Could hotel staycations be the next best thing when international travel is ruled out?  Rebecca Lo gives her verdict after checking out a number of options in Hong Kong.

A vast swathe of golden beach makes Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel a family favorite. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The North Lantau Highway between Tung Chung and Hong Kong International Airport is typically teeming with vehicles transporting travelers between the airport and the city. Yet on a sunny Sunday in the recent past, the road was virtually empty. From the picture windows of Novotel Citygate in Tung Chung, it was a surreal sight. The calm surrounds made for a relaxing staycation weekend.

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, arrivals in January 2021 dropped 99.9 percent year on year to 4,368 people, of which 2,877 were from the Chinese mainland — also a drop of 99.9 percent. The majority of Hong Kong people self-grounded as many were reluctant to spend two or three weeks in quarantine when they came back to the city. 

To fill empty guestrooms, hotel operators refocused on attracting Hong Kong residents through a variety of incentives. As long as the mandatory quarantine for inbound travellers remains in force, innovative and flexible staycation packages will continue to appeal to pandemic-fatigued locals eager for a break.  

One among the several 1990s-style free-form swimming pools in Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Strict hygiene protocols

With a portfolio of hospitality brands in Hong Kong, ranging from budget to five-star properties, Accor is all about guest experience — even if the concerned guests check in with a handbag as their only piece of luggage. 

“We have rolled out diversified staycation packages, creative dining offers and flexible work solutions offering quality work spaces in a lifestyle environment,” explains Gary Rosen, CEO with Accor Greater China. 

“We reach our members and consumers with products centered on our loyalty program ALL — Accor Live Limitless — through key partnership alliances and activations such as Ctrip and Alibaba’s Fliggy. And we have implemented strict measures on safety and hygiene through our ALLSAFE cleanliness and hygiene program across our entire portfolio of hotels, following regulations introduced by local authorities.” 

Novotel Citygate scores in terms of the scenic spots and hiking trails around it. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Novotel Citygate is a dedicated flight crew hotel, yet we spotted only one uniformed group at breakfast. Other than them, we had the entire restaurant to ourselves. Our package included buffet breakfast and dinner at all-day dining restaurant Essence, as well as access to the hotel’s outdoor pool, gym and Premier Lounge. In comparison to our quiet morning, the dinner crowd was bustling, as the Essence’s seafood selection attracts many Tung Chung residents. 

The pool was a welcome break in between bouts of shopping at nearby Citygate Outlets. The sun disappears behind the building after lunch hour, so those working on their tans will get more out of mornings spent poolside. We liked the nearby trails for an early morning walk, and felt that the hotel was well positioned for a solid escape.

“Staycation guests obviously desire unique experiences, as they spend most of their time in the hotel,” Rosen says. “Novotel Citygate attracts more local expatriates and friends seeking fun and relaxation. The hotel invites guests to rediscover Hong Kong, thanks to its unique location. Packages with local attractions such as Ngong Ping 360 cable car, Lantau hiking package and others have been popular among families, couples and friend groups.”

Guests go through temperature checks at the Novotel Citygate lobby. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Uninterrupted sunset views

A stay at Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel a few months ago felt like a beachside getaway without the hassle of having to carry luggage or passports. We had also considered Tai O Heritage Hotel — more of a boutique property located at the western-most point of Hong Kong. Its past life as a police outpost gives it an appealing colonial charm. The unobstructed views of the sun dropping into the Pearl River Delta are a bonus. Ultimately we decided on Gold Coast Hotel instead, and took advantage of the shuttle bus from Tsim Sha Tsui to get there.

Our package included a set lunch at Satay Inn and a set dinner at Gold Coast Prime Rib. While we enjoyed the authentic Singaporean fare of the former — the duck egg yolk laced deep fried fish skin was particularly delicious — we thought that our surf and turf dinner was a throwback to 1980s-style steakhouses. 

A panoramic view of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline from Kowloon Shangri-La Harbour View Suite. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The same goes for the hotel in general. Its location, adjacent to a beautiful stretch of sandy beach, makes it popular with families. Yet its confusing layout meant that guests in swimwear or track pants had to walk through the all-day dining restaurant Cafe Lagoon to get to the pool or gym. Its 1990s free-form series of outdoor swimming pools including a water slide was perfect for children rather than adults looking to get some outdoor exercise.

Our guest room was similarly dated and lacked basics such as bathrobes. Its best feature was a spacious west-facing balcony with uninterrupted sunset and sea views. We concluded that Gold Coast Hotel’s location made us feel like we were on holiday, but the property could perhaps tweak its layout and consider updating its facilities to compete with more contemporary resorts.

Tai O Heritage Hotel’s past life as a police outpost lends it a colonial charm. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Sunset view from a hotel room balcony at Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Social-distancing challenges

We stayed at Kowloon Shangri-La during Hong Kong’s fourth wave of coronavirus cases, when dining and leisure restrictions were in place. The buffet dinner at Cafe Kool included in our package shifted to in-room dining, while the pool, gym and spa were no longer options to experience. We appreciated the panoramic Victoria Harbour view of Central and the spacious, well-appointed amenities all the more as many of the other amenities were off-limits.

“It appears that local guests opt for packages that include activities within the hotel while overseas guests are always out and about in the city and their main concern when booking is the hotel’s location,” says a spokesperson with Shangri-La Hotels in Hong Kong. “One of the biggest challenges is definitely the social-distancing measures implemented in our restaurants — although they have impacted our business tremendously, we also concur that they are mandatory as they ensure the health and safety of our guests and colleagues.”  

Gary Rosen, Accor’s CEO, greater China, says the company’s hotels have adopted an integrated hygiene and cleanliness program. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

We were surprised at how a buffet dinner via room service was interpreted, as we were treated to a large meal with a multitude of dishes that captured the feeling of a buffet. Yet as it was all served at once, some hot dishes got cold rather quickly. Medium rare steak became well done and fries went limp even as they were kept warm in trolley ovens. We concluded that room service was ideal for breakfast or other one-course meals.

“Staycation has been one of the most popular key word searches in 2020,” Rosen admits. “This trend will well continue in 2021 not only because of the fact that the borders around the world continue to remain closed with uncertainties, but also that staycation has no doubt become a unique strategy for tourism sustainability — especially for holidays, weekends and celebrations.”