FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 June 2016
THE PENINSULA HONG KONG LAUNCHES “LEGENDARY ARTISANS”
A Celebration of The Timeless Art of Luxury at The Peninsula Arcade,
With A Spectacularly Glamorous Gala Evening
Paying tribute to craftsmanship of the highest order, The Peninsula Hong Kong kicked off a month-long celebration of the timeless art of luxury with a spectacular gala evening on 7 June. Launching the “Legendary Artisans” campaign, a series of exclusive happenings, animations, promotions and collections at the Peninsula Arcade, the event saw the tenants of the luxury shopping destination roll out a host of curated experiences, craftsmanship demonstrations and gastronomic delights for an exclusively invited guest list.
To keep guests elegantly entertained throughout the evening, The Peninsula assembled four enticing food stations that were themed to honour four different categories of luxury craftsmanship. Paying tribute to the world of haute couture, a skilled artist created delicate sugar flowers as well as gourmet cakes and pastries, while the hotel’s Maître Chocolatier crafted a 1.3-metre-high chocolate timepiece sculpture in honour of the art of haute horlogerie while serving up a selection of confectionaries as a further homage. Celebrating the tradition of the Chinese artisan, a master carver was on hand to prepare intricate miniature sculptural carvings of ginger and root vegetables along with traditional canapés, and a sushi chef demonstrated the Japanese culinary art of elegantly prepared raw fish atop carved diamond ice sculptures.
The luxury tenants of The Peninsula Arcade also curated exclusive experiences for the esteemed guests in attendance. BVLGARI, Chanel, Goyard, Graff, Ralph Lauren, and S.T. Dupont were among the brands unveiling iconic new collections, while others gave a privileged peek into the techniques used to create some of their timeless, embellished pieces.
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THE PENINSULA HONG KONG LAUNCHES “LEGENDARY ARTISANS” WITH A SPECTACULARLY GLAMOUROUS GALA EVENING – 2
Louis Vuitton hosted saddle stitching and painting demonstrations, as well as a hot-stamping in-store animation, to showcase the craftsmanship of its legendary trunks; a.testoni gave a unique insight into the meticulous processes of handcrafting a pair of leather shoes at an exclusive workshop; and the head designer of Butani gave a jewellery design demonstration to reveal how the brand creates its diamond and precious stone high jewellery masterpieces.
Elsewhere, Shiatzy Chen welcomed a specialist artisan to demonstrate the exquisite and delicate traditional art of “Suzhou-style embroidery”; Baccarat celebrated its exclusive Home Collection with the help of an in-store caricaturist; Piaget transformed its boutique into a veritable rose garden where the Maison’s Rose collection was brought to life through a personalised photo booth; the hotel’s resident Maître Chocolatier presented a handcrafted chocolate showcase in the Peninsula Lobby; and The Peninsula Boutique hosted a tea appreciation workshop that allowed guests to sample a specially selected range of curated, master-blended teas.
The art of watchmaking was also in the spotlight with Roger Dubuis, which held a live watchmaking session by one of its highly skilled craftsmen to demonstrate the brand’s exceptional expertise in the field of complicated calibres, while Van Cleef & Arpels showcased the quixotic brilliance of the Maison’s watchmaking universe through the enchanting “Poetry of Time™” exhibition at The China Clipper on the 30th floor.
Among the many esteemed guests in attendance was high-profile Chinese actor Hu Jun, who has appeared in films such as Let the Bullets Fly, Red Cliff and Infernal Affairs II.
“Legendary Artisans” runs from 1 to 30 June at The Peninsula Arcade, and features a variety of exclusive collection launches, in-store animations and culinary collaborations. Designed to give customers privileged insights into the unparalleled passion for excellence that sets apart the world’s most revered names in fashion, jewellery, watches and accessories, the programme goes behind the scenes to unveil fascinating stories of the heritage, design and craftsmanship of some of the world’s finest brands.
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THE PENINSULA HONG KONG LAUNCHES “LEGENDARY ARTISANS” WITH A SPECTACULARLY GLAMOUROUS GALA EVENING – 3
Fine gastronomy and haute couture also come together in a sumptuous celebration of life’s most refined pleasures. The Peninsula’s own talented artisans, including pastry chefs, maître chocolatiers and dim sum chefs, have prepared an exclusive Tiffany & Co. Afternoon Tea that beautifully immerses guests in the “New York Spirit”. Creatively themed gourmet menus add fashionable allure to the quintessential pleasure of dining at The Peninsula.
On 24 and 25 June, The Peninsula Hong Kong will host thought-provoking talks on modern luxury by China-based style editors who are charting the rise of artisanship in their respective titles. This will be hosted by the Assistant Publisher and Chief Editor of Robb Report China, Ms Helen Xing, whose China Lifestyle Report has become a barometer of the latest trends in China; and fashion veteran and Fashion Style Chief Planner of Harper’s Bazaar China and General Manager of the Creative Fashion Commerce Department, Ms Shi Yan.
Unique to The Peninsula Hotels, Peninsula Arcades in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing are prestigious shopping destinations offering discerning guests and local residents a curated collection of the world’s most admired fashion and lifestyle brands in a refined setting. Guests also enjoy bespoke concierge services, such as personalised gift-wrapping, hands-free shopping and the delivery of purchases to a guest room or home to enhance the allure of shopping at The Peninsula Arcade.
Diverse luxury experiences offered by the Legendary Artisans programme at The Peninsula Arcade include:
· Goyard – Launch of an exclusive “Special Edition Peninsula Travel Set”, featuring its contemporary classic Bourget wheeled suitcases in a world-first “GM-size”, the compact “MM-size” and “Jouvence, a brand new model toiletry bag in “M-size” size which is only purchasable as part of the Peninsula Travel Set, all highlighted by a new leather colour inspired by the unique Peninsula Green of the hotel’s Rolls-Royce fleet and specially lined in black as a new twist on the brand’s signature yellow cotton twill. The “Special Edition Peninsula Travel Set” is exclusively available upon order at Goyard at The Peninsula Hong Kong from 7 to 30 June 2016, and a Marquage personalisation demonstration and brand new Marquage design will also be available in-store from 7-13 June
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THE PENINSULA HONG KONG LAUNCHES “LEGENDARY ARTISANS” WITH A SPECTACULARLY GLAMOUROUS GALA EVENING – 4
· Graff – Exquisite craftsmanship, demonstrated through the jeweller’s iconic Butterfly Collection, hand-crafted at GRAFF high jewellery workshop in London, and complemented by a spectacular butterfly-themed window animation
· Chanel – Launch of the “Paris in Rome” Métiers d'Art collection, with its intricate, artisanal embellishments, and the latest timepieces demonstrating the Maison’s watchmaking expertise
· Tiffany & Co. – Exclusive “New York Spirit” Afternoon Tea set is being served in The Lobby throughout the month of June
· Van Cleef & Arpels – “The Poetry of Time™” timepiece exhibition took place at The China Clipper from 1 – 7 June. The Maison drew from its enchanted universe to reveal a moment of grace, luck or beauty with each creation and offer a dreamlike perspective on the passage of time. The wonders of the watchmaker’s craft were used to bring a story to life on the dial and create precious moments of emotion
· BVLGARI – In a tribute to the new BVLGARI Serpenti jewellery collection, The Peninsula Hong Kong’s expert pastry chefs demonstrate culinary craftsmanship in the reinterpretation of the line, featuring a special Serpenti dessert in an exclusive set lunch menu at Gaddi’s, with a fascinating exhibition of vintage BVLGARI jewellery drawings adorning the walls of Gaddi’s from 1-30 June
· Louis Vuitton – Epitomising the audacious spirit of travel exemplified by Louis Vuitton, the Maison is showcasing quintessential craftsmanship in an exclusive exhibition of its trunks, while it also offers saddle stitching and painting demonstrations as well as a hot-stamping service in-store
· Piaget – The rose has long been a talisman and an inspiration for the House of Piaget, and the revered jeweller pays homage to the most romantic of flowers by transforming its boutique in The Peninsula Arcade into a spectacular rose garden. Surrounded by these beautiful blooms, guests can peruse a showcase of Piaget Rose collection, while there was a photographer on hand at the gala on 7 June to capture a special moment amid the Maison’s floral wonderland
· Ralph Lauren – Striking a balance between “timeless” and “modern,” Ralph Lauren creates collections that express a unique sense of personal style inspired by the rich visual imagery around him.This year, Ralph Lauren launches a limited-edition capsule collection of accessories for Ralph Lauren at The Peninsula, featuring exclusive black embroidery on Italian leather footwear, small leather goods and signature handbags – including the iconic “Soft Ricky”. The Ralph Lauren “RL888” watch collection will also be introduced, showcasing a chic round case and a bold mix of Arabic and Roman numerals
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· Baccarat – French crystal house Baccarat has been creating peerless pieces for the world’s most discerning connoisseurs for more than 250 years, and the brand once again demonstrates its masterful craftsmanship by presenting an exclusive Home Collection at The Peninsula Boutique. As well as the new collection, Baccarat had a caricaturist in-store on 7 June to provide customers with a playful memento of the day
· Roger Dubuis – Guests had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of legendary watchmaker Roger Dubuis as a master craftsman from the brand demonstrated the complex process of assembling one of the signature calibres on 7 June. The brand will also launch its 2016 novelties at The Peninsula Boutique from 19 to 26 June, offering guests a first glimpse of the latest collection
· Shiatzy Chen – The perfect combination of tradition and modernity, Shiatzy Chen is known for its distinctive design features drawn from Chinese culture such as qipao collars and knot buckles with intricate embroideries for creating clothing and accessories. One of Shiatzy Chen’s craftspeople was on hand on 7 June to demonstrate how the brand creates its signature motifs with an exclusive embroidery presentation
· The Peninsula Boutique – Taking inspiration from his Amazonia-themed entry for the World Chocolate Masters competition in 2015, The Peninsula Hong Kong’s award-winning Maître Chocolatier Marijn Coertjens has conjured up a limited edition collection of Toucan pralines. Comprising an alluring blend of sea salt, caramel and yuzu, the delectable delicacies are presented in the Artisanal Toucan Gift Set, which is priced at HK$ 350 for six pieces and is available until 30 June
For guests wishing to stay a little longer to experience the noble pleasures of elite artisanship, the “Legendary Artisans Stay” makes for the ultimate short, stylish break. Guests of The Peninsula Hong Kong will enjoy a suite experience, starting from HK$ 8,980* with a collection of exceptional benefits including:
· Daily breakfast for two at The Lobby, The Verandah or by in-room dining
· One 15-minute helicopter “flight-seeing” tour**
· One-way limousine transfer
· A special gift and a 20% off shopping privilege in The Peninsula Boutique at The Peninsula Hong Kong
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THE PENINSULA HONG KONG LAUNCHES “LEGENDARY ARTISANS” WITH A SPECTACULARLY GLAMOUROUS GALA EVENING – 6
Additional benefits for suite guests who are staying for two nights or more:
· The one-way limousine transfer will be upgraded to round-trip transfers
· A set dinner for two at either Spring Moon or Felix
· A Tiffany & Co.-branded Afternoon Tea set for two at The Lobby (for the month of June only)
All benefits are offered once per stay unless otherwise indicated, and terms and conditions apply. Further details are available on the peninsula.com booking pages.
*per room per night; subject to 10% service charge
**This experience is a shared flight and the availability is subject to weather conditions
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About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)
Incorporated in 1866 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (00045), The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development, and management of prestigious hotels and commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of tourism and leisure, club management and other services. The Peninsula Hotels portfolio comprises The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Peninsula Shanghai, The Peninsula Beijing, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Peninsula Bangkok, The Peninsula Manila, The Peninsula New York, The Peninsula Chicago, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, and The Peninsula Paris. Projects under development include The Peninsula London and The Peninsula Yangon. The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower, The Peninsula Office Tower and St. John’s Building in Hong Kong; The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 1-5 Grosvenor Place in London, UK, and 21 avenue Kléber in Paris, France. The clubs and services portfolio of the Group includes The Peak Tram in Hong Kong; Thai Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand; Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, California; Peninsula Clubs and Consultancy Services, Peninsula Merchandising, and Tai Pan Laundry in Hong Kong.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Winvy Lung
Director of Public Relations
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Telephone : +852 2696 6608
Fax : +852 2696 6633
E-mail :
Website : www.peninsula.com
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