Opinion

Weirdly Wonderful

I was invited recently to take a peek behind the scenes at the new hotel, The 13, gradually unfolding in all its redness on the southern end of the Cotai strip.

Rubbing shoulders with the One Oasis residential complex, and sandwiched between it and a swathe of public housing, it seems to be in a rather odd location.  Especially in light of its aim to be the last word on luxury; it is supposedly one of the most expensive hotels ever built.  

But then quite a bit about the place seems weird.   Weirdly wonderful … its hotel corridors, for example, with their ornate ceiling detailing, gold leaf moldings and plush carpets which 99 percent of the guests will never see or use, as all 200 rooms are served by their own private lifts.  

Hotel guests will pay between HK$10,000 and HK$12,000 per night, which does preclude the majority of punters, but that’s what is intended.  Only high net-worth individuals welcome!

Ten of the world’s most luxurious brands have been invited to provide their products within The 13’s hallowed walls, but there’ll be nothing so down-market as walk-in retail space.  The buying experience for guests will be an invitation-only L’Atelier offering bespoke and limited edition products.  Clothing will all be haut couture, nothing ready to wear, with Versace and Dolce and Gabbana selling custom outfits.   High range diamonds and watches will be on sale from Graff and Audemars Piguet respectively.

There is to be no reception counter at the hotel entrance; guests will be checked in and out either whilst they are being chauffeured to the hotel, or directly in their rooms.  

An exercise in excess for sure, décor is highly embellished, ornate, decorative baroque inspired.  Vaulted ceilings, neo-classical columns, domes, and a plethora of intricate gold-leaf molding make up the hotel’s 200 palatial multi-level villas, with their marble Roman Baths (with retractable marble tops) lit by spectacular crystal chandeliers.

King-size velvet-canopied beds have elaborately carved and gilded Baroque headboards. Everything from the elaborately detailed Baroque scrollwork, to the sculptures, the fabrics, the wall coverings, and the glittering series of faceted chrome furniture are all a sight to behold!

The hotel’s 30 custom-made Rolls-Royce Phantoms represent the world’s largest single order of Rolls-Royces ever. The first two were designed with external and internal gold-plated accents and diamond encrusted badges.  Sporting Signature “Stephen Red” (named after co-Chairman Hong Kong billionaire Stephen Hung) exterior paint infused with 24-K gold fleck, when ordered, the two cars were the most expensive Phantoms ever commissioned.

Food and beverage outlets will be no less impressive.  The only branch of the legendary Paris institution of Michelin 3-star haute cuisine, L’Ambroisie, will feature, along with a Japanese and a Chinese restaurant, the Chairman’s bar with its Italian upholstery, and extensive cigar and Japanese whisky collection.  All these will be for hotel guests only.  The all-day dining Café Blanc with its 9,000 hanging crystals is likely to be the only outlet open to the public (Macau law dictates that at least one restaurant must be open to the public).

The Grand Hall, inspired by France’s Versailles Palace Hall of Mirrors is another exercise in glittering decor.  The idea for this hall is that once a year the retail brands are to host a private banquet for their ten top VIP clients.  And every so often it will be used for art auctions and possibly royal banquet dinners for Saudi princes and their family and friends. 

The piece de resistance at the property is the 55-meter high Atrium, located on the fourth floor. A 25-meter gold leaf pool is surrounded by several Guinness Book of Records installations: the highest man-made waterfalls and the largest green wall in the world with 200,000 plants.  Suspended above are eight 3.5-meter gold angels.  A 10-meter crouching angel will have light beams coming from its eyes to light up the Atrium at night.

The thought and creativity that has gone into this property is impressive. Its focus on high-end, high cost, exclusivity seems key to building the mystique around it, so as to lure in those that can afford it.  Get ready Macau, it will be another unique jewel to add to our crown.

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