Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon Hong Kong
| Company type | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Predecessor | Majestic Hotel |
| Founded | April 2008 |
| Fate | Ceased operations due to COVID-19 pandemic; demolished starting September 2021 |
| Headquarters | Kowloon , Hong Kong |
Area served | Hong Kong |
| Owner | Gaw Capital Partners and CSI Properties (from 2012) |
| Parent | Accor (management) |
Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road Kowloon () was a four-star accommodation located in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Previously known as the Majestic Hotel, it underwent a HK$188 million (approximately US$24 million) renovation and reopened in April 2008, achieving a four-star rating and adopting the Novotel brand under Accor management. The hotel ceased operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and demolition began in September 2021.[1]
Location
The hotel was positioned at 348 Nathan Road, at the intersection with Saigon Street in Kowloon, ideally situated between the districts of Jordan and Yau Ma Tei. It was in proximity to prominent shopping destinations such as Temple Street Night Market and the Jade Market.[2] The closest MTR access point was Jordan station.[3][4][5]
History
The location originally housed the Majestic Theatre (), a cinema that operated from December 1928 until December 1988. Adjacent to it, the M2 Theatre opened in 1978 but also closed by 1988. Both cinemas were demolished to create space for the Majestic Hotel, which incorporated the Majestic Centre shopping arcade on its lower levels and the Majestic Cinema on the second floor. The cinema featured two auditoriums with seating capacities of 401 and 432 respectively and remained operational from 1992 until 2000.
Following this, the cinema area was transformed into the 348 Discothèque and Karaoke bar, reportedly run by Teddy Hung Hon-yee (), a leader of the 14K triad. Recognized as one of Hong Kong's largest nightclubs, it shut down in 2007 after law enforcement interventions, having briefly operated under the name "F1." Hung was known for managing gambling establishments and bars in To Kwa Wan and served a prison sentence of 14 years from 1984 to 1998. In 2009, he publicly announced his conversion to Christianity.
Constructed in 1992 as a three-star establishment, the Majestic Hotel offered 381 guest rooms and suites along with amenities such as a business centre, two event spaces, a restaurant, and bars including Cafe Royal and Ming Sing Bar located on the first floor.
In May 2007, LaSalle Investment Management purchased the Majestic Hotel along with its shopping arcade for HK$1.69 billion. After investing HK$188 million into renovations, the property was elevated to a four-star hotel status. It reopened under Accor’s Novotel brand in April 2008, with the shopping arcade rebranded as "Nathan Square."
By 2012, LaSalle sold this property to Gaw Capital Partners and CSI Properties for approximately HK$2.37 billion, marking the most significant hotel transaction in Hong Kong in over ten years.
The hotel
Standing 15 storeys tall, Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon Hong Kong offers 389 rooms and suites for guests. Facilities include the Executive Premier Lounge, In Balance Fitness Centre, a Web Corner equipped with iMacs, a children's play zone, a beauty and hot stone massage spa, a tour desk, a bar, and dining venues available throughout the day such as Tasca Bar and The SQUARE restaurant. Between 2008 and 2012, the property consistently achieved occupancy rates above 95%.
External links
- Official Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road Kowloon Website
- Dedicated Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road Kowloon Hotel Site
- ↑ "CSI Properties Limited". www.csigroup.hk. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
- ↑ "Born to Shop Hong Kong". Frommers.
- ↑ "Novotel Welcomes New Hong Kong Hotel". China Hospitality News. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ↑ "New kids on the block". Express Hospitality. India. 1–15 May 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ↑ "Hong Kong Hotels". Travel + Leisure SouthEast Asia.