[photopress:hotel_les_patterson.jpg,full,alignright]The Mandarin Oriental, Sanya is set to open for business in the second half of 2008, with 297 guest rooms each with expansive views over the South China Sea.
Many of the larger-than-average size rooms feature private gardens with timber decks and direct access to the beach.
The rooms will have more technology than the average guest will know how to ute.
The press release refers to ‘the decadent Pavilion room category’ — which is probably where they do not host visiting journalists. They are already decadent enough.
Private villas have their own private deck areas, private outdoor lap pools, gardens and relaxation gazebos.
The Mandarin Oriental, Sanya will be the first hotel managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to open in China.
Anent which I have a splendid story. Mandarin advertises using famous guests. One of them is Barry Humphries. What is not mentioned in the advertising is that the first time he stayed at The Mandarin in Hong Kong he was thrown out into the street. The writer was there.
Barry Humphries was doing his cabaret act and as a prelude he wandered around the tables dressed as Sir Les Patterson, Minister of the Artz. That is with wine slobbering from his mouth, very odd stains on his trousers and a daft leer. A posse of waiters formed, grabbed him and hurled him out into the cold night.
He had to telephone the then manager, Peter Gautschi, to come and escort him back into the hotel so he could complete his act.
Source: Asia Travel Tips and experience.
