I’ve been to Hong Kong before. Okay, I’ve been in the Hong Kong airport for a connection to an onward flight elsewhere in Asia. Unfortunately, I think this is the case for quite a few Americans. Lately, I’ve been watching Hong Kong from afar. It’s burgeoning art and music scenes, world-class shopping and luxe hotel offerings are making Hong Kong a place for more than just business and layovers. So, I decided, even if for only a couple of days, I needed to check it out for myself.
The Kerry Brand
Hong Kong has no shortage of great hotels. If you’ve been a reader of this site for a while, you know that I have a strong interest in hotels/lodgings that step outside of the traditional definition of “luxury”. As I combed through the 1,000 plus hotel offerings in Hong Kong, I kept going back to the brand-new Kerry Hotel Hong Kong . The Kerry Hotel Hong Kong is one of three hotels in the new, five-star Kerry brand, which is part of the Shangri-La family. The Kerry brand holds the same standards of luxury as Shangri-La, it’s just taking a different approach, and it’s brilliant. It’s thoughtful. It’s innovative. It’s current.
A couple of months ago, I was with some travel professionals who, when I suggested they use Instagram for their business, responded that that wasn’t their target market. Although “that market” wasn’t defined, I knew exactly what market they were referring to. It’s the market that makes up 25% of the U.S. population, that travels significantly more than generations before them and makes up 21% of consumer discretionary purchases (to the tune of three trillion dollars!). And that’s just in the U.S. The Kerry brand has clearly been paying attention to this emerging market. The ones looking for authentic experiences, varying food options, a more casual and less restrictive luxury…and they are ready.
Kerry Hotel Hong Kong
Kerry Hotel Hong Kong, located in the Kowloon cultural district, is the city’s first “urban resort”. Despite being set in the concrete jungle of Hong Kong, guests are privy to green open spaces, an infinity pool, spa, state of the art gym and unlimited dining options that even includes a Michelin star.
From the outside, the Kerry looks unassuming; a modern building amongst modern buildings.
The inside is another story. Designed by Andre Fu, currently one of the most in-demand architects in the world and known for his “east meets west” aesthetic, it is, simply put, elegant. Neutral colors are accented by “pops” of flowers, art and sculptures, floor to ceiling windows give way to a flood of natural light and it is all connected by leading lines that delicately connect the large spaces, creating harmony throughout.
Oh, and it smells really good.
Rooms
There are 546 rooms at the Kerry Hotel Hong Kong and 60% of them have bay views. All 546 rooms are “Smart Rooms”- everything is controlled by remote, guests have access to an e-concierge, and, my favorite, each room comes with a smart phone for guests to use during their stay.
In theory, some of the details of the room are simple. In reality, they add a lot. For example, a master light switch by the bed and cell phone charger chords (for multiple phone types) in the alarm clock.
The rooms are large and, from what I understand, much larger than what you typically find in Hong Kong. The elegance of the main areas of the hotel carries through to the rooms with soothing neutral colors and mixed textures that create beauty while still allowing the views of Victoria Harbour and the city to be the focal point.
There is plenty of storage, a nice little nook with a mirror to freshen up and a sitting area.
The bathroom is large, has a separate tub and shower and…FRONT LIGHTING. I can always tell when a woman was somehow involved in the design of a hotel bathroom.
Dining
Food is a big deal in Hong Kong and the Kerry has no shortage of dining options to choose from. Each is unique in not only their offerings, but their design and vibe. All have outdoor seating options and unbeatable views.
Big Bay Café- The all-day dining option that features a comprehensive breakfast buffet with everything you could imagine and then some. Sunday brunch is quite popular with families.
Hung Tong– A modern Cantonese restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Unfortunately, I did not dine here, but walked through and loved the retro décor and bay views.
Dockyard– Dockyard is a gourmet food hall featuring nine restaurants offering selections from around the world. One even has a Michelin star. And, they have a pretty cool concept: download the app, choose your dish, and it’s delivered straight to your table.
Bong– An Italian and premium steak restaurant open for lunch and dinner.
Lobby Bar– One of my favorites. They have an interesting wine list, variety of food options for both lunch and dinner, and pastries and coffee for breakfast. This is a wonderful place to explore traditional Hong Kong street food.
Red Sugar– Fantastic cocktail bar on the 8th floor. It’s even become a bit of a local hangout with a cool, sexy vibe and an outdoor deck that should be the standard for outdoor decks. It was rainy and windy for me, so I enjoyed my delicious cocktail inside, but still had a fantastic view.
Amenities
Kerry Sports Base Camp-The gym at the Kerry rivals any premium brand name gym. It’s large, it has at least two of everything you would need, and it has what must be the best view in the city. It’s nice enough that they could offer a membership program. In fact, they do. There is a limited number of gym memberships available for locals, which is a concept that will be replicated at all Kerry Hotels.
Kafnu– Kafnu is a very cool co-working space. Technically, they lease space from the Kerry, but Kerry hotel guests get special deals at Kafnu and Kafnu members get special benefits from the Kerry.
Conference and Event Space– The hotel houses the city’s largest pillar-less grand ballroom, with a lovely foyer that looks out over Victoria Harbour. The enormous ballroom can accommodate a banquet of over 1,000. Like, this place is huge. I was a wedding and event planner in a past life and I was instantly wowed when I walked into this space.
Club Lounge- Club lounges are a “thing” in some of the larger cities in Asia and they are quite the treat. Those who use them, love them. You are typically granted access in two ways: (1)if you are a member of the hotel group’s award program (in this instance, Shangri-La’s Golden Circle) and have some status with them or, (2) if you book a “club” room. The Kerry’s club lounge offers an a la carte and buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapes, all complimentary.
Spa– The spa offers a variety of massages, facials and body treatments.
Complimentary mini bar– That’s right!
Unfortunately, I had a lot of rain and wind during my short time in Hong Kong, so I wasn’t able to do a majority of the things I had planned while there. Fortunately, while I technically could have found some indoor activities, I was quite happy being indoors at the Kerry. I can’t imagine spending that time anywhere else. And, when I return to explore more of Hong Kong, I know exactly where I’ll be staying.
You can find out more about Kerry Hotel Hong Kong here.
To explore more, check out Instagram story highlights here.
- With over 500 rooms, the hotel is big, but it never felt like it
- Arriving/leaving early, I HIGHLY recommend using the Kerry’s car service. It’s easy, comfortable and has Wi-Fi
- Book a club room and enjoy the amenities that comes with it
- The street food in the lobby restaurant is a great place to start your Hong Kong foodie tour
- The hotel offers a shuttle that takes you to the sight seeing area of Hong Kong