Karen Irene Thal - HK Polytechnic

Yesterday we attended a graduate research seminar at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.  Getting there involved a bus ride followed by a tube ride, and finally a long walk down the rather British sounding, Chatham Road.  This area of town appeared to be more upscale business and retail and billboards graced with laregly than life images of Emma Watson as well as several perfectly coiffed oriental women presided over the scene from well above street level.

The conference itself was held at the rather lovely Hotel ICON which is affiliated with the Shool of Hotel and Tourism Management at the University and serves as a real-life training lab for the students.  The extraordinary design and decor, excellent service, not to mention high prices attest to it being a very polished operation nonetheless.  We were able to tour the hotel as part of the conference and the Above and Beyond VIP lounge on the top floor suggested reason enough to try to find a high paying job with regular trips to HK. Muted earth tones with sparse accents of color, textures and geometric shapes set the tone; and the floor was divided in alternating areas infused with light from outside through floor to ceiling windows and the cool, seclusion of dimly lit spaces. From that height we were also able to look down at the roof tops of a number of surrounding buildings and could see at least three roof top pools and lounging areas - an apparent necessity in this city where space is limited and priced at a premium. 

En route to HK Polytechnic

The conference itself was run by students and was very well done, ending in an enjoyable banquet replete with a grand finale that involved the University Dean dancing to Michael Jackson in shades, gloves, a hat and up turned shirt collar.  I'd say the our School's administration have a color act to follow.