Cody Yuen

 

 

Title: Chief Concierge, Hotel Icon Hong Kong

 

 

Hotel industry career: 14 years

 

 

About Me: My hotel career started quite unusually. I studied geomatics – which is satellites and land surveying, at the university. My wife studied hotel management, and, after graduation, she worked at a hotel and was doing well. I worked as a surveyor in a construction company. It was an uncertain time for the construction industry, so I decided to change career and worked in a hotel. I did subsequently go back to school and got my degree in hotel management as well.

 

I started out as a bell attendant, working at the Langham Place Hotel. Over the years, I worked my way to be my present position. I moved to Hotel Icon as part of the opening team almost ten years ago. I liked working as a concierge because I like to eat and shop, and that fits in well with my job - what I learn from eating and shopping I can recommend to my guests.

 

 

 

Favourite Hong Kong activity: As I said, I love to eat and shop. Now that I have a six-years old boy, I love to take him out, finding good local restaurants and explore the outdoors like parks and beaches.

What I like about Hong Kong: Hong Kong is so convenient. You can do everything you want and find everything you want. I also love the public transportation system, one of the best in the world – the MTR, all the different buses. You can practically get to wherever we want.

 

 

 

 

My Recommendation: Explore West Kowloon Cultural District. While not complete it already has much to offer. The Art Park is great, as is the Free Space. The Xiqu Centre in Jordan attracts many international visitors. There is now driverless people mover that take people around the Free Space; the waterfront and park spaces are also nice; there are street performances, and you can rent a bicycle to ride around too. And it's pet friendly. There are a lot to do there.

 

 

Bonus Recommendation 1: Visit Yim Tin Tsai, a small island off Sai Kung accessible by boats from Sai Kung. The attractions include good hakka food; an old school which is now a heritage museum; St Joseph Church which is great for wedding pictures; and taking pictures at the dam that connects to Kau Sai Chau where the golf courses are. There is even a salt pond!

 

Bonus 2: Visit the Sai Kung waterfront and buy some seafood from the little fishing boats. Visit some of the local restaurants with excellent local food like pineapple bun.

Extra Tip: F​​inally, before you go out, approach the concierge desk for the latest updates on Covid-19 restrictions.

 

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