See also Business for InterContinental Hong Kong and Landmark Mandarin Oriental

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Its Plateau floor, which houses the spa and minimalist rooms with Japanese-style futon beds and deep granite tubs, has proved to be hugely popular. Each of the prime Plateau deluxe rooms and suites have tiny balconies—rare in Hong Kong—and glorious views of the harbor. All of the rooms have rainfall showerheads, LCD TV and easy access to the stunning pool, with one side offering a harbor vista. Rooms from $400.

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Since it opened in 1963, this was the only place in Hong Kong where wealthy tourists and foreign bankers and investors would consider staying. They loved the location (with a view of the harbour in the heart of the financial district) and the Chinese antiques and paintings everywhere. Bumping into friends from around the world in the lobby or bar was a rite of passage for old Asia hands. After the handover, though, the hotel began to look and feel dated. In 2005, its sexy sister property, the Landmark opened as a sleek boutique option a few blocks away, and Mandarin took the opportunity to close the grande dame for a $140-million, 21st century facelift. The interiors were gutted and gone are the lacquered Chinese armoires and carved screens. To make the make rooms larger, they enclosed the balconies, incorporating the space into the rooms. The 502 rooms are now in two styles: Verandah, which are white with modern accents, and Taipan, which have an elegant Asian decor with warm woods, leather details, and subtler touches such as Chinese silk pillows and antique statues that add an Eastern reminder to the tailored luxury of the decor. Among the many dining options on property are an updated Clipper Lounge, overlooking the lobby, and Pierre from renowned French chef Pierre Gagnaire on the 25th floor.

Tip: As with any great hotel in this city, you should make use of the superb concierge service for any special requests. We recently had a member who was diverted to Hong Kong on his way to Shanghai. With only two hours’ notice, the hotel was able to send a car to collect him at the airport and secure a reservation for him at the Kee Club for dinner that night.

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Hotels have been trying to knock the Peninsula off its perch as the prime five-star for the best part of a century now—and have not quite succeeded. As others improve, the Peninsula just gets better and better, ready and willing to embrace new technology and trends, as long as the don’t impinge on the dignity of the venerable property. Only recently the Pen, as it is known to all and sundry, took delivery of fourteen brand-new Rolls-Royce Phantoms, customized for its needs. Now that’s style. The rooms are essentially English country home with subtle twists and touches of chinoiserie. Indeed, the whole property feels homey, hardly surprising given that the majority of staff are long serving; when you are working at the top of the hotel trade, there is not much incentive to leave. Insist on a harbor room or, even better, a corner suite, where the bathtub has an unobstructed view of the harbor. Rooms from $474.

For special Indagare benefits, members click the plus sign.