Now on view in Hong Kong is the future of five-star hotels. Opened in September, Hotel Icon is a 262-room tower operated by the hotel school of Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The school runs the property not just as an exclusive destination in the Kowloon district, but also as a fully functioning testing ground for the hospitality industry’s newest amenities and services.
University professors and hospitality professionals work on-site to perfect the visitor experience, maintaining a staff-to-guest ratio of 1.4 to 1. In-room innovations range from advanced air purifiers to the Cybertecture mirror, which displays social-media updates and maps out exercise regimens.
For guests on long layovers, a lounge near the hotel’s Angsana Spa remains open 24/7 as a remedy for jet lag. At Above & Beyond, the 28th-floor restaurant, strategically placed mirrors offer Victoria Harbour views to every guest. Accommodations at Hotel Icon will soon include a suite styled by fashion designer Vivienne Tam, one of Hong Kong Polytechnic’s best-known alums.
Hotel Icon, +852.3400.1000, www.hotel-icon.com
