First, there has to be a disclaimer here: I’ve been staying at this JWMarriott for over 15 years. As far as I’m concerned, there really are no other hotels in Hong Kong. Over the years, due to meetings, etc., I’ve stayed at the Renaissance Kowloon, the Regal Kai Tak, the Regal Chek Lap Kok, the Island Shang, the Kowloon Shang, and the Renaissance Convention. When Mrs. Gardiner and I lived in China, we were here at least one weekend a month for two years. Without question, then, I consider this property my home in Asia.

All that said, I walk in here after a two year absence, knowing that I’m not known, and that their records and tribal memory are erased.

Check in at the front desk was fast. Because my flight was late, the Exec Lounge was closed. Because I knew I had to catch some emails and at least one phone call, I asked if/where I could get a glass of wine… “lounge is closed, bar is closed” was the initial answer. Fortunately, a Front Desk Manager (Joshua) walked up and solved the issue… “Mr. Gardiner, I’m sorry you arrived too late for the Exec Lounge… please have a wine out of your mini-bar, and I’ll have it comped.” Excellent response!

Rooms have, frankly, not changed in the 15 years I’ve been through here… change in furniture colour, but that’s about it. Beds are Marriott Revive now (ditch the big, hard, square pillows, please?) and very comfy. Toiletries are a house brand, linens are very nice. Good size desk, with power and 100mb internet access at hand. TV is a (compared to everyone else!) smallish tube style. I’m sure they’ll fix this on the next reno. These are not the largest rooms in Hong Kong, and every room is a “corner” with varying degrees of view. What with the smog these days here, a Mountain View Room is cheaper and fully sufficient. If you’re in HKG for a view, either pay up for the Island Shang or the Intercon in TST, or plan to be here a day after a Typhoon scrubs the air.

Location is excellent, though… the hotel (like the Island Shang and the Conrad) sits atop Pacific Place, probably one of the most high end malls in the region. Elevator to the ground floor and you’re 200m to the MTR station. Excellent taxi rank on the Pacific Place traffic circle. Bus and Tram services are easily grabbed from the bridge between Pacific Place and Queensway Plaza. Hong Kong Park (and the Peak Tram) is behind the Shang (short walk) and all of Central is one MTR stop away, on one of the better subway systems in the world.

My meetings went well, and I returned to the JW in the late afternoon. The Exec Floor munchies were as lavish as I remember them. No less than 3 hot dishes, and a huge variety of veggies, chips, nuts, popcorn, etc. This switches over to desert stuff after 8:00p or so. Breakfast is an impressive spread as well. I was especially pleased to see kids allowed. They were all well-behaved, but many hotels no longer allow their younger guests (even though they are included in room rates) to visit the lounge. Good job! The staff in the lounge includes several Filipina’s who’ve been with the JW for years… they really make the place feel like home.

I had my dinner at Fish Bar, a restaurant wedged into the pool courtyard on 7. Service was very good, and the “bucket of shrimp” I had was certainly a gracious helping, Staff very helpful, and the windows and heaters kept the area comfortable. Food here is reliably good.

I asked to have a pair of slacks and a shirt pressed overnight, and they were picked up at 10:00p, and, as promised, returned at 5:30a so I could head to the airport. I ordered room service coffee for 5:00am, and it was delivered promptly. (Although the celadon pot they used was stylish, it didn’t do jack for keeping the coffee warm.) Thankfully, the lounge coffee machine opened at 6a.

Complaints? None, really… one very minor one: at check in, they ask what newspapers you’d like. I checked off the SCMP, WSJ and the FT. My first morning I got USA Today! Second morning, I got nothing… This is a really small issue, but certainly irritating for a hotel charging HKD3500 a night.
Mrs. Gardiner and I, with Kiddo, will be back in March, and we’ll certainly bunk here… no question. My ultimate valuation is whether I will spend my own money to stay in a hotel… and the answer here is YES… I’ve done so before, and will do so again in March. Looking forward to the return. I just hope we get the right newspapers!