The Peninsula Hong Kong
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The Peninsula Hong Kong is one on the most famous hotels in the world. Founded by members of the Kadoorie family, the hotel today is part of the Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels group headed by Michael Kadoorie.
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History
It opened in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong in December of 1928, built with the idea that it would be "the finest hotel east of Suez." Passengers arriving in Hong Kong by ocean liner disembarked onto the quais of Kowloon plus, it was the last stop on the trans-Siberian rail link that brought travelers from Europe. As such, the Peninsula hotel was ideally situated to take advantage of the increasing number of wealthy visitors to the area.
From the moment the hotel opened its doors to the first guest, the Peninsula name has been synonymous with welcoming the rich, the famous, the titled and the titans of industry to a place of unsurpassed luxury and service.
On December 25, 1941, at the end of the Battle of Hong Kong, British colonial officials headed by the Governor of Hong Kong, Mark Aitchison Young, surrendered in person at the Japanese headquarters on the third floor of The Peninsula. The Hotel was then renamed The Matsumoto Hotel.
Features
In 1994, a 30-storey tower was added in the same original style and the hotel installed a helipad for clients. It is the only rooftop helipad in the territory, excluding the rooftop heliport of Shun Tak Centre and those in hospitals. The most expensive, and the last colonial hotel in Hong Kong, the Peninsula is a place for those willing to pay several thousand US dollars per night for one of its exclusive suites.
The bar-restaurant Felix, located on the 28th floor, was designed by Philippe Starck. On of the more unusual and notable design features of the hotel is the layout of the 28th floor men's washrooms, which have a wide panorama window above the urinals, providing male guests with a wonderful view.
The Peninsula in fiction
The Peninsula is featured in several movies, including:
Other "Peninsula"
Main article: The Peninsula Hotels
There are other "Peninsula" hotels in the worldwide group:
- The Peninsula New York
- The Peninsula Chicago
- The Peninsula Beverly Hills
- The Peninsula Bangkok
- The Peninsula Palace Beijing
- The Peninsula Manila
See also
External links
- Hotel website (http://hongkong.peninsula.com)
- Heliservice (Hong Kong) Limited operates flights from the hotel's helipad (http://www.heliservices.com.hk/location.html)
- The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH) (http://www.hshgroup.com/)