EAST Announces Official Opening Date and Special Opening Rates

(Hong Kong, 7 December, 2009) – EAST, a new lifestyle business hotel from Swire Hotels, will officially open at Island East, Hong Kong Island on 25 January 2010 and is offering an opening rate of HK$988 per night.

The rate is valid from 25 January to 4 April, 2010 for an overnight stay for single or double occupancy in an Urban View room including complimentary local calls and wired and wireless WiFi internet access throughout the hotel.

Also on offer is a rate of HK$888 per night, for a consecutive stay of at least two nights during weekends in an Urban View room including breakfast at Feast (Food by EAST), complimentary local calls and wired and wireless WiFi internet access throughout the hotel.

The hotel is located at Island East, incorporating the new landmark development by Swire Properties, One Island East. The location is one of the most attractive out-of-Central business addresses in Hong Kong, a new home to over 300 multinationals including some of the most prestigious Fortune 500 corporations.

EAST is designed primarily for business travellers looking for a relaxed, convenient and contemporary environment. The hotel’s 345 rooms and suites, with both harbour or urban views, offer state-of-the-art communications technology and entertainment including 37-inch, high definition LCD TVs with numerous satellite and cable channels, the latest iHome / iPod-Touch® technology, simple connectivity for laptops and complimentary broadband / WiFi internet access extending throughout the hotel. Recreational facilities include a 24-hour gym - Beast (Body by EAST) and an outdoor swimming pool.

Dining is highlighted by the all-day restaurant Feast (Food by EAST) and a harbour view rooftop bar, Sugar (Bar.Deck.Lounge), featuring signature and classic cocktails, tapas and nightly DJs which opens until 2 am.

Responding to the needs of modern travellers, EAST has been designed to “rejuvenate you when you are tired; energise you when you are in search of fun; and support you when it’s time for business,” said Brian Williams, Managing Director of Swire Hotels.

The hotel is conveniently adjacent to Tai Koo MTR station and just a short-drive from Central and Causeway Bay.

To make reservations contact EAST on (852) 3968 3808 or e-mail reservations@east-hongkong.com

About Swire Hotels
Swire Hotels has been created to manage intriguing urban hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United Kingdom, providing a luxury experience for travellers who seek individuality, style and personalised service.

The Opposite House, Beijing, opened in 2008 and was followed by the opening of a 117-room small intimate hotel, The Upper House, above Pacific Place, Hong Kong, in October 2009. The 345-room lifestyle business hotel EAST opens in Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong, in January 2010.

In the United Kingdom, Swire Hotels is developing a collection of stylish boutique hotels in interesting English towns and cities to be launched in 2010.

About Swire Island East
Swire Island East is one of Hong Kong’s best planned and established business districts which comprise the retail and office centres of Cityplaza and TaiKoo Place, developed and managed by Swire Properties. Following the completion of One Island East, the Island East portfolio offers eight million square feet of commercial accommodation for local and multinational corporations. A comprehensive range of cosmopolitan business and leisure amenities are situated within the area, including the 1.1 million square feet Cityplaza shopping centre, the Butterfield’s private members club, over 60 restaurants and cafes and some 4,000 public parking spaces.

Swire Island East has been a long-time patron of art and culture and a diversified range of visual and performing art events are held year-round in the past decade. To raise the bar and be able to bring world-class art events to Hong Kong, a 20,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose venue ArtisTree was launched in November 2008. Located at Cornwall House, TaiKoo Place, the inaugural event for ArtisTree was the Vivienne Westwood A Life in Fashion exhibition, a collaboration with London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.

ArtisTree is a pun for the original word “Artistry” which means “artistic workmanship, effect or quality, artistic ability”. Like a tree, this new venue symbolizes a nurturing ground where art grows. It is intended to be a cultural resource for Hong Kong. From where, through the presentation of outstanding events from the visual and performing arts world, inspire the learning, appreciation, creation and growth of art in the wider HK community.