The Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong, China – Hotel Photography

Hotel photography

Michelle Chaplow and the Hotel Essence team were commissioned by Famous Hotels of the World to complete an editorial photoshoot of the Peninsula Hotel. This hotel has the largest private collection of Rolls-Royces in the world, and a chauffeur-driven Rolls is without doubt, the best way to  arrive in style. This idiosyncrasy of the hotel had to be captured on camera. The experienced chauffeurs navigate the streets of Hong Kong with ease, you can see the happiness of the bridal party in a car.  In Hong Kong many brides wear the traditional Chinese red to symbolise good luck, happiness and prosperity. The assignment also included luxury interiors, the spa, the famous lobby bar which serves the most exquisite afternoon tea, the orchestra that plays in the lobby and the world-famous bell boys wearing their traditional white pillbox hats that are emblematic of the Peninsula.

Hotel experience

This luxury colonial-style hotel is referred to by many in the industry as “the Grande Dame of the Far East”. Guests are picked up from the airport and driven to the hotel in the ultimate style of a Rolls, before checking into their rooms where they are welcomed with pillow gifts and fresh exotic flowers.

The superb afternoon tea in the lobby of the Peninsula is something every visitor to Hong Kong should add to their “Must Do” list – the menu features everything from the classical to the totally oriental. The lobby is also a hotspot for grand events and business meetings. If you enjoy people watching, there’s no better place in town than the hustle and bustle of the Peninsula. The attentive service, fashionable restaurants, fabulous cuisine and spa all provide superb guest experiences.

The hotel has an array of dining spaces including the Michelin-star French restaurant Gaddi’s, the contemporary European Felix, which provides guests with breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour, and Spring Moon, a traditional Cantonese restaurant, also Michelin-starred. Chesa offers a traditional Alpine experience to guests, The Verandah is Hong Kong’s very first fine-dining continental buffet concept, Imasa provides a Japanese menu, and the Lobby can be relied on for international all-day dining and the acclaimed Peninsula Classic Afternoon Tea. Finally, the Peninsula Boutique and Café offers a cosy yet sophisticated and uber stylish setting for guests.

Hotel’s history

The legendary Peninsula Hong Kong opened its doors on 11 December 1928. It provides unforgettable views over the bay of the harbour and has an interesting mix of British and Chinese history.

Located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon,the Peninsula is a Select Member of The Most Famous Hotels in the World and the flagship property of The Peninsula Hotels group. The hotel is also part of the Hong Kong and Shanghai hotels group. As previously mentioned, it is well-known for its extensive fleet of Rolls-Royces, which are all painted in the hotel’s distinctive shade of green and were purchased in 2006.

On Christmas Day in 1941, when the Battle of Hong Kong came to an end, a group of British colonial officials went to the Japanese headquarters on the third floor of the hotel and surrendered. The governor of Hong Kong who led the officials was transferred to a Shanghai prison after being held in one of the hotel’s rooms for two months. The hotel, which was renamed “Tōa Hotel” (“East Asia Hotel”) regained its original name once Japan was defeated and the British managed to reclaim control of the colony.

In 1994, the Peninsula Hotel underwent an extension in the form of a 30-storey tower. The building added 132 rooms, alongside office space and shops spread across ten floors. A helipad was also installed on top of the tower to transport VIP guests from the airport to their accommodation in just 7 minutes.

The Peninsula Hotel has hosted many famous guests throughout its illustrious history, including Golden Hollywood stars Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard.