Alluring style, luxurious service

A boutique hotel in a gritty area of Sheung Wan is an award-winning architectural wonder and is uplifting the neighbourhood.

The Mercer Hotel is located on Mercer Street, a tiny road off Jervois Street in Sheung Wan, surrounded by metal recycling centres, sign shops, apothecaries, herbalists, coffee and tea sellers and many other small businesses, but just around the corner are hulking high-rises, The Cosco Tower and The Millennium, forecasting the changes to the area that are already underway. Already new restaurants and bars are opening near-by to cater to the guests of this striking new hotel and there are Michelin-starred eateries within walking distance for the guests. Officially opened in April 2011, The Mercer

Hotel is the latest offering of the Boutique Series by Kosmopolito. In Central, the group also runs Central Park Hotel on Hollywood Road and Lan Kwai Fong Hotel @ Kau U Fong in SoHo. The new boutique hotel houses 55 spacious and luxuriously furnished rooms and suites, catering for stylish business and leisure travelers who appreciate design, technology and personalized service.

General Manager Rebecca Kwan, who manages the three hotels in Central, is the consummate hospitality professional, yet never failed to overlook even the smallest detail. She personally chooses and takes care of the flower and plant presentations in the hotel and searches around for the deluxe and refreshing amenities, such as a Sicillian blood orange extract to ensure a ‘pampering’ guest experience, exhibiting a care and attention that carries through all her duties. Passion and enthusiasm are her core beliefs in being successful in hospitality industry.

“It took me quite a while to choose the right Chinese name for this hotel because we want the name to be unique but easy to remember for a luxury, independent boutique hotel in this up and coming location. The English name is the name of the street, Mercer. For the Chinese one, we chose a name with same pronunciation as the district, Sheung Wan, but with another depth in the meaning of the characters. “尚 pronounces as Sheung” signifies exclusivity and luxury and “圜 pronounced as Wan” indicates environment, surroundings” and that is the impression we wish to give to this luxury boutique hotel property, a pampering boutique hotel experience. Fortunately the owner was very supportive with the idea.”

“This hotel is in a very interesting location, as new art galleries, designer boutiques and restaurants opening in between the older, more traditional types of shops and industries. Guests are also attracted to the near-by Man Mo Temple, the Cat Street open markets, Hollywood Road antique shops, Herbal Medicine Street, the Dry Seafood Market, and the Ginseng and Bird’s Nest Market are all within 10 minutes walk. The hotel will bring in more tourists to this heritage district, where our guests can see a version of old Hong Kong and feel the local history,” she said. That’s no wonder why the hotel was introduced in New York Times as soon as it opened and the Sheung Wan district was described as akin of New York’s meatpacking district.

This fascinating location matches exactly with the idea of boutique hotels and also the concept of new generation of luxe traveler. Apart from being pampered, they are also looking for entertainment and  stimulation in their travel experience. They demand authenticity and want to be immersed in culture. They prefer less ostentatious places, off-the-beaten-track destinations and areas that have preserved fascinating cultures and traditions.

Boutique hotels and design hotels are becoming an indispensable segment in the hospitality industry. Before there were mainly small and independent owners of these properties, but recently even international hotel chains have started to brand series of hotel lines as “boutique” to cater for this fast-growing market. Each has its own characteristics; all trying to add an X factor in the standardized hotel formula. “It is really amazed to see the growth of boutique hotels, especially in China.” Kwan said.

“For guests in The Mercer, we provide the luxury of an alternative; we ensure they are well taken care of by providing hassle-free service with free wifi, breakfast buffet, local calls and minibar. Every room is equipped with a DVD player and an iPod dock. There is also a coffee machine, and a microwave in the One Bedroom Suites. The hotel also has a select DVD library. The staff is constantly updating our website especially designed for in-house guests with timely information about events, attractions and what’s happening in town.” Kwan added. “We try to provide everything at their finger tips, so that guests feel more at home here.”

Except for the tiny balcony off the hotel dining room, the entire hotel is non-smoking as people are more concerned for their health. The non-smoking policy can ensure every guest has a refreshing experience.

“The Mercer, because of its proximity to the Sheung Wan MTR and Macau Ferry Terminal, is a favourite of art dealers and wine distributors, alongwith many of the staff from the auction houses who come to Hong Kong in spring and autumn. People in finance are within walking distance of Exchange Square and ifc, and other big banks and financial institutions,” Kwan added.

She said, “However, we try to keep a balance of around 65 percent business and 35 percent leisure travellers and always strive for an international clientele that reflects the reality of Hong Kong.”

The hotel won the “China’s Most Successful Design Award” prize this year for Barrie Ho, a local Hong Kong architect who’s vision of dividing the exterior into blocks, demarcated by extended floors on different sides of the building, a bit like stacked dice, was carried through with a black and white colour scheme. Also the lowest blocks are brightly lit at night, making the neighbourhood glow. The lowers floors offer cozy deluxe rooms, and the upper floors hold the spacious one bedroom suites.

“The hotel has done really well since its opening,” Kwan said. “We have already gained quite a few reviews on the web. Guests comment The Mercer is a gem in the city, with good value of money, friendly service, everything is well taken care of so we have gained lots of referrals already.”

“We are planning to work more closely with the surrounding restaurants, galleries and shops. At the moment, we have joined HKHA charity steps for Unicef, and we will work with some restaurants who are supporting the local charities. Also, in order to enrich the guests’ experience, we are looking into adding new elements, like yoga class in the room package to ensure their unique experience get extended during their stay at The Mercer,” she said. 

FAST FACTS
• Kosmopolito Hotels International Limited is a fastgrowing developer, owner and operator of value, midscale, upscale and boutique hotels in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and China.

• KHI owns and manages 24 hotels, of which 7 seven are under development.

• Kosmopolito Hotels International Limited was set up in January 2007 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October 2010.