The Mandarin turns 60

The hotel, then called The Mandarin, threw open its doors in 1963. It marked a new departure for Hong Kong, which was evolving from a trading port into a sleek metropolis. At 25 storeys, it was the city’s tallest building, and one of the first with central air conditioning, thanks to its seawater system. Masterminded by Hollywood set designer Don Ashton, its glamorous interiors also heralded a new era, with their bold interplay of East and West.

By the 1970s, Hong Kong’s party scene was gathering pace. Showbusiness icons were warmly welcomed at The Mandarin, including comedy greats such as Barry Humphries and Bob Monkhouse. This was also a city that loved to dance – not least when the hotel’s renovated Harbour Room launched in 1973. It had newly gilded décor and a cabaret stage, prowled by singer Eartha Kitt on the glittering opening night.

Over the next few decades, tourism began to ramp up, with visitor numbers at Kai Tak Airport rocketing from 315,000 in 1963 to 2.8 million in 1983. The Mandarin wasted no time in making a name for itself, and in 1984 was voted “best hotel in the world” by The Financial Times and Executive Travel. Innovative ideas helped to keep it at the top – including the opening of its Business Centre in 1980, a first for a Hong Kong hotel.

By 1985, The Mandarin’s owner, Hongkong Land, had seven hotels in its portfolio, including Bangkok’s Oriental Hotel. This iconic addition signalled the group’s growing international footprint, and it rebranded as the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. In Hong Kong, The Mandarin became Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, and the group’s distinctive gold fan logo was launched. Two years later, the group separated from Hongkong Land, and floated on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

1997 brought a momentous event: the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty after 99 years under British rule. As the rain fell, the city’s skyline dissolved into fireworks, and the Union Jack was lowered at one minute to midnight. The hotel, too, played its part in proceedings, hosting UK news anchor Trevor McDonald, who interviewed outgoing governor Chris Patten from a temporary studio on the roof.

In 2006, the hotel reopened after a transformative, nine-month renovation. Sir Terence Conran redesigned the Mandarin Grill + Bar, creating a glass-fronted kitchen – which three years later won the Michelin star it still retains. More plaudits were to follow, from a Michelin star for Man Wah to a place on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for the Japanese-inspired Aubrey, which opened in 2021.

In 2000, the group launched its globally recognised celebrity Fan campaign, inviting the late Sir David Tang, of fashion house Shanghai Tang, to be its first Fan. Society photographer Lord Patrick Lichfield – cousin to Queen Elizabeth II – shot the first campaign, while the award-winning Mary McCartney is now the official photographer. Over the years, all kinds of talents have taken part, from artists and authors to Hollywood A-listers.