Hotel Check: Regal Airport Hotel

Originally published on www.businesstraveller.asia 30/03/2010 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Hotels » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Hotels » Hong Kong »

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WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel is a massive 13-storey building with modern interiors and guestrooms. As the hotel is directly linked to the Hong Kong International Airport, layover passengers can catch a breather in its five-star surroundings. It is also capable of hosting meetings and conferences of various sizes.

WHERE IS IT? The hotel is accessible from the airport via an air-conditioned walkway and it takes only two minutes to walk to the reception. Shopping haven Citygate Outlets at Tung Chung is 10 minutes away by car. The Central business district is a 23-minute train ride on the Airport Express Line.

ROOM FACILITIES There are 1,171 guestrooms in various configurations, mainly Superior and Deluxe. The hotel practises a 24-hour accommodation policy, which means guests can check in at flexible times.

The Regal Club Floors are located on levels 10 to 12, with the lounge on the 11^th providing Club Floor patrons with express check in and check out, breakfast, internet and other services. These guests also enjoy free internet, lounge access, pressing of two pieces and local phone calls.

Despite how close the hotel is to the airport, no noise from the runway can be heard, thanks to soundproof windows that are fitted in every room. The standard rooms are stocked with Regal-branded bath products while Club Floor Rooms have French brand L’Occitane
bath products.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS There are six. Café Aficionado is an international buffet restaurant on the ground floor for all-day dining. I had my breakfast and dinner there and found it pleasant with efficient service. Two Chinese restaurants, Rouge and Dragon Inn, are located on the first and ground floors respectively. Opposite Dragon Inn is Airport Izakaya, a Japanese restaurant with a bar area.

Also on the ground floor is China Coast Bar and Grill, which serves Western cuisine in one half of the restaurant while the other is a pub area with live piano/vocal duet on most nights. The medium-rare Angus beef steak I had here was rich and satisfying.

Regala Café and Dessert Bar is situated right across from the reception area on the second level. It serves various pastas, cakes, coffees and flavoured tea.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES Extensive. The 1,050sqm grand ballroom can be partitioned into three sections and takes a total of 1,500 guests. More spaces are available for business events and functions, with capacities ranging from 28sqm for 12 people in a boardroom setting to 288sqm for 200 for cocktails. Wireless internet can also be accessed in these facilities. There is a small business centre as well, which operates all day with the standard office equipment including fax, workstations, scanner, photocopier and printer.

LEISURE FACILITIES An adequately equipped gym on the third floor is open 24 hours. It also has free weights for lifting and treadmills and bikes for cardiovascular exercises. Access is by room keycard only. On the same floor are two swimming pools: an indoor heated pool (open 7am-10pm) and an outdoor pool (until 8pm) which is at least twice the size of the former. The OM Spa nearby is Thai-style with private treatment suites. Worth mentioning was my hour-and-a-half-long, invigorating traditional Thai massage.

Fact File

HOW MANY ROOMS? A total of 1,171 rooms including 32 suites. The top three residential floors are exclusively for Regal Club guests.

ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The Regal Club Rooms are more spacious than the standard rooms on the non-club levels, have better furniture and come with free internet access and a stereo that allows you to plug in your iPod or iPhone.

PRICE Internet rates for a 24-hour stay in April started from HK$1,950 (US$251) for a Superior Room, available until June 30.

CONTACT 9 Cheong Tat Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, tel 852 2286 8888, www.regalhotel.com

VERDICT A hotel with excellent facilities, varied dining choices and reasonably big guestrooms – the smallest, entry-level Superior Rooms are 27sqm. Its location next to the airport is excellent for transit passengers or those who have to catch a very early or late flight.

Liu Hongzuo