Hotels

After years of declining tourism -- due to events like the September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) -- Hong Kong is once again a hotelier's dream. While long-distance tourism in Hong Kong is increasing at a steady pace, regional tourism accounts for most of the surge in growth -- thanks to a huge influx of mainland Chinese who, because of relaxed visa regulations, are filling Hong Kong's hotels in ever-increasing numbers. A never-ending parade of conventions, trade fairs, and other events also contributes to Hong Kong's healthy tourism industry.

Hotel occupancy in Hong Kong now stands at 86%, with increased demand causing room rates to rise. Hotels are not cheap in the SAR, especially when compared with those in many other Asian cities. Rather, prices are similar to what you'd pay in major U.S. and European cities, and while US$175 might get you the best room in town in Topeka, Kansas, in Hong Kong it will get you a small, undistinguished box not unlike a highway motel room. In other words, except for the cost of getting to Hong Kong, your biggest expenditure is going to be for a place to stay.

Still, bargains abound, especially on the Internet. Additionally, upper-end hotels may offer special packages, including weekend getaways, off-season incentives, and upgrades, while lower-end hotels may offer special promotional rates in the off season.

You should always book rooms well in advance, especially if you have a particular hotel, location, or price category in mind. The SAR's biggest hotel crunches traditionally occur twice a year, during Hong Kong's most clement weather: in March through May and again in October and November. In addition, major trade fairs at Hong Kong's convention center can wreak havoc on travelers who arrive without reservations; on one of my visits, all of Hong Kong's hotels were fully booked. Unsurprisingly, prices are highest during peak season and major trade fairs. While bargains are abundant during the off seasons, many hotels use their published rack rates during peak season and major trade fairs.

As for trends in the hotel industry, Hong Kong's biggest markets nowadays are business travelers and tourists from mainland China. This translates into crowded elevators and lobbies in the moderately priced hotels that Chinese frequent. Hotels catering to executive-level business travelers, meanwhile, have beefed up business services, from state-of-the-art business centers to in-room high-speed or wireless Internet connections.

Hotels have also improved services and in-room amenities, so that even moderately priced rooms nowadays have hair dryers, room safes, minibars or refrigerators you can stock yourself, hot-water kettles with free tea and coffee, and usually cable or satellite TVs with in-house pay movies. Nonsmoking floors are common in virtually all hotels except for some of the inexpensive ones. Most hotels also have tour desks or can book tours for you through the concierge or front desk.

Unless otherwise stated, all hotels in this guide have air-conditioning (a must in Hong Kong), private bathroom, and telephones with international direct dialing. Room service (either 24 hr. or until the wee hours of the morning), babysitting, and same-day laundry service are standard features of very expensive to moderate hotels, as are Western and Asian restaurants and business centers. Many also offer health clubs with fitness rooms and swimming pools free for guests (though a few charge extra for their use).

Some hotels even differentiate among their guests, charging health-club fees, for example, for those who book through a travel agent but not for those who pay rack rates (the maximum quoted rates). Guests booking through travel agents may also receive fewer amenities. Note that while many hotels allow children under a specific age (usually under 12) to room free with parents, there are restrictions. Some allow only one child, while others allow a maximum of three people in a room. All charge extra if an extra bed is required.

It's nearly impossible to predict what might happen over the next few decades, let alone the next few years. In 1985, there were 18,180 hotel rooms in Hong Kong. Today that number has swelled to more than 47,000, with more on the way. Only one thing is certain: If the tourists continue to pour into Hong Kong, hotels will continue to happily raise their rates.