I spent three days in Hong Kong this week…and never stepped outside.
It was a big week in Hong Kong for my other business and my company hosted meetings at the Grand Hyatt. We arrived on Tuesday, took a cab directly to the hotel, and I did not step outside the hotel until I returned to the airport on Friday.
This is not to lament and certainly not to brag. I quite enjoyed my stay at the Grand Hyatt, which was my first. The Grand Club was a welcome oasis in the morning and evening to sandwich a long day of meetings. The food was good, not great, but I particularly appreciated the friendly and sincere service. Stay tuned for a full review of that property.
While my salesman went out at night, I slept. It’s not like we finished our days early and I’m too old to go partying at night…not that I ever did when I was young and married…
In that sense, the meetings could have been anywhere and it would not have made a difference. I did enjoy a great view from my suite, though:
Last year we stayed at the Hyatt Sha Tin and commuted in each day. We also went to others instead of hosting the meetings ourselves. This year worked out much better, even if I never stepped out of the hotel.
CONCLUSION
God Save The Points messaged me as I was leaving. Turns out he was in town all week. There are readers that I would have loved to meet as well and we could have hosted a joint event. What a shame. But I’ll be back next year…
Do you ever fly almost 16 hours to a city only to stay in a hotel for three days and then fly back? This wasn’t even a mileage run!
I normally stay at the JW Marriott when I’m in Hong Kong. You truly don’t even need to step outside. Take the airport express to central, then MRT to Admiralty and walk into the hotel from the mall.
Kinda sad, really.
I did three days of morning-to-night meetings at Bellagio, in Las Vegas, a few years ago. But it was Vegas (which I loathe). And it was August! Dressed in a suit and tie I didn’t dare step outside, where the temperature never rose above 115 F.
But to spend three days in fantastic Hong Kong and never leave the hotel? I’d have at least walked 5 minutes to the Star Ferry and taken a quick trip to Kowloon and back, just for a change of scene.
“Do you ever fly almost 16 hours to a city only to stay in a hotel for three days and then fly back?”
Never have. And I sure hope I never have to. I’ve done a fair number of frivolous trips where I’m mostly reviewing flights, and only have a half a day or so to explore. But three days stuck in a hotel sounds absolutely miserable. I’d have to find a way to get out, even if it was just 15 minutes to go grab some dumplings.
Back in the fifties and sixties, and earlier, Wanchai had just about the raciest nightlife anywhere ( The World of Suzie Wong). The area is now pretty tame, since the land reclamation and building of the convention centre, including the GH.
It’s always more wise to get adequate sleep on business trips; too many people try to “burn the candle” and are not at their best as a consequence.