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 The Excelsior, Hong Kong is built on an historic site – the first plot of land auctioned by the British Government after Hong Kong’s establishment as a colony in 1841. Over the ensuing years, Jardines built residences, offices and godowns on the land, but the 34-storey Excelsior hotel and the World Trade Centre eventually replaced them all. Today, with the city centre moving to the eastern part of Hong Kong, Causeway Bay is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-developing shopping, entertainment and commercial districts and the land on which The Excelsior resides is among the most coveted in the city. In fact, the hotel celebrates its founders and its location in its Chinese name: “Yee Tung” meaning “Jardines East.”
The Excelsior’s origins can be traced back to 1970, when Hong Kong Land Company Limited joined with Jardines, Trust Houses Forte, The Bank of East Asia, British Airways, City Hotels Limited, and The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to develop Marine Lot 52. It was on this site that The Excelsior was built. East Point Hotels Limited was then formed and the project was housed in Gloucester House (now The Landmark).
In only 18 months, The Excelsior was completed – Hong Kong had its largest hotel. Sir Charles Forte officially opened the hotel in February 1973. Soon after, groups of visitors, mostly from Japan, flocked to the hotel; indeed, signs and notice boards were always written in both Japanese and English. Still, the very first group to stay at The Excelsior was a football team from the United Kingdom. Since then, countless sports teams, celebrities, convention-goers and tourists from around the world have made their way to The Excelsior.
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The Excelsior through the years
 1970
Jardines announces plans to build Hong Kong’s largest hotel
1971
Marking the New Year, a HKD 40.89 million contract for the construction of The Excelsior is signed on 1 January 1971
The 34-storey hotel, with 1,003 rooms and 1,804 beds, involves a total investment of some HKD 120 million and will be managed by Trust Houses Forte International
It is decided that room rates will start from HKD 66 a night
1972
Construction of The Excelsior is completed
1973
Sir Charles Forte officially opens The Excelsior in February
The hotels food and beverage outlets include Dickens Bar, Phoenix Restaurant and Victoria Grill
1974
Rickshaw Bar opens
1976
Hongkong Land takes over as majority shareholder in East Point Hotels Ltd, the firm that owns The Excelsior. The move is accomplished by buying out the shareholding of Trust Houses Forte, the British hotel chain that manages the hotel
Mandarin International Hotels Limited took over the management of The Excelsior which became a sister hotel to Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong (formerly The Mandarin, Hong Kong) and The Oriental, Bangkok.
1979
After a HKD 6 million renovation, Talk of the Town opens
1980
Noon Gun Grill undergoes a HKD 3.5 million facelift, including moving it from the adjoining Convention Centre to the hotel’s main building
1989
The Excelsior completes its HKD 100 million renovation programme with the setting up of its newly refurbished business centre and executive lounge
The hotel also finishes the facelift of its 923 guest rooms, public areas and the Talk of the Town cocktail lounge
Cammino Italian restaurant opens
1993
Installation of smoke-detecting and sprinkler systems
The hotel’s three Executive Floors, including all rooms, suites and corridors are renovated
Health & Fitness Club open
Chinese restaurant Yee Tung Heen opens
1995
TOTT’s is renovated and renamed “ToTT’s Asian Grill & Bar”
1996
Lobby and guestrooms are renovated
2001
The Excelsior is selected as “One of the five most stylish hotels in Hong Kong” by Condé Nast Traveller, 2001
2002
The Excelsior becomes the first hotel in Hong Kong to be equipped with wireless networking in all restaurants, meeting, and conference facilities with a “fibre-to-building” Broadband Internet installation
2004
Executive Lounge is renovated
2005-2006
Lobby facelift
Café and Lounge on the 1st are renovated
Carpet replacement in guestrooms and guestroom corridors
2005
Opening of EXpresso coffee bar
2006
Cammino is renovated
2007
TOTT’s is renovated
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