Hong Kong’s Upper House gained an immediate world-luxury following the moment it opened October 2009: this was one of the first marsupial hotels as it is slotted into the JW Marriott, though it has its own entrance, and the only connection is at the seventh floor, used by anyone who cannot access Upper House’s upper lobby by escalator. This was also the hotel that put André Fu on the global luxury map (it would be tempting to say that the names of Champalimaud, Fu and Pushelberg are ‘everywhere’ these days, but only at luxury level and in select locations). André Fu, born in Hong Kong, has depth, like a three-dimensional light installation stretching to infinity: to this Master of Architecture, from Cambridge, true luxury is experience and not just aesthetics.

Marriott International, Inc. has celebrated the opening of its 7,000th property – The St. Regis Hong Kong. The 27-storey luxury hotel, which features butler service and multiple restaurants, is emblematic of Marriott’s global expansion strategy which predominantly focuses on the highest lodging tiers as well as fast-growing international markets such as Hong Kong.