Royal Park Hotel Explained

Royal Park Hotel
Map Type:Hong Kong
Status:Complete
Building Type:Hotel
Architectural Style:Modernism
Location:8 Pak Hok Ting Street
Shatin, Hong Kong
Topped Out Date:1 November 1988
Est Completion:-->
Inauguration Date:1 December 1989
Owner:Sun Hung Kai Properties
Management:or
Operator:or
Governing Body:-->
Floor Count:16
Developer:Sun Hung Kai Properties
Main Contractor:SHK Shimizu
Public Transit:Sha Tin station
Number Of Rooms:443
Number Of Restaurants:3
Number Of Bars:1

The Royal Park Hotel, established in 1989, is one of the largest hotels in Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Owned by Sun Hung Kai Properties, the 443-room hotel is part of phase two of New Town Plaza, the largest shopping centre in the district.

History

Background

The site of the hotel used to be part of RAF Shatin, a Royal Air Force airbase with a single concrete runway. The lot was leased to developer Sun Hung Kai Properties in the early 1980s as part of the development of Sha Tin New Town.

The hotel and the adjacent New Town Tower (an office building) comprise phase two of the New Town Plaza development.

Construction and opening

While under construction, the project was named "New Town Hotel".[1] The main contractor was SHK Shimizu, a joint venture between Sun Hung Kai Properties and the Japanese construction firm Shimizu Corporation. The hotel and the adjacent New Town Tower were formally topped out on 1 November 1988.[2]

The hotel primarily targeted business travellers, particularly those dealing with the manufacturing and garment companies in the industrial estates of the New Territories. The Tiananmen Square massacre occurred while construction was nearing completion, leading Sun Hung Kai to revise its first-year occupancy target for the hotel downwards due to the slump in the travel industry.[3]

The hotel began operations on 3 August 1989 with a soft opening that saw 170 of the rooms put into use.[4] [3] It was formally opened on 1 December 1989 by Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands Graham Barnes.[5] The hotel, built at a cost of around HK$400 million (excluding the land cost), originally had 442 rooms.[6] [3]

2008 Beijing Olympics

During the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the hotel served as an Olympic Village providing accommodation to equestrian competitors and support staff.[7]

Renovations

A renovation of the main lobby was completed in 2005.[8] In August 2007, renovations of the guestrooms were completed.[9]

A renovation of the hotel's largest banquet hall was completed in May 2018. The venue now includes an outdoor garden.[10]

Facilities

It has a total of 443 guestrooms and suites. Dining facilities include Japanese and Chinese restaurants and a buffet serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hotel also has a gym, a swimming pool, and events facilities.[11]

Transport

Royal Park Hotel is within walking distance of Sha Tin station. There is also a Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) stop in front of the hotel.

See also

External links

22.3795°N 114.1885°W

Notes and References

  1. News: SHK Properties to operate New Town Hotel in Shatin . South China Morning Post . 1 November 1988 . Business 9.
  2. News: Topping out for New Town Plaza II . South China Morning Post . 1 November 1988 . Business 9.
  3. News: Hotel aims for business trade . South China Morning Post . 13 September 1989 . Business 4.
  4. News: Royal Park Hotel . South China Morning Post . 3 August 1989 . 23.
  5. News: SHK seeks to change use of factory site . South China Morning Post . 2 December 1989 . Business 4.
  6. News: Royal Park riding high on prime site and top service . South China Morning Post . 1 December 1989 . 1 of advertising pull-out.
  7. Web site: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited Annual Report 2007/08 . Sun Hung Kai Properties . 90 . 2008.
  8. Web site: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited Annual Report 2004/05 . Sun Hung Kai Properties . 48 . 2005.
  9. Web site: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited Annual Report 2006/07 . Sun Hung Kai Properties . 78 . 2007.
  10. Web site: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited Annual Report 2017/18 . Sun Hung Kai Properties . 78 . 2018.
  11. Web site: Fact Sheet . Royal Park Hotel . November 2018.