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| · November 25, 2003 · |
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· A New Look for Hong Kong's Most Acclaimed Social & Meeting Venue KOWLOON, Hong Kong (November 25, 2003) - InterContinental Hong Kong's Ballroom and harbor view function rooms recently underwent a complete renovation. As of September 2003, the hotel's meeting and function space has a stunning new look, created by Chhada Siembieda & Associates (the hotel's original design team), who have brought back the sleek contemporary design for which the property has always been renowned.
This renovation is most timely, as InterContinental Hong Kong received the award for "Asia's Leading Conference Hotel" at the prestigious World Travel Awards, held in New York City in October. Now the hotel's conference facilities are even better than ever, as the InterContinental Ballroom and harbor view function rooms all have a fresh modern decor. While classic and glamorous, they also feature state-of-the-art technology and design elements. New Decor The InterContinental Ballroom, with its signature white marble staircase, has long been the ideal venue for special events in Hong Kong. Following this past summer's renovation, the grand white marble staircase leads guests to a fabulous renovated space featuring stylish finishes and furniture chosen for their glamour and contemporary aesthetics. Continuing the theme of the hip and stylish lobby (which was totally renovated last year), the team of designers from Chhada Siembieda & Associates (Australia) has custom designed furniture and lighting that melds international design trends with fabrics that echo ancient Chinese motifs and traditions. A palette of celadon and moss greens, marigold yellow and burnt reds, creates positive Feng Shui and a warm, luxurious atmosphere. Copper silk and winter-white faux leather, designed and woven in Italy especially for the hotel, line the walls and elegantly simple chairs and sofas will feature rich mohair and chenille. In the InterContinental Ballroom, a stylized bamboo design has been created for the carpet, and the walls will glow with the soft warmth of feathered Sycamore timber. Oversized torch lights will highlight fabric panels in pale, shimmering gold to create perfect acoustics. A private room was created for the use of brides whose reception is being held in the Ballroom. This uniquely feminine space features raspberry and soft yellow furnishings, a curvaceous, tufted upholstery sofa, a 'movie star' dressing table, a mirrored changing room, private, marbled bathroom and a beautiful space to change or relax with the bridal entourage. The hotel's eleven harbor view function rooms were also totally renovated. Continuing the chic contemporary design of the Lobby, the function space is lighter and brighter with light wood and taupe, beige and bamboo fabrics and patterns. New Names All the function rooms now have new names inspired by the hotel's renowned good feng shui and wood element. The new names, associated with the names of trees, represent growth, stability and prosperity in the Chinese culture. As with Chinese tradition, the older the trees, the more they are valued and treasured. In fact, the Buddhist worship of ancient trees (such as Hong Kong's famed "Wishing Tree") is not uncommon. As per the Chinese proverb: "A hundred year old tree should be respected like a decent man." According to one of Hong Kong's most acclaimed feng shui masters, InterContinental Hong Kong, acclaimed as one of Hong Kong's most auspicious "feng shui" buildings, is enhanced by the wood element. The new names of the function rooms, all reflected in one Chinese character are contemporary and elegant, thus reflecting the new contemporary decor: Elm, Pine, Cypress, Maple, Palm, Poplar, Willow, Cherry, Peach, Catalpa and Birch. All function and meeting facilities have personal Meeting Butler Service, with a dedicated butler to attend to your every need. In addition, the professional Catering & Conference Service Managers can custom-design the perfect corporate meeting, social event or the perfect wedding. Our staff will handle every detail of your event with efficiency and flair, leaving you free to focus on the needs of your guests. New Technology & Audio-visual Features The renovated function space features the latest audio-visual technology, with flat plasma screens, high-speed broadband wireless access and digital signage. In fact, all of the original audio-visual, lighting and control systems throughout the Ballroom and harbor view function rooms were totally replaced with advanced, state-of-the-art technology. No fewer than 32 high-power, full range loud-speakers were permanently installed in the ceiling of the Ballroom, providing incredibly high definition layered audio throughout the venue. Loudspeakers in the harbor view function rooms and pre-function area are of very high quality -- matched with a sub-woofer in a 4:1 ratio, providing full range sound with an extended low frequency response. New features include: * The Ballroom and function rooms feature new digital signage (42" plasma screens), which has the capability of displaying graphics, power point, video, movie and real time internet images, thus providing exciting options for corporate functions or weddings and social events. * Display units outside the Ballroom and the harbor view function rooms have interactive features with touch-screens, allowing guests to find their seating assignments or browse for event information. * The Central Control area for the Ballroom and pre-function area is an industry standard, expandable, programmable controlling device with fully customizable software. Through the network of intuitively designed touch screens and LCD read-out control panels connected to it, it has full control of all audio, video and lighting related systems within the Ballroom, Bridal Room and pre-function areas. * The harbor view function rooms operate using "intelligent room" combining systems. Standard mobile racks are equipped with all the audio, video and wireless microphone systems required. * A super high bandwidth, three co-ax video infrastructure system was installed within the Ballroom and pre-function area. All cabling and processing equipment allows the routing of composite, S-Video, component and RGsB video signal formats. * A number of standard format audio video input/output panels, accepting a wide variety of source types, are situated around the Ballroom, pre-function area and harbor view function rooms to enable innovative stage setting. * A very high quality wireless microphone system was installed which provides interference free operation and allows for any number of microphones to be used simultaneously in any of the hotel's function areas. * High-speed ISDN lines were also installed in the Ballroom and all function rooms to allow for video conferencing. * A 10 MB broadband line allows high-speed wireless hook-up to the internet in all the function space, as well as the Ballroom. For further information on InterContinental Hong Kong's function and meeting space, please contact our dedicated Catering & Conference Service team at tel: 2313-2212 or e-mail: hkghc_catering@interconti.com. Media Contact: Carole L Klein (Hong Kong) Director of Public Relations InterContinental Hong Kong 852 2313 2335 carole_klein@interconti.com Melanie Brandman (U.S.) President, The Brandman Agency 212-683-2442 Melanie@brandmanpr.com |
| Produced by Judi Janofsky, Rich Steck and the Golf Press Association |