside Temperature Indicator, Internet Radio; but its sister properties in Tokyo and Shanghai took it to the next level by the introduction of the Spa Button and VOIP complimentary internet-based phone calls.
When it seemed that hotels could not innovate further, Peninsula Hong Kong took the world by storm with the introduction of a Samsung Galaxy touch-screen tablet device to control virtually everything in the room, from electric curtains to temperature and room lighting; right down to hotel services directory and in-room dining menus. It is virtually a paperless environment, previously unveiled by the Upper House in Hong Kong with the aid of Ipod device in each of its suites. Peninsula Hong Kong not only provides one tablet, but minimum three in each room that is paired with the VOIP enabled phone system.
The downside? As high-tech as it is, I wasted a good hour just to locate the non-existent of the wake up call function. Although everything is technically connected wirelessly, some functions seemed to jam and hang pretty quickly. I had to call the IT butler to fix the TV, and I eventually gave up in finding music tunes to work in the room. The quality of the VOIP phones was surprisingly lower in comparison to that of Peninsula in Shanghai; and it does not work on phone tree automated system. I finally gave up on the fifth VOIP trial calls to Cathay Pacific when they repeatedly asked me to "press one".
Additionally, the tablet system also enables guests to order room service and other housekeeping requests, such as more bottled water, newspaper, etc. I was exhausted that day and tried the function for some water, only to be kept waiting as obviously it did not work. Lucky I did not use it for the in-room dining as hunger would result in an anger eventually.
Service-wise, The Pen HK has never impressed me as based on my experience as all different departments consistently sending the same message and attitude to me: the lack of enthusiasm, the lack of care, the kind of snottiness you typically find in high end retail shops, and the pride of being on the top and successful that they could not be bothered by critics or feedbacks anymore. Sadly, the service has yet to improve this time around. The concierge and operator still had its high pitch voice when answering my calls for service; the Front Desk Staffs who escorted me to the room gave me a chilling look when I commented how small and cramped the room is; and quickly turned into a defensive and attacking mode by challenging me to upgrade to a Suite with the most irritating tone; and most staffs,-from concierge to staffs at Lobby Lounge and Felix-, appeared consistently tired and un-energetic as if they were forced to work double shifts with the same pay. Things are pretty different in comparison of how I was treated at my #1 perennial favourite hotel: The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong. Although I am a "nobody", I was treated like a rock star there. At The Peninsula Hong Kong, I am simply a nobody. I can't help but thinking if the Pen could spend HKD 450 million on the hardware, surely they have the budget for the "software", i.e. better staff training and SOP enhancement. Perhaps, even SEP program (Snottiness Elimination Program) too?
The plus side? The bed is extremely comfortable; and the view is great too. But who needs 3 touch screen tablets that always seem to jam and hang to make a comfortable stay? For me, service is just as important. I love the feeling of being pampered and being taken care of. After many amazing ultra-luxury hotel stays this year, I can't help but missing the Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong. It is still by far, my favourite hotel of all time.
THE PENINSULA
Salisbury Road, Kowloon
SAR Hong Kong
General Manager: Rainy Chan
Hotel Manager: Joseph Sampermans
Executive Chef: Florian Trento
Architect (circa 1928): W.D. Goodfellow
Architect (Renovation 1994): Rocco Design Architects
Interior Designer (Room Renovation, 2012): Gettys
Interior Designer (Room Renovation, 1994): Richmond International, Arison Henry Design
Interior Designer (China Clipper): Denton Corker Marshall
Interior Designer (Felix): Phillipe Starck
www.peninsula.com/hongkong
Unveiling Peninsula Hong Kong's New Harbour View Room
© yohanes.budiyanto, 2012
Finally! The wait is over and it is time to unveil the first phase of Peninsula Hong Kong's massive HKD 450 million renovation project that will be fully completed in 2013. The first phase involved room enhancement project on the Peninsula Tower (Phillipe Starck's iconic Felix restaurant on the top floor remains untouched); while renovation on the original building will follow suit on the second phase.
I have waited with much anticipation from the beginning of this year to see the new contemporary look as I have never been a fan of Pen HK's classical design. I was pleasantly surprised to see the overall remodeling as it transformed the hotel so dramatically that I could hardly recognize it. Well, except for its bathroom, which sadly remained largely untouched.
While the new rooms are modern in design and has a harbour view to die for, the room itself is sadly very small and cramped for the price tag. At 42 m2, it is hard to call it spacious, in comparison to not only other top Hong Kong hotels with the same price category such as the Ritz-Carlton (50-65 m2), Landmark Mandarin Oriental's L600 Rooms (56 m2), and The Upper House (70-80 m2); but it is also considerably smaller than its other sister properties in Shanghai and Tokyo, which has a minimum area of 50 m2 and a wider frontage that allows for a separate dressing area.
What it lacks in space is compensated by the comfort value and technological offerings, which is undoubtedly unrivaled anywhere in the world. The Peninsula Hotels pioneered and revolutionized the hotel industry's in-room technology with the introduction of many unique features, such as a Nail Dryer, Outside Temperature Indicator, Internet Radio; but its sister properties in Tokyo and Shanghai took it to the next level by the introduction of the Spa Button and VOIP complimentary internet-based phone calls.
When it seemed that hotels could not innovate further, Peninsula Hong Kong took the world by storm with the introduction of a Samsung Galaxy touch-screen tablet device to control virtually everything in the room, from electric curtains to temperature and room lighting; right down to hotel services directory and in-room dining menus. It is virtually a paperless environment, previously unveiled by the Upper House in Hong Kong with the aid of Ipod device in each of its suites. Peninsula Hong Kong not only provides one tablet, but minimum three in each room that is paired with the VOIP enabled phone system.
The downside? As high-tech as it is, I wasted a good hour just to locate the non-existent of the wake up call function. Although everything is technically connected wirelessly, some functions seemed to jam and hang pretty quickly. I had to call the IT butler to fix the TV, and I eventually gave up in finding music tunes to work in the room. The quality of the VOIP phones was surprisingly lower in comparison to that of Peninsula in Shanghai; and it does not work on phone tree automated system. I finally gave up on the fifth VOIP trial calls to Cathay Pacific when they repeatedly asked me to "press one".
Additionally, the tablet system also enables guests to order room service and other housekeeping requests, such as more bottled water, newspaper, etc. I was exhausted that day and tried the function for some water, only to be kept waiting as obviously it did not work. Lucky I did not use it for the in-room dining as hunger would result in an anger eventually.
Service-wise, The Pen HK has never impressed me as based on my experience as all different departments consistently sending the same message and attitude to me: the lack of enthusiasm, the lack of care, the kind of snottiness you typically find in high end retail shops, and the pride of being on the top and successful that they could not be bothered by critics or feedbacks anymore. Sadly, the service has yet to improve this time around. The concierge and operator still had its high pitch voice when answering my calls for service; the Front Desk Staffs who escorted me to the room gave me a chilling look when I commented how small and cramped the room is; and quickly turned into a defensive and attacking mode by challenging me to upgrade to a Suite with the most irritating tone; and most staffs,-from concierge to staffs at Lobby Lounge and Felix-, appeared consistently tired and un-energetic as if they were forced to work double shifts with the same pay. Things are pretty different in comparison of how I was treated at my #1 perennial favourite hotel: The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong. Although I am a "nobody", I was treated like a rock star there. At The Peninsula Hong Kong, I am simply a nobody. I can't help but thinking if the Pen could spend HKD 450 million on the hardware, surely they have the budget for the "software", i.e. better staff training and SOP enhancement. Perhaps, even SEP program (Snottiness Elimination Program) too?
The plus side? The bed is extremely comfortable; and the view is great too. But who needs 3 touch screen tablets that always seem to jam and hang to make a comfortable stay? For me, service is just as important. I love the feeling of being pampered and being taken care of. After many amazing ultra-luxury hotel stays this year, I can't help but missing the Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong. It is still by far, my favourite hotel of all time.
THE PENINSULA
Salisbury Road, Kowloon
SAR Hong Kong
General Manager: Rainy Chan
Hotel Manager: Joseph Sampermans
Executive Chef: Florian Trento
Architect (circa 1928): W.D. Goodfellow
Architect (Renovation 1994): Rocco Design Architects
Interior Designer (Room Renovation, 2012): Gettys
Interior Designer (Room Renovation, 1994): Richmond International, Arison Henry Design
Interior Designer (China Clipper): Denton Corker Marshall
Interior Designer (Felix): Phillipe Starck
www.peninsula.com/hongkong