The Peninsula Hong Kong's 85th Anniversary Celebrations Culminate in a Gala Night to Remember

“The finest hotel east of Suez”, The Peninsula redefined hospitality for all who walked through her famous Lobby and she has been welcoming guests and patrons from around the world ever since.

Now, eight and a half decades later, the grand old lady of Hong Kong commemorates 85 momentous years of tradition well served with a triumphant celebratory gala on Wednesday, 11 December 2013.

The much-anticipated event is the culmination of a year of celebrations at The Peninsula to mark this magical milestone, and will welcome the cream of Hong Kong society for an evening of fine wine, first-class food and the kind of refined joie de vivre that has become synonymous with this legendary hotel. Hosted by The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, it promises to be a night to remember, even for a hotel that is famed for creating memories that last a lifetime.

A STORY WELL TOLD

One of the highlights of the gala occasion will be a spectacular animated projection on the hotel’s façade, featuring the work of renowned Hong Kong artist Mr. Lee Chi Ching, and supported by artistic partners: Hong Kong Arts Centre, Public Art Hong Kong. Using the façade of the hotel as a canvas, Lee’s distinctive and beautiful illustrations will unfold as a celebration of 85 magnificent years of The Peninsula and a salute to Hong Kong and its people for their important role in the hotel’s incredible story.

Lee has been producing comics, illustrations, Chinese ink paintings and Western-style paintings for over 30 years, creating more than 100 publications and winning the Gold Award at the International Manga Award in Japan. He is also an honorary advisor of the Hong Kong Comics & Animation Federation and a member of the Hong Kong Contemporary Artists Association.

Bringing his work to a grand new scale, and to a whole new audience, this stunning tribute to The Peninsula and the city of Hong Kong will kick off the celebrations in the hotel’s incomparable style.

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

Even before the upcoming gala, 2013 has been a landmark year in the hotel’s history, with a full complement of programmes and initiatives launched to commemorate the 85th anniversary. Most noticeable was the completion of the HK$ 450 million room enhancement programme that saw all guest rooms upgraded to meet and exceed the standards of the modern luxury traveller, showcasing the next level of in-room comfort with distinctive design touches and innovative guest-focused technology, reflecting The Peninsula’s tradition of rarefied glamour, and defining the future of luxury hospitality with the world’s most personalised guestrooms.

And while The Peninsula looked to the future with these technological leaps, the hotel also embraced its storied past in the film Tradition Well Served: A Sequel. Produced by Elaine Forsgate Marden, the film draws on the hotel’s vast archives to chart not only the history of The Peninsula Hong Kong and her central role in the narrative of the city, but also the stories of her sister hotels around the world. Traversing the globe and journeying back in time via some incredible footage from years gone by, Tradition Well Served: A Sequel is a timely reminder of why “The Pen” holds such a special place in the hearts of people all around the world.

The Peninsula has also been paying tribute to her unrivalled culinary heritage with a programme of events and special menus. The much-loved Afternoon Tea Dance returned to The Lobby on the first Sunday of every month from March, taking guests back to a more genteel age of grace and charm. Celebrating a milestone of its own, Gaddi’s marked its Diamond Jubilee with a special eight-course menu that featured reinterpretations of some of the classic French dishes that have made the restaurant so iconic, along with the return of elegant tableside guéridon silver service.

The third Sunday of the month saw The Peninsula MINI Clubman touring the length and breadth of Hong Kong to bring gastronomic treats and a taste of Hong Kong’s disappearing culinary heritage to communities. And, on the fourth Sunday of each month, The Lobby became the setting for The Art of Celebration, a carnival of colour and movement that featured vibrant art and delightful performances by organisations such as the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation.

But The Peninsula story is not only about enjoying the good life; philanthropy, too, has always been at the heart of the hotel’s ethos. Through fundraising efforts in partnership with like-minded charitable NGOs and staff volunteerism, The Peninsula has made significant efforts to support the needy during its milestone anniversary year. As part of this commitment to giving back to the community, a charity cheque presentation ceremony will take place on 11 December 2013. The hotel’s Hong Kong-based beneficiary charities include Make-A-Wish®, St James’ Settlement Funeral Navigation Service, the Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, and the newly founded Scholarship for Gastronomic Excellence in Dim Sum.

With so much to celebrate, The Peninsula’s gala celebration promises to be a fitting tribute to 85 years of continuous excellence, gracious hospitality and a tradition well served.

Visit website: https://www.peninsula.com/Hong_Kong/en/default.aspx