Eva Hui, Group Director of Marketing Communications of the Empire Hotel

Renovations at the Empire Hotel Hong Kong add a touch of elegance

After the completion of a major renovation, the Empire Hotel Hong Kong now exudes an ambience that is elegantly pristine.

Its lobby, the adjoining driveway and parking area have been freshly designed, its club lounge expanded and refurbished, the functionality of its meeting venue - Empire Grand Room - has been enhanced, and the Caf 33 on Hennessy restaurant redecorated. The hotel now offers new and regular guests an experience that is visually rich but doesn't neglect the practical.

"The renovation is a part of our continuing efforts and commitment to upgrade our facilities and enhance our services," said Ms Eva Hui, Group Director of Marketing Communications of the Empire Hotels.

Koichiro Ikebuchi, a Singapore-based Japanese designer who specializes in interior design and hotel furnishing, was commissioned to bring a new style to the hotel's lobby. The international award-winning designer is famed for fostering a blend of natural and artificial light, creating a sense of continuity to both exterior and interior features, as well as applying contrasting textures and materials to enrich the overall appearance.

The Asia Standard Hotel Group Ltd, a Hong Kong-listed company which owns and manages the Empire Hotels, became a big fan of Mr Ikebuchi's design style after the huge popularity of the Empire Hotel in Causeway Bay, which was designed by Mr Ikebuchi and opened in 2009.

With a warm base palette using a wide spectrum of earthy colors, the new lobby appears snug and sleek. The hotel's lower faade uses dark brownish timber; while the furniture imported from renowned Italian firm Giorgetti - which is reputed for high-quality craftsmanship, varies from auburn to hazel in color. And the marble floor presents a mixture of almond and beige.

Moreover, the 500-square-meter lobby with an eight-meter high atrium is layered with soft artificial lights - whether it be floor lamps or table lights - that are finely controlled in terms of brightness, which according to the lighting consultants, intensifies the coziness. Some of the lighting also emphasizes the contours of the pillars as well as the texture of the wall.

With the lower faade clad in ceiling-to-floor glass and wooden strips, the natural lighting and exterior views not only merge with the interior lights, but also manage to augment the sense of spaciousness. The driveway and the parking area which abuts the lobby uses light brown travertine stone walls that have horizontal streaks on the surface, bringing out the sheer beauty of the textural features.

The use of handmade Japanese rice paper wall-coverings and a small trickle of ornaments with hydrangea only make the lobby look that much fresher.

While Mr Ikebuchi was commissioned to design the lobby, the rest of the hotel has been - or will be - refurbished in a manner consistent with the new style, using no more than three colors or same tone of colors, in order to create a minimalist and modern look without stiffness or fuss.

All of the guestrooms have been undergoing phased renovation, with in-room facilities being upgraded including new Simmons mattresses, quality bathroom amenities as well as trendier curtains. The Caf 33 on Hennessy has been refurbished to give a cozy and contemporary look. The outdoor Sky Pool and the Health Club are also planned for renovation with the artistic direction of Mr Ikebuchi.

However, the expanded brand-new club lounge is one exception to this. Discussed and pitched among the hotel's managing team, the club lounge exhibits a sliver of European style, with a white-and-blue color-base, wooden flooring, and white bulky sofas.

The renovation of the club lounge as well as the hotel's meeting venue were aimed at attracting more business travelers, as the hotel is well situated with its convenient transportation links leading to Admiralty and Central, and located in one of Hong Kong's major central business districts (CBD) - only ten minutes' walk from the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

Targeting small and medium enterprises, the Empire Grand Room offers different packages catering to different needs. Video conferencing is also available, and is especially popular during leaner economic times when business travel becomes costly. According to Ms Hui, while breakfast meetings and seminars are the regular needs, the hotel's customized and all-inclusive package priced at HK$5,800 for a half-day meeting is rather popular among listed companies for hosting their annual general meetings.

"We're working to offer our guests truly 'affordable luxury,' and our goal is be the best among four-star hotels," said Ms Hui.

The renovation, which began in 2009, is already paying off. As the city's economy bounces back, the hotel has also been seeing high occupancy rates in recent months.

China Daily

(HK Edition 01/14/2011 page10)