Hotels

Celebrities Interview / Parting Thoughts

Chief Concierge, Rosedale Hotel Kowloon_Arron Lai

Hotel industry career: 32 years
About Me: After my schooling，I joined the hotel industry through recommendation from my neighbour，which was helpful to get started back then. I started as a bellboy with the Mandarin Oriental，then went to the Regent Hotel，which became the Intercontinental Hong Kong. I then worked at the now defunct Tai Wai Hotel and the International Grand Stanford Hotel before joining Rosedale Hotel Kowloon in 2012.
I like the challenge of meeting the different requests from our guests and the diverse nature of the job–it’s never boring and it keeps me busy.

Favourite Hong Kong activity: I go to the gym a lot to exercise and keep fit. After work I love to head around town looking for interesting places to eat–like a good chicken pot restaurant. I can eat anything，so that helps.
What I like about Hong Kong: Oh，wow，where do I begin？Hong Kong is such a great city–so many different things to do，and so convenient！We have such a rich food culture–new restaurants are opening every day！And it’s so easy to get to everywhere–45 minutes from here you can be hiking along the Dragon’s Back，exploring the great outdoors in Sai Kung，or enjoying the nightlife or drinks after work in Lan Kwai Fong，or Knutsford Terrace，or nearby in Olympic City. The choices are endless.

My Recommendation: Visit Lantau Island–it’s such a unique place. Ride the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car from Tung Chung and visit the Big Buddha and enjoy a vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery. If you have time，take the bus to Tai O，an old fishing village that still retains its way of life. Get on a boat to look for the Chinese dolphins，or just spend the afternoon strolling around Tai O. It’s a real change of pace from downtown.
Bonus Recommendation 1: Visit a local neighbourhood，like here in Mong Kok or Prince Edward，and see how the locals live. Visit Shanghai Street lined with shops selling home- and kitchen wares，such as 168 Shanghai Street，a renovated historic building that houses some of these shops.
Bonus Recommendation 2: Try out the local food，especially dim sum，which is so Hong Kong. The One Dim Sum in Prince Edward is a local favourite. Also try out Chinese desserts–Kai Kai in Jordan is famous: there is always a queue outside.

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