Background
Theme Parks are a great way to enjoy a destination especially when you are travelling with family. This is probably why luxury resorts and hotels are now ensuring they have a presence within the park itself. After all who does not want to stay within a theme park? The Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is among the newest additions to this category and has an impressive room inventory. The best part is that it is connected to the Ocean Park one side and the MTR on another which makes it accessible and a great option for your next stay in Hong Kong.
What’s it like?
The hotel has three architecturally iconic towers that have been inspired by the ocean motifs – the Pier Wing, Club Wing and Marina Wing that house 471 rooms and suites, all of which are smoke-free. Taking center stage is a 16-metre floor to ceiling aquarium spanning three floors complete with an artificial coral reef that is currently home to over 400 varied species of fish and will eventually have 1,753 fish in all. The process of adding new fish has been kept gradual so that the fish is able to adapt to the water easily. Look carefully and you can spot thorn fish, butterfly fish and puffer fish among others here. The Club Wing is designed for business travelers and its elegant interiors have been curated by designer Peter Remedios. The design sensibilities here blend ecological themes with warm colours and the open spaces reflect natural light. Done up with modern furnishings this wing is all about understated elegance. The Pier wing is where I stayed and has a double reception on the ground and first level. The Marina wing attached has more rooms as well.
Connecting the three wings is a central lagoon that has a landscaped 1410 sqm swimming pool, attached to a smaller kids pool. The design of the hotel is ecologically sensitive and the building makes use of sustainable timber, aluminum alloy, non-ozone depleting insulation materials and also has water recycling facilities apart from an organic rooftop farm and energy conservation initiatives. There is extensive vertical planting in the hotel exterior auto watering system with raindrops and extensive landscaping all around the lagoon that ensures that the space is green.
Where is it?
The hotel is on the south side of Hong Kong Island and offers stunning views of both the Deep Water Bay and Hong Kong Ocean Park. You can also enjoy some beautiful hiking and jogging trails to come up close with Hong Kong’s finest coastline and country parks. It also helps that the Ocean Park MTR station is attached to the Park so you have access to most parts of Hong Kong with a few minutes of travel. The MTR (Exit B) in fact adds to the accessibility of the Park and the Hotel as well. The Ocean Park can be easily accessed via a private bridge that will take you to the entrance.
Rooms
The 471 rooms include 320 deluxe and premium rooms, eight deluxe suites, 130 club rooms, 11 premier and executive suites, one pearl suite and one presidential suite. In the pier and marina wing, there are deluxe room with city views, premium room with lagoon view, deluxe suite and themed rooms that can be connected with a deluxe room or deluxe suite. The club wing has the club room, club suite , pearl suite and presidential suite. The fish theme is everywhere from the carpets, to the walls and even the bathroom mirrors. The 14 themed guest rooms are for families with kids and include ‘Whiskers Submarine’ (with Ocean Park’s mascot sea lion), ‘Bao Bao Paradise’ (giant panda-themed accommodation) and ‘Redd Forest’ (a red panda themed accommodation). Each of these rooms includes specially designed kids bathroom slippers as well as exclusive toiletries for children from Mustela.
Food and Drink
I ate most of my meals at the Marina Kitchen and Marina Café that serves a large selection of international and local food and also happens to be the all-day dining restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets are served in this restaurant that has 171 covers. You will even find a special ice cream counter at the lunch and dinner buffets apart from an extensive dessert counter. Continuing its ecological focus, there is ethically sourced sea food served as well. The Pier Lounge and Pier Bar is where you can relax with cocktails in the evening. The 126 cover space serves Western cuisine. At the Canton Bistro you can sample classic Cantonese fare. The modern Chinese décor adds a nice vibe to this space that has a capacity of 92 seats. The Prohibition Grill House and Cocktail Bar is designed on the lines of a classic American steakhouse and the menu is inspired by the 1920s prohibition era.
Meetings
The club wing and M club have convenient solutions for business travellers. The executive lounge M Club, offers personalised checkin and check-out services as well apart from complimentary healthy breakfast, tea, coffee, snacks, evening canapés and beverages. A private meeting room is also available for booking. The extensive pillar-free grand ballroom occupies 1200 sqm and can seat up to 80 tables in banquet style. Two meeting rooms and two outdoor venues are also available for conferences, banquets, conventions and other allied activities.
Leisure
The first Harnn Heritage Spa of Hong Kong is located at this hotel and you can try some Thai-styled massages, facials, body scrubs and salon services that are available by appointment daily. If you are a health watcher, head to the fitness centre that operates 24-hours. Equipped with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength equipment this is where you can workout at any time. This apart the Ocean Park offers not just a selection of thrilling rides but a multitude of animal interaction programmes that make the hotel a perfect blend of leisure and business.
Verdict
This hotel has something for everyone. Whether you are a business traveller or travelling with family, there is much to see and do after all a holiday is best enjoyed with the balance of work and fun.
Price: Upwards of ₹9000
Contact: 180 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Bindu Gopal Rao
