The future of harbour-front hotel The Excelsior Hong Kong looks to be up in the air at the moment, following news that Mandarin Oriental International Limited will be “undertaking a review of its long-term strategic options” concerning the Causeway Bay district property.
According to a statement by the hotel group, current favourable commercial property valuations in the city have motivated it to test the water for a possible sale of the property – the only one in its portfolio not under its Mandarin Oriental brand, and its only four-star hotel.
The future of the hotel has been under question for a number of years already, ever since the group received approval for the development of a 63,500 sqm commercial building on the site back in 2015. While Mandarin Oriental has so far not pulled the trigger on such a decision, the fact this option would remain open to any potential buyers puts added pressure on the hotel’s future.
At this time, Mandarin Oriental says that “no decision has yet been made as to the preferred course of action”, and that it would be “premature to speculate on the outcome of the review at this time”.
The Excelsior Hong Kong has long been a facet of the city’s hotel scene, having first opened its doors back in 1973. [For a review of The Excelsior Hong Kong, click here]
Among its key attractions is Cantonese restaurant Yee Tung Heen, which received a mention as a recommended restaurant in the Michelin Guide to Hong Kong & Macau 2015. [For a review of Yee Tung Heen, click here]
Mandarin Oriental group currently has a total of 29 hotels and eight residences in operation.
