There’s nothing like having a really amazing hotel experience to make you realise what makes for a successful hotel and a great stay.
I recently had one of these stays at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong.
From the photos, you can see this hotel has everything you’d expect from a hotel of its type.
Great views, a pool, attractive design.
But, what the photos don’t show is the amazing people of this hotel.
The attention to detail and standard of service at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong were easily some of the best I’ve experienced anywhere in the world both before and after COVID.
From the knowledge of my allergies when dining, to the options that were presented as a result, the dining here was faultless.
I was travelling with my mum. We were returning from visiting family in the UK and stopped over for a few nights in Hong Kong to break up the trip and explore the city together.
Without going into details, an incident occurred the day after we arrived which essentially threw our plans out the window and had us spending more time with doctors than at Disneyland.
It was in this situation that I discovered the hotel was run by people who not only knew what they were doing but genuinely cared about their guests’ wellbeing.
The stress of travelling while looking after Mum was helped immensely by the staff at Island Shangri-La.
Not only did they arrange for a transfer to the local hospital, but they sent staff with us to make sure we were looked after when we got there and any chances of details being lost in translation were minimised.
The same thing happened when we departed for our flight home. We were met by staff at the airport to help with the process of checking in and going through security, with mum being in a wheelchair and suitcases to push, this felt like a lifesaver in the chaos of one of Asia’s busiest airports.
Getting to the hotel itself. We both had rooms overlooking Victoria Harbour.
My room had been set up to allow me to “work from home” at the hotel. This is somewhat of a trend in hotels now as more and more people are used to working from home since COVID-19.
Often all things technical at hotels can be clunky and anything more than changing channels on the television can seem impossible.
But, this set-up was as close to plug-and-play as a workstation could be.
The desk had dual monitors which I’ve always preferred, and it also transformed into a standing desk, saving me from a lot of back strain.
Anyone who has tried to work on their laptop from a hotel desk and chair will know what I’m talking about. So often they are half desk and chair, half dining table and chair.
Internet speeds were also really fast and easy to connect to. And, with just about everything in the room being controlled by some sort of switch or knob, comfort was at arm’s length the whole time.
You could lower the blinds or blackout curtains. Change the room temperature or the room’s lighting levels.
Of course, the predicament in which I experienced Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong is very specific, and it is unlikely anyone is going to want to read a review about the best hotels to be staying at should you get injured.
My point is it’s in these situations when staying at a hotel that’s experienced and staffed by great people that you really do realise what makes for a great hotel.
Sure, the food was amazing. The building was stunning. Its location was perfect and the pool was relaxing.
But, those things seem material and incomparable to what this hotel’s real strength is, its people.
You can redesign a lobby, change a menu in a restaurant or make a bigger pool. But, you can’t manufacture genuine, friendly, helpful staff.
And that’s what makes Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong one of the best hotels I’ve stayed in.
