LIFESTYLE DESTINATION

The most exciting leisure-centric addition however is the major Skycity development, a huge entertainment complex to be located next to Terminal 2. The giant 668,000 sqm hub will have five key concepts including “cybertainment”, “edutainment”, a “gourmet kingdom”,“action and excitement” and “events”, plus a solid retail element.

A teaser video has revealed that passengers can expect a diverse range of options, from virtual reality arcade games and simulated skydiving to waterslides and international cuisines. Event groups are also being targeted, with new spaces to host car product launches or extravagant concerts.

According to Jack So, Skycity aims to capture broad opportunities in tourism and business, while also providing a dynamic lifestyle and family entertainment hub for Hong Kong residents and visitors alike.“Our vision is to create a new destination that goes far beyond the traditional notion of a shopping mall,” he says.

The first phase is due to open in 2020, with 195,000 sqm of retail, dining and entertainment space. Skycity will also boast a brand-new airport hotel – the Regal Skycity Airport Hotel, which will offer 1,200 guestrooms and suites, a 1,000-guest pillarless ballroom, four restaurants and other leisure facilities.

This will join its sister property, the Regal Airport Hotel, the 658-room Skycity Marriott Hotel (attached to the Asia World Expo exhibition centre) and the Novotel Citygate hotel in Tung Chung.

John Girard, Regal Hotels’ vice president and area general manager for Hong Kong, says: “The new Regal Skycity Airport hotel will be an iconic landmark and provide a dynamic new destination hotel.”

SHOPPING SPREE

Regular facilities are also being given a revamp in line with a more “experiential” offering. The duty-free shopping experience recently underwent a major shake-up with longstanding operator DFS losing its contract.

Instead, the Airport Authority has awarded the duty-free liquor and tobacco concession to the joint