When it first opened its doors on December 11, 1928, The Peninsula Hong Kong instantly became the pinnacle of luxury hospitality in the East. The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel has been celebrating its milestone 85th birthday in a host of ways, including a slew of festive offerings and releasing an updated version of the interesting documentary Tradition Well Served, about the history and legacy of the Peninsula brand. The festivities will continue on December 11, when the luxury hotel will host a special gala commemorating its opening day, led by The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, the parent company of The Peninsula Hotels.
The year of celebration kicked off with The Peninsula Hong Kong’s mammoth $60 million revamp, which included new guest room technology such as 3-D TVs, as well as the opening of the classic Old World Bar on the hotel’s second floor. Throughout 2013, the Peninsula continued to honor its anniversary with a list of exceptional offerings, from special room rates (including airport transportation in a Rolls-Royce and the option of a 15-minute helicopter ride) to three-hour-long spa journeys.
Of notable mention, however, is that documentary. During the 45-minute film, which will be shown in all of the Peninsula guest rooms, you’ll get an in-depth look at archival footage of the brand’s destination cities from the 1900s to 1940s, historical photos and interviews and a peek into the life of the Kadoorie family, the founders of the HSH. You’ll also learn about how the hotels are uniquely connected to their destinations and communities, such as how the Bangkok outpost is involved in Loy Krathong (a festival in which locals honors the water spirits by placing candlelit floats in rivers) and how the Tokyo location participates in the cherry blossom festival.
In case you missed any of the festivities earlier this year, there’s still plenty more to come in 2014. The “Tradition Well Served” memorabilia exhibition will be on display at the nine Peninsula properties — the brand’s 10th entry, The Peninsula Paris, will open in 2014 — and you can expect details soon regarding specific dates and the exhibits’ more in-depth features.
Photo Courtesy of VFM Leonardo Inc
