The newest property in the portfolio of Hong Kong-based Regal Hotels International is a star product in a prime location that will shine even more once the first facilities in the 11 Skies mixed-use development open
Location
Regala Skycity Hotel is part of the future airport city, known as the Skycity integrated complex on Lantau Island, Hong Kong’s largest island. This massive project comprises the existing and expanding AsiaWorld-Expo convention and exhibition centre; the soon-to-come 11 Skies mixed-use retail and entertainment complex with more than 800 shops, including Greater China’s first KidZania theme park that is set to open mid-2024; and offices.
The address draws envy because it is close to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge that connects Hong Kong International Airport with 10 other cities in the economically-rich Greater Bay Area.
Regala Skycity Hotel is just two minutes on foot to AsiaWorld-Expo, while a short free shuttle bus conveys hotel guests to Tung Chung MTR Station and Hong Kong International Airport. From Tung Chung MTR Station, guests can easily access all the fun that the heart desires: Citygate Outlets mall, Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping Cable Car and Ngong Ping Village, as well as the rest of Hong Kong by train. This makes the hotel ideal for business travellers looking to inject leisure time into their itinerary.
Rooms
The hotel is massive, boasting 1,208 rooms and suites across an amazing 17 categories in its inventory. There are several room types with twin beds, providing good accommodation support for residential meeting groups. Various suite options also mean event planners can house VIPs within the same property for logistical ease.
My Premier Seaview Room is a good size at 18m2, with a wardrobe, TV console, and sufficient room to walk around even with my large suitcase standing at the foot of my king-size bed. Double-glazed windows offer top-notch soundproofing, giving me an environment even more peaceful than my own home back in Singapore.
MICE facilities
The Regala Grand Ballroom, Palladium Banquet Hall, and Emerald Banquet Hall are all located on the same level – and it is said that the hotel is the only one on Lantau Island to position all event venues on the same floor. This is great news for event planners requiring several spaces for multi-track conferences or simultaneous conference and exhibition combinations.
The Regala Grand Ballroom can accommodate 1,250 guests theatre-style or 912 guests in a round-table banquet setting. It can also be split into three smaller spaces – Ballroom 1 and 3 are good for 156 guests theatre-style each, and Ballroom 2 for 550 pax in the same layout.
Palladium and Emerald are smaller options for 350 and 150 guests theatre-style respectively. Similarly, both halls are flexible and can be turned into smaller venues for more intimate-sized gatherings.
All venues boast the latest in audio-visual technology, and an in-house team of experienced operations staff is committed to support event planners from start to end of their activations.
Other facilities
Regala Skycity Hotel’s all-day dining restaurant Petra is a spacious and well-lit venue. It seats 250 guests at once. It bustles during breakfast service, offering guests a buffet line and live cooking stations with international, Asian and Halal-certified food options.
An a la carte menu is available for lunch and dinner, and I had the chance to sample a pre-arranged three-course plated dinner on arrival, featuring a crisp smoked salmon salad, a savoury baked halibut fillet, and a satisfying slice of cheese cake with fresh berries.
One level up is Vivace, a beautiful venue specialising in Mediterranean dishes, from Spanish tapas to Italian pastas and seafood. As Vivace overlooks the hotel’s outdoor pool, guests also benefit from a relaxing holiday vibe.
I highly recommend The Jade, another visually-pleasing dining destination within the hotel that I had the pleasure of experiencing during a trip to Hong Kong last December. This venue gets bonus points for the stunning views of the airport and the sea from 12 floors up. Expect your table to be filled with classic Chinese dishes presented in artful ways. For example, the sweet and sour duck with century egg looks like balls of gems placed on a crystal pedestal that is adorned with flowers.
For quick bites, the hotel has vending machines that dispense cup noodles, chips, non-alcoholic drinks, and other snacks. These can be paid with payment apps and the local Octopus stored-value card.
Other facilities within the hotel include a jogging track and outdoor gym on the Sky Deck, five game rooms, and a swimming pool with a spacious outdoor terrace.
Service
Our dinner at Petra was served at a good pace, and service staff were cheerful and chatty. However, after dessert was served, service attention seemed to thin out and my companions and I struggled to get additional servings of drinking water. Perhaps it was due to us dining close to the end of operations, and staff were engaged with clean up. Service was attentive every morning during breakfast.
Verdict
I love the location now for shopping and accessing Disneyland and the rest of Hong Kong by the train network, and can easily imagine how much more I will enjoy this hotel once phase one of 11 Skies is up and running. For those attending events at AsiaWorld-Expo, Regala Skycity Hotel is truly a top accommodation choice.
No. of rooms 1,208
Contact details
www.regala-hotels.com/en/regala-skycity-hotel
