DESIGN HOTELS™ WELCOMES FIRST MEMBER HOTEL IN HONG KONG: THE MIRA
Berlin, September 3, 2010 – Design Hotels™ is delighted to announce its first member hotel in Hong Kong, The Mira Hong Kong (www.designhotels.com/the_mira). The partnership comes at an exciting time as the hotel is also celebrating its first birthday.

Overlooking the banyan trees and hedge mazes of Kowloon Park in Tsimshatsui, one of Hong Kong’s boutique-lined shopping districts, The Mira is an award-winning urban retreat. Its 492 rooms, including 56 suites, are classified as green, red and silver, and are furnished with handpicked fabrics and design features, including the Egg chair by Arne Jacobsen. The hotel has six distinct dining and bar establishments, including COCO, a coffee and chocolate lounge, and Yamm, an international kitchen offering an array of global and pan-Asian cuisines.

New Chef and New Rooftop Garden Lounge
As part of the birthday celebrations, The Mira Hong Kong is opening Vibes its new al fresco terrace lounge, and welcomes a new chef to its modern French restaurant, WHISK. William Girard, former chef at Al Mahara, the Burj Al Arab Dubai’s fine dining restaurant, will be unveiling his new menu this week. It showcases Girard’s signature French cuisine, including fresh produce from his home region in the French Pyrenees.

Chef William Girard says: “My cooking is contemporary French: it has classical roots with an Asian twist. I pay particular attention to the product by not mixing more than three flavours in a dish. Real cooking is the product of simplicity, the star of a dish is always its ingredients.”

Located on the fifth floor of The Mira Hong Kong, WHISK offers many different dining environments, making it a unique setting for a business lunch, a chic Sunday brunch with a twist, or even a post-party nightcap. Its features include a wine bar, dining lounge with casual seating and mezzanine area overlooking the hotel’s Chinese restaurant with lush views of Kowloon Park. Opening out from the restaurant is Vibes, an al fresco garden concept lounge with lotus-shaped open fires, running waterways, bamboo groves and private cabanas. This exclusive haven in the city is the ideal venue for brunch, breezy afternoon teas, after dinner drinks and makes the perfect party playground.

The Mira Hong Kong’s Design
Charles Allem, a Miami-based interior architect, was inspired by Hong Kong’s expansive skyline in the design of The Mira’s interior. Together with Colin Cowie, lifestyle guru, they have created an interior of sparkling lights, metallic globes, innovative artwork and experimental sculptures, creating a memorable experience for each guest. Cowie is known for designing a variety of extremely high profile events, including Oprah Winfrey’s 50th birthday party and Elton John’s AIDS foundation Oscar Party. Allem has also taken inspiration from Hong Kong’s natural environment and historical architecture, shown in the striking emerald and platinum colour schemes.

Allem says: “Each facet of this exquisite diamond, set in the heart of Hong Kong, is designed to fascinate and mesmerise. My vision has been to leave an indelible mark on the mind, body and soul.”

Spa and Special Events
Surrounded by stylish circular chill-out daybeds, the 25-metre pool area in the MiraSpa provides a chic place to mingle. The vast 1,700 m² spa also offers experience showers, waterbed floatation lounges and a nail bar.

For events, the Ballroom on the 18th floor is perfect for a variety of occasions. The LED lighting features over 25,000 color combinations, with six signature event design concepts by Colin Cowie. It is also outfitted with 18 custom made chandeliers with over 20 tons of hand-cut Czech crystals.

Rates
HKD 3,000 - HKD 48,000

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or the appropriate Design Hotels™ toll-free number:

EUROPE
Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK: 00 800 37 46 83 57
Belgium: 000 800 37 46 83 57
Finland: 990 800 37 46 83 57
Hungary: 06 800 1 22 36
Russia: 810 800 20 74 10 49

ASIA/PACIFIC
Australia: 0011 800 37 46 83 57
China, New Zealand: 00 800 37 46 83 57
Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand: 001 800 37 46 83 57

AFRICA
South Africa: 09 800 37 46 83 57

ALL OTHER COUNTRIES, not listed above: +49 30-8849 400 40 (regular international rates apply)

ABOUT DESIGN HOTELS™
Design Hotels™ represents and markets a curated selection of more than 190 independent hotels in over 40 countries across the globe.

More than a collection of hotels, the company is a collection of stories. Each property reflects the ideas of a visionary hotelier, an "Original," someone with a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design and architecture. Each "Original" stands for the individual, aesthetic and service-driven experience that his or her hotel provides.

Founded by Claus Sendlinger in 1993, Design Hotels™ offers its members insightful travel industry knowledge, from feasibility studies and conceptual branding to market trend consultancy and international sales representation. The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York, Singapore, Bali and Perth.