The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: Highest Hotel in the World Opens

Want to get high ... legally? No, we're not talking a Saliva trip à la Miley Cyrus, but a literal 118 stories high.




The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong yesterday announced the opening of their 16th property in Asia, which boasts the title of "highest hotel in the world." Located at the very top of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong and occupying floors 102 to 118, the hotel takes the honors away from the current title holder in Dubai.

"The opening of this landmark hotel in Hong Kong is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication to delivering the very best product, facilities and service in this international gateway city," said Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

Arrival
Don't prep for a long elevator ride just yet. The hotel's arrival lobby is actually located on the ninth floor of the building, where guests will pause before being transported to floor 103, which offers panoramic views of Hong Kong and the harbor.



Rooms
The large but intimate-feeling hotel features 312 guest rooms ranging from 530 square feet for a basic Deluxe to 3,920 for the Ritz-Carlton Suite. All of the rooms offer amenities including WiFi, iPod docking stations, blu-ray DVD players and flat screen TVs. Want to splurge? We'd suggest booking a Club-level room, which offers panoramic views, a dedicated concierge, meeting rooms and complimentary food and beverages throughout the day.

Restaurants
You won't go hungry either. The hotel's six dining venues have been created by some of the biggest names in restaurant design, including Japan's Spin Design Studio and Wonderwall. The hotel offers three restaurants on the 102nd floor, including Tin Lung Heen, which offers Chinese cuisine with a Cantonese influence, Tosca, an Southern Italian restaurant with an open kitchen and the very stylish The Lounge & Bar. Don't miss the lounge's crystal fire pits.

Perhaps the jewel in the crown is Ozone located on the hotel's 118th floor. This sleek, stylish and contemporary restaurant and bar offers up a menu of contemporary Asian tapas, signature cocktails and a stylish wine list. There's even an al fresco terrace - just don't look down!

Sweet tooth? You'll want to save room for The Chocolate Library on the 103rd floor and, for those who want a quick bite during check-in, there's also a patisserie located on the ninth floor.





Spa
Of course, no Ritz-Carlton would be complete without a spa. This branded ESPA spa is located on the hotel's 116th floor and offers nine treatment rooms plus two couples suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. We've heard the facials are truly spectacular, but the treatments all sound top-notch. Naturally, the hotel also features a fully equipped fitness center, the highlight of which is an indoor infinity pool overlooking the Victoria Harbour on the 118th and the 92' x 23' LED screen on the ceiling that can display images and videos.







What To Do
In the podium of the ICC, the one million square foot Elements shopping mall offers some of the finest shopping in Hong Kong. The ICC also offers direct connections to Hong Kong International Airport in 20 minutes and Central in five minutes.

Looks like we're planning a trip to Hong Kong in the near future - what about you?

Author: McLean Robbins