GBA4 | GBAFOCUS Friday, March 19, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY Leisure Are Could hotel staycations be the next best thing when staycation international travel is ruled out? Rebecca Lo gives breaks her verdict after checking out a number of options in Hong Kong. welcome? A vast swathe of golden beach makes Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel a family favorite. he North Lantau Highway between as the Essence’s seafood selection attracts Lagoon to get to the pool or gym. Its 1990s Tung Chung and Hong Kong Inter- many Tung Chung residents. free-form series of outdoor swimming pools national Airport is typically teem- The pool was a welcome break in between including a water slide was perfect for chil- ing with vehicles transporting trav- bouts of shopping at nearby Citygate Out- dren rather than adults looking to get some elersT between the airport and the city. Yet lets. The sun disappears behind the building outdoor exercise. on a sunny Sunday in the recent past, the after lunch hour, so those working on their Our guest room was similarly dated and road was virtually empty. From the picture tans will get more out of mornings spent lacked basics such as bathrobes. Its best windows of Novotel Citygate in Tung Chung, poolside. We liked the nearby trails for an feature was a spacious west-facing balcony it was a surreal sight. The calm surrounds early morning walk, and felt that the hotel with uninterrupted sunset and sea views. made for a relaxing staycation weekend. was well positioned for a solid escape. We concluded that Gold Coast Hotel’s loca- According to the Hong Kong Tourism “Staycation guests obviously desire unique tion made us feel like we were on holiday, Board, arrivals in January 2021 dropped experiences, as they spend most of their time but the property could perhaps tweak its 99.9 percent year on year to 4,368 people, in the hotel,” Rosen says. “Novotel Citygate layout and consider updating its facilities to of which 2,877 were from the Chinese main- attracts more local expatriates and friends compete with more contemporary resorts. land — also a drop of 99.9 percent. The seeking fun and relaxation. The hotel invites majority of Hong Kong people self-grounded guests to rediscover Hong Kong, thanks Social-distancing challenges as many were reluctant to spend two or to its unique location. Packages with local We stayed at Kowloon Shangri-La during three weeks in quarantine when they came attractions such as Ngong Ping 360 cable Hong Kong’s fourth wave of coronavirus back to the city. car, Lantau hiking package and others have cases, when dining and leisure restrictions One among the several A panoramic view of Hong Kong’s 1990s-style free-form swimming To fi ll empty guestrooms, hotel operators been popular among families, couples and were in place. The bu et dinner at Cafe Kool iconic skyline from Kowloon pools in Hong Kong Gold Coast refocused on attracting Hong Kong resi- friend groups.” included in our package shifted to in-room Shangri-La Harbour View Suite. Hotel. dents through a variety of incentives. As long dining, while the pool, gym and spa were no as the mandatory quarantine for inbound Uninterrupted sunset views longer options to experience. We appreci- travellers remains in force, innovative and A stay at Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel a ated the panoramic Victoria Harbour view fl exible staycation packages will continue few months ago felt like a beachside getaway of Central and the spacious, well-appointed to appeal to pandemic-fatigued locals eager without the hassle of having to carry lug- amenities all the more as many of the other for a break. gage or passports. We had also considered amenities were o -limits. Tai O Heritage Hotel — more of a boutique “It appears that local guests opt for pack- Strict hygiene protocols property located at the western-most point ages that include activities within the hotel With a portfolio of hospitality brands in of Hong Kong and also operated by Sino while overseas guests are always out and Hong Kong, ranging from budget to fi ve-star Hotels. Its past life as a police outpost gives about in the city and their main concern properties, Accor is all about guest experi- it an appealing colonial charm. The unob- when booking is the hotel’s location,” says ence — even if the concerned guests check structed views of the sun dropping into the a spokesperson with Shangri-La Hotels in in with a handbag as their only piece of Pearl River Delta are a bonus. Ultimately we Hong Kong. “One of the biggest challenges luggage. decided on Gold Coast Hotel instead, and is defi nitely the social-distancing measures “We have rolled out diversifi ed staycation took advantage of the shuttle bus from Tsim implemented in our restaurants — although packages, creative dining o ers and fl exible Sha Tsui to get there. they have impacted our business tremen- work solutions o ering quality work spaces Our package included a set lunch at Satay dously, we also concur that they are manda- Novotel Citygate scores in terms of in a lifestyle environment,” explains Gary Inn and a set dinner at Gold Coast Prime tory as they ensure the health and safety of the scenic spots and hiking trails Rosen, CEO with Accor Greater China. Rib. While we enjoyed the authentic Sin- our guests and colleagues.” around it. “We reach our members and consumers gaporean fare of the former — the duck We were surprised at how a bu et dinner with products centered on our loyalty pro- egg yolk laced deep fried fi sh skin was par- via room service was interpreted, as we were Tai O Heritage Hotel’s past life as a police outpost lends it a colonial gram ALL — Accor Live Limitless — through ticularly delicious — we thought that our treated to a large meal with a multitude of charm. key partnership alliances and activations surf and turf dinner was a throwback to dishes that captured the feeling of a bu et. such as Ctrip and Alibaba’s Fliggy. And we 1980s-style steakhouses. Yet as it was all served at once, some hot have implemented strict measures on safety The same goes for the hotel in general. Its dishes got cold rather quickly. Medium rare and hygiene through our ALLSAFE cleanli- location, adjacent to a beautiful stretch of steak became well done and fries went limp ness and hygiene program across our entire sandy beach, makes it popular with families. even as they were kept warm in trolley ovens. portfolio of hotels, following regulations Yet its confusing layout meant that guests We concluded that room service was ideal for introduced by local authorities.” in swimwear or track pants had to walk breakfast or other one-course meals. Novotel Citygate is a dedicated fl ight crew through the all-day dining restaurant Cafe “Staycation has been one of the most hotel, yet we spotted only one uniformed popular key word searches in 2020,” Rosen group at breakfast. Other than them, we had admits. “This trend will well continue in 2021 the entire restaurant to ourselves. Our pack- not only because of the fact that the borders age included bu et breakfast and dinner at around the world continue to remain closed all-day dining restaurant Essence, as well as with uncertainties, but also that staycation access to the hotel’s outdoor pool, gym and has no doubt become a unique strategy for Premier Lounge. In comparison to our quiet tourism sustainability — especially for holi- morning, the dinner crowd was bustling, days, weekends and celebrations.” Sunset view from a hotel room balcony at Hong Kong Gold Coast Guests go through temperature Hotel. checks at the Novotel Citygate lobby. Gary Rosen, Accor’s CEO, greater China, says the company’s hotels have adopted an integrated hygiene and cleanliness program. Film Review Folk tales and history from the English shores By ELIZABETH KERR Teutonic perfection under the watch- ful eye of headmistress Miss Rocholl Make no mistake: despite their (Judi Dench) and her assistant Ilse narrative shortcomings, both Brenda (Carla Juri). When Miller’s predeces- Chapman’s Come Away and Andy sor washes up on the beach, the mys- Goddard’s Six Minutes to Midnight tery of his death becomes a matter are luscious, impeccably production- of national security and Miller turns designed films. The Victorian and out to be much more than a teacher. World War II-era visuals (respec- The film pivots on a fascinating tively) are very nearly tangible, and bit of British war history that’s worth go a long way in terms of realizing exploring. The notions of national- the time and space of the stories. So ism and identity have never been it would have been nice if the fi lms’ more timely (Meghan Markle may writers, Marissa Kate Goodhill and be curious). Eddie Izzard and Celyn Jones, had Come Away Six Minutes to Midnight Unfortunately, Goddard and co- kept their endgames in clearer sight. Directed by Brenda Chapman, written by Marissa Kate Goodhill. Directed by Andy Goddard, written by Eddie Izzard, Celyn Jones. writer Izzard can’t decide whether With family entertainment in short Starring David Oyelowo and Angelina Jolie. The UK, 95 minutes, IIA. Starring Eddie Izzard and Judi Dench. The UK, 100 minutes, IIA. they want to drive in thriller or dra- supply (Soul, Raya and the Last Drag- Opens March 18. Opens March 25. ma mode, and the script only hints on and a forthcoming Doraemon at the school’s embedded politics — adventure are about it), Come Away (Keira Chansa) and David (Reece with their own grief and guilt.