Great New Venues in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s dynamic economy has taken some hits during this financial crisis, but hotel expansion remains on the boards. Recent entrants include the 50-room Regal iClub Hotel, Regal Hotels International’s sixth property in Hong Kong, located in the Wan Chai district. The new, 117-room Upper House, the first property in Hong Kong run by Swire, owners of flag carrier Cathay Pacific, became a nonsmoking hotel earlier this year. The 492-room Mira Hong Kong, on Nathan Road, has been transformed into a hip enclave by a $65 million renovation. The 150-room Hotel Indigo, an InterContinental Hotels Group boutique property, is set to open in Wan Chai, on Hong Kong Island, in 2012. Accor is building the largest Ibis in the Asia Pacific region—the 550-room Ibis Hong Kong Sheung Wan—in downtown Hong Kong, with the opening planned for early 2012. The city will host a Wine & Dine Festival along the West Kowloon Promenade in late October, while November has been named Wine & Dine Month, with food districts and party hotspots offering wine and food promotions. In the meantime, iPhone users can check out restaurant recommendations via the Hong Kong Local Delicacies iPhone app (downloadable from the iTunes app store).