W Hong Kong [Master Thread]
Feb 8, 2019, 3:22 pm
#751
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,397
I agree. I like the W, but it's not one of the very top hotels in Hong Kong.
However, remember that SPG always based category on projected room rates for the following year (more or less) while Marriott uses popularity for award bookings. The relative positions of hotels aren't the same under these two criterion. I'm not sure we know how Starriott/Bonvoy is determining categories.
However, remember that SPG always based category on projected room rates for the following year (more or less) while Marriott uses popularity for award bookings. The relative positions of hotels aren't the same under these two criterion. I'm not sure we know how Starriott/Bonvoy is determining categories.
Feb 13, 2019, 7:30 pm
#752
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
I think the W is one of the top hotels in HK, but that's still not enough to make it a Cat8. The Ritz next door is nice, but not an order of magnitude better. Other luxury options are meh (MO is old, IC is a dump, Shangri-La is nothing special, the Pen is about the only truly luxurious hotel)
Feb 13, 2019, 8:24 pm
#753
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Ex-Bonvoyed, Hyatt, Hilton, BR, AC, AA
Posts: 1,291
I think the W is one of the top hotels in HK, but that's still not enough to make it a Cat8. The Ritz next door is nice, but not an order of magnitude better. Other luxury options are meh (MO is old, IC is a dump, Shangri-La is nothing special, the Pen is about the only truly luxurious hotel)
Feb 13, 2019, 8:52 pm
#754
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,397
Personally, I'm a fan of the Peninsula. It's iconic and I like the location. I've had great experiences here, generally on FHR rates. The pool and some of the hotel's F&B outlets are wonderful, plus I've enjoyed a couple complementary special holiday Star Ferry cruises with champagne to enjoy the light show and even a historic double decker bus for transportation between hotel and the Star Ferry pier. It's changed over the years, but this is still one of the classic iconic luxury hotels in the world.
Feb 14, 2019, 3:18 am
#755
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,249
I like this hotel a lot, but agree that Category 8 is definitely overreaching given Category 7 was already potentially too pricey in my opinion. The only time I have ever made a redemption here was over NYE, at most times the cash price is already much more attractive than the points rate as a Category 7. RC / St. Regis at Category 8 and W at Category 7 makes a lot more sense, I have a feeling this is a quite short-term decision and once the St. Regis has been open for a while this place will be back to Category 7 again.
In my head, rough hotel groupings in Hong Kong are: UH/LMO > PEN/MO/FS > RC > W/IC/ISL
In my head, rough hotel groupings in Hong Kong are: UH/LMO > PEN/MO/FS > RC > W/IC/ISL
Feb 14, 2019, 4:22 am
#757
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SPG-Plat, Hilton-Diamond, Club Carlson-Silver, Cathay-Diamond, Virgin-Gold
Posts: 2,183
It worries me that if they classify this as a Cat 8 which it simply should not be that in a year or two there will be a lot more cat 8's and not very many 7's left!
Feb 14, 2019, 5:58 am
#758
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,397
Feb 17, 2019, 8:19 pm
#759
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Yes - was just there two weeks ago. It's exactly as you remember, which is a good thing.
Every time I go to HK I think if I should try somewhere else but I love that the W is so easy to the airport, that mall has a good grocery store and train options and I really like the views of the bay from the rooms. I don't think as platinum I've ever gotten a comp upgrade better than a "view" room but I don't mind. I like the breakfast there, too. Those almond croissants are the first thing I grab.
I even like the smell of that place. I commented on it once to the F&B director and they gave me a room scent bottle to take home. They said it isn't available to the public normally but now my room at home smells like the W HK. Love it.
Every time I go to HK I think if I should try somewhere else but I love that the W is so easy to the airport, that mall has a good grocery store and train options and I really like the views of the bay from the rooms. I don't think as platinum I've ever gotten a comp upgrade better than a "view" room but I don't mind. I like the breakfast there, too. Those almond croissants are the first thing I grab.
I even like the smell of that place. I commented on it once to the F&B director and they gave me a room scent bottle to take home. They said it isn't available to the public normally but now my room at home smells like the W HK. Love it.
Sammy and Lavin are great member of the F&B team indeed.
Lavin struck up a conversation with me at the bar once after noticing I was waiting for a long time to order a drink. Since then, when I check-in, there's a "martini kit" in my room. I will have to take note of the scent of the place next time I am there. I never really noticed it myself.
It's these kinds of little neat things about the place that keep me returning indeed.
Lavin struck up a conversation with me at the bar once after noticing I was waiting for a long time to order a drink. Since then, when I check-in, there's a "martini kit" in my room. I will have to take note of the scent of the place next time I am there. I never really noticed it myself.
It's these kinds of little neat things about the place that keep me returning indeed.
Well, I went ahead and booked W HKG and added SNA's too. It was two days ago that my upgrade was confirmed. It was at least 10 day prior that my usual contacts reached out to me regarding my booking and welcoming me back.
Today I received a message from Sammy and noticed too that my reservation was changed and I'm now booked into a WOW corner suite!! I have this feeling I'm simply not going to want to leave the property again (as always is the case lately).
Guessing the only suite type I've not received (yet) is the extreme Wow suite... Aiming high...
Last edited by Zacnlinc; Feb 17, 2019 at 10:30 pm Reason: typo corrected
Jul 1, 2019, 3:14 am
#763
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
Programs: Amex Centurion, United Global Services
Posts: 847
One thing I don't hear much is about the breakfast. I love it, it's one or the best of the W locations I've been and the views of the harbor are really pretty.