Artist impression of the hotel project to cater to demands from increased visitor arrivals (zoom-in)

The creation of a new international exhibition centre called AsiaWorld-Expo, a golf course and the SkyPlaza commercial and retail complex will mean that more people are expected to stay overnight at the airport, said Authority Airport (AA) communication manager Connie Hon. AA is responsible for the operation and management of HKIA.

"Now is the right time to build the hotel. The Skyplaza when completed will have over 30,000 sq metres of retail space and this will be the fusion point for visitors from the Pearl River Delta. They are an integral part of our market," said Ms Hon.

Record-breaking tourist arrivals in HKIA surged 7.4 per cent in December 2003 boosted by especially strong performance from the mainland where arrivals passed one million in a single month for the first time.

Ms Hon said the new hotel which would compete with the existing five star Regal Hotel nearby is purely demand driven. "With the completion of all these major projects, HKIA will attract new streams of business travellers, overseas exhibitors and visiting delegates," she added. 

The new hotel is expected to be completed and open to the public by 2007. AA has asked for submissions of interest for the hotel from developers worldwide by 26 April. The new hotel will have "waterfront vista adjacent to SkyPier and directly connected to the new AsiaWorld-Expo."    

Related link:
Hong Kong International Airport