Naina NathHong Kong: Ocean Park has so many things to experience that a single day trip is just not enough. Enabling hassle-free overnights is the spectacular Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, which served as my residence for three days during my recent visit to Hong Kong.
The majestic Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is made up of three architecturally iconic towers inspired by the oceanic atolls – The Club Wing, The Marina Wing and The Pier Wing
Soft launched in October 2018, the hotel was officially inaugurated in February 2019. It is a remarkable city resort hotel with 471 smoke-free luxurious rooms and suites (320 Deluxe & Premium Rooms; 8 Deluxe Suites; 130 Club Rooms; 11 Premier and Executive Suites; 1 Pearl Suite and 1 Presidential Suite), environmental themes and an ocean-inspired setting. The lobby features a 16-m tall circular floor-to-ceiling saltwater aquarium that can be viewed from three floors and consists of 1753 fish including covered thorn fish, butterfly fish, puffer fish and many other non-endangered sea creatures. The lighting units, wallpapers, fragrance and the minute details in the guest rooms which include fish-shaped wall fixtures and pillow covers, all amplify the ocean theme.
Modern design, gigantic pool and the superb buffet spread for dinner – compelling reasons for me to come back to this urban oasis of greenery and style.
The hotel is made up of three architecturally iconic towers inspired by the oceanic atolls, The Club Wing, The Marina Wing and The Pier Wing. The Club Wing, conceptualised by renowned interior designer Peter Remedios, sensitively blends environmental themes and the surrounding nature with warm colors, open-plan spaces reflecting natural light and modern tasteful furnishings to create an urban oasis. Here is the executive lounge M Club – a personalised check-in and check-out service where business travellers can work in peace, enjoy a bite, recharge and connect. Services here include breakfast, tea, coffee, snacks, evening canapés, and other premium drink options.
The Marina Wing is for families, and includes few of the themed rooms that are available on the property. The three types of Ocean Park-themed rooms are Whiskers Submarine, Bao Bao Paradise and Redd Forest. These are available at The Pier Wing and Marina Wing and each come equipped with two double beds, kids toys, slippers and toiletries.
I checked into a Premier Room in The Pier Wing which was pool facing. However, my packed schedule did not offer me the luxury of dipping into their beautifully-landscaped 1410 sq. m. swimming pool perfect for families and staycations. Guests can choose between an upper pool for adults to practice laps or take their little ones down to the kid or toddler pools.
Besides the 24-hour room service, the hotel consists of five dining options: The Pier Lounge and Pier Bar with live music every Friday night; Canton Bistro serving Classic Cantonese food; Prohibition Grill House and Cocktail Bar, a classic American steakhouse; Marina Kitchen and Marina Café, where guests can enjoy their buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. I loved the unending spread of international and local fare for the dinner buffet at Marina Café – from exotic snails and lobsters to Wagyu beef and plenty of vegetarian options too. They even had an Indian chef who warmly welcomed us!
“Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel offers the pinnacle of hospitality through sustainable F&B, versatile design and brilliant service. The first City Resort and MICE Hotel on the southern shore of Hong Kong, we ensure a unique getaway experience to travelers from around the globe,” said Edmond Hung, General Manager.
The hotel has its own private bridge offering direct access to Ocean Park. The Ocean Park MTR station is also connected to the hotel by the same bridge and that makes connectivity to any part of Hong Kong city a piece of cake. Just download the MTR app and one can get to any destination with great ease, as signage across Hong Kong is written in English.
Visitors to Hong Kong staying with the hotel gather an out-of-the-box perspective with breathtaking hiking and jogging options that lead through some of Hong Kong’s finest coastline and country parks, including the renowned Repulse Bay and Aberdeen Reservoir as well as the Dragon’s Back trail.
In line with Ocean Park Hong Kong’s core value of safeguarding Planet Earth and a world rich in biodiversity, Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is committed to a sustainable future and reducing its environmental footprint. This includes the hotel façade design which features energy-saving components to keep the building cooler in summer as well as rainwater collection and vertical planting systems. For the project, sustainable timber, non-ozone depleting insulation materials and water recycling facilities were adopted from the starting point. The hotel also has a recycling and waste reduction program, an organic rooftop farm, and energy conservation initiatives in place to reduce energy use while sustaining (and enhancing) the guest experience. The hotel’s management partners with Ocean Park to connect people with nature and inspire guests to be an active part of the solution in conservation.
Meeting Facilities
Fully equipped to stage conventions, conferences, banquets and receptions of any scale or type, the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel has an extensive pillar-free grand ballroom, the largest on the island. Spread over 1200 sq. m. the grand ballroom can seat up to 80 tables in banquet style. There are also two meeting rooms and two outdoor venues for occasions of any kind. With its direct access to Ocean Park, business meetings and conventions can take on an educational yet a fun twist.
