PRESS RELEASES
March 28, 2024
As the final curtain falls on a month of festivities to kick off the fifth anniversary celebration of Rosewood Hong Kong, guests can expect more Rosewood Front Row action over the course of the year as the hotel to commemorate this milestone year.
The first act of Rosewood Front Row, which took place in March 2024, offered guests a series of culture, craftsmanship, cuisine, and community events, each providing a unique window into Rosewood Hong Kong's unwavering dedication to providing an unrivalled luxury lifestyle. Throughout this extraordinary journey, enriched with artistic and cultural influences, guests were invited to immerse themselves in the essence of this remarkable hotel, uncovering its connection to the vibrant city of Hong Kong and Art Basel Hong Kong.
Acting as perfect prelude to Art Basel Hong Kong, art took centre stage in the “Front Row” programme, as Rosewood Hong Kong showcased its strong connections within the art world to curate an awe-inspiring cultural experience. Embracing the spirit of creativity, Rosewood Hong Kong played host to two exceptional events with the art & design communities, while also commissioning its very own art installation for its anniversary month.
Culture of Creativity
As an extension to the design talk “Crafting a Cultural of Creativity” at M+ museum, the visionary Dutch artist, Frederik Molenschot, showcased a bespoke masterpiece for Rosewood's momentous milestone. Behold the captivating ‘S TATI CA,’ a sensory experience that graces the Gallery Lobby on Level two of the hotel. This inspiring artwork and the newly coveted “Artist in Residence” in Frederik’s guest room remain on display until April 2, 2024. ‘S TATI CA’ transcends traditional boundaries, merging harmoniously with its surroundings as a manifestation of site specificity. This dynamic sculpture metamorphoses, effortlessly responding to the hotel’s gallery lobby with allure. At its core, two intricately intertwined chairs form a narrative of clarity and mystery, inviting viewers into a realm of endless wonder. Each visitor contributes to the ever-evolving narrative, becoming an integral part of this exploration journey.
In a remarkable display of support for the talents of the Hong Kong art community, Rosewood Hong Kong extended the invitation to design students from Polytechnic University. These aspiring creatives were offered an opportunity to engage with the luminaries, Frederick Molenschot and Piet Boon, in an unforgettable encounter.
The following week marked the partnership between Rosewood Hong Kong and the esteemed Serpentine Art Gallery on March 25, to host a cultural moment at Asaya Kitchen. Kicking off Art Basel Hong Kong week, Trish Luyckx, accompanied by the CEO of Serpentine Gallery, Bettina Korek, co-hosted an art-led dialogue featuring the visionary Korean artist and the mastermind behind this year's iconic Serpentine Pavilion in London, Minsuk Cho. Joining him was South African architect, Professor Sumayya Vally, who also holds the distinction of being the Serpentine Pavilion 2021 Designer. Together, they captivated the audience with their profound insights, shedding light on the intersection of art, architecture, and cultural expression.
Craftmanship
Guests and students from VTC (Vocational Training Council) were granted a glimpse into the exquisite craftsmanship of Rosewood as it harnessed the expertise of its network of award-winning chefs, sensational sommeliers, and beauty gurus. Through the meticulously formulated calendar of masterclasses and workshops for Rosewood Front Row, attendees were offered a unique opportunity to delve into the artistry and finesse that defines the very essence of Rosewood Hong Kong’s A Sense of Place® philosophy.
Chef Giovanni Polcari from BluHouse led an interactive Pasta Making Masterclass while over at Butterfly Patisserie, Executive Pastry Chef Jonathan Soukdeo revealed the secrets of his Vanilla Flan with the Make Your Own Parisian Flan Masterclass.
Louis Roederer was also invited back along with Domaine Dujac and Opus One to hold A Journey Through Wine experience at The Legacy House, Asaya Kitchen and HENRY respectively.
Asaya ensured that it celebrated craftmanship within the beauty and wellness space as it partnered with globally acclaimed hairstylist Rossano Ferretti to unfold a new chapter, as Ferretti unveiled his eponymous hair spa at Asaya on March 22. Dedicated to enhancing the natural and unique charm of men and women worldwide, Rossano Ferretti and his team delivered exceptional hair spa services, including his renowned Ferretti Metodo Cut, designed to bring out the best of the guest.
Culinary Experiences
During the Front Row celebrations, Rosewood Hong Kong had the pleasure of hosting numerous guests at its dining establishments. Each dining outlet curated special celebratory meals in honour of the anniversary, resulting in unique and unprecedented chef partnerships that offered guests a chance to savour innovative and one of a kind culinary experience. Michelin-starred BRAT showcased vibrant Basque Country-inspired cooking at HENRY, while culinary experts from Rosewood properties in Guangzhou, Beijing, and Hong Kong gathered to highlight Cantonese cuisine with The Taste of Lingnan.
Hop Sze Restaurant found a temporary home at Holt’s Café, and Masque (The Best Restaurant in India from Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024) teamed up with CHAAT to offer an Indian feast. Rosewood San Miguel de Allende's renowned 1826 restaurant took up residency at Bayfare Social, and Natsuko Shoji and Mark Perkins were seen creating limited-offer delights at Butterfly Patisserie and The Butterfly Room respectively. Mume (#34 from Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024) fused Taiwanese flavours with Nordic influences at Asaya Kitchen. DarkSide welcomed Scarfes Bar from Rosewood London while XX Bar welcomed Maybe Sammy (#15 from World's 50 Best Bars).
Fostering Growth & Opportunity
Rosewood Hong Kong celebrates not only its fifth year as the flagship property in 2024 but also introduces the BluUp Programme, a component of the Rosewood Empowers initiative. This programme extends support and internships to Special Educational Needs (SEN) youths from the local NGO LoveXpress. In honour of the anniversary, guests from around the world were invited to a special community brunch at BluHouse on March 17. During the event, over 130 guests had the opportunity to experience the exceptional service provided by culinary and F&B service students from VTC while savoring the culinary delights offered at BluHouse, the purpose-led Italian restaurant.
As Rosewood Hong Kong celebrates this significant milestone, guests were left in awe as they were given Front Row access to Rosewood and this is merely the start; further exciting events and announcements are yet to come.
For further information about “Rosewood Front Row”, please see here.
For high-resolution images, please download from the below:
https://rosewoodhongkong.app.box.com/s/z5jqcln0cxmhbbnhdsvbof9gt89l5q11
