The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, celebrated the 60th anniversary of its original flagship Hong Kong property with a glamorous gala party yesterday.
To celebrate 60 fantastic years, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong welcomed over 1,000 celebrities, dignitaries and society guests from Hong Kong and around the world.
The VIPs and celebrities included Mandarin Oriental fans Michelle Yeoh, Karen Mok and Vivienne Tam.
Notable guests from Hong Kong included Beatrice Ho, Cecil Chao, Victoria Tang-Owen, Anne Wang-Liu, and Adam Pak… to name a few.
The evening commenced with a star-studded red carpet arrival in front of the hotel, where guests were greeted by the Hong Kong Drum Ensemble and Chinese Opera.
A welcome address and toast by Laurent Kleitman, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s Chief Executive Officer and Greg Liddell, General Manager and area Vice President of Operations, was followed by the unveiling of a world-first masterpiece: Sir Peter Blake x AI Artist created by Studio Art & Commerce accompanied by ‘The Beating Heart of Hong Kong’ music composition, specially composed by Eddie Chueng, Hong Kong’s award-winning composer and director to mark this momentous occasion.
Photographs of guests arriving at the event were interpreted live by the AI artist, painting portraits in real-time based on a collage design by Sir Peter Blake, the ‘Godfather of Pop Art’ and one of Mandarin Oriental’s long-standing Fans.
The 5m x 3.4m canvas holds an artist’s mind within it – in the form of a bespoke AI algorithm, which creates the sketches from the photographs it receives.
The piece melds ground-breaking technology with traditional craftsmanship, resulting in a celebratory collage of 300 portraits in a style inspired by traditional Chinese ink calligraphy.
It is the perfect expression of Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong’s innovation, personal service and handcrafted details that have epitomised the hotel since its launch in 1963.
The celebration continued with a lavish cocktail reception showcasing the hotel’s dining heritage with signature menus from its numerous restaurants, enabling guests to experience a taste of the destination delivered by the legendary service Mandarin Oriental is so affectionally known for.
The magnificent evening was an assembly of Hong Kong’s finest art & culture, with entertainment provided by Hong Kong performing art groups, including Hong Kong Dance Company, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, a soprano flash performance, Chinese Emperess costume talents designed and hand-embroidered by Albert Au from Roger Sansom Productions Ltd, and all-night long live bands in the iconic Captain’s Bar and Café Causette.
Café Causette was transformed into a 60s playroom with Mahjong tables and adorned with a special collection of vintage neon signs from Tetra Neon Exchange that embodies the essence of this vibrant city.
The night ended with an exclusive Vogue Hong Kong x The Aubrey party with live DJs and bartender guest shifts from Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
“This much-loved hotel has long been part of the social fabric of our vibrant city. All of us at Mandarin Oriental greatly value the special bond we have with you. Our wonderful 800 colleagues who deliver service excellence each and every day help to make this hotel a home to so many of you,” said Greg Liddell, General Manager and Area Vice President of Operations.
“Tonight is a celebration for Hong Kong, and we are here to pay tribute to our original flagship, our wonderful colleagues and to you, our loyal guests – here’s to another sixty!”
Read more hospitality news and features here.