SHKP overhauls Crowne Plaza hotel in Kowloon

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Sun Hung Kai Properties has completed a major redevelopment of the former Crowne Plaza hotel in Tseung Kwan O, reopening it as the Royal Garden Kowloon East with upgraded facilities and increased guest rooms. This transformation positions the hotel as an urban resort to attract modern tourists and integrates it into SHKP’s larger property network, reflecting shifts in local demand and tourism trends.

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) has completed a comprehensive transformation of the former Crowne Plaza hotel in Tseung Kwan O, relaunching it as the Royal Garden Kowloon East. The redevelopment aims to shift the property from its previous role as a traditional business hotel to an “urban resort” designed to attract a new generation of tourists in Hong Kong.

At the hotel’s opening ceremony, SHKP chairman and managing director Raymond Kwok Ping-luen highlighted that the renovation reflects the rapid development and evolving needs of the Tseung Kwan O community over the past decade. “This hotel renovation cannot simply replicate the old successful model because the needs of guests have changed with time,” Kwok said.

SHKP carried out thorough market research and analysis to tailor the hotel’s offerings to current consumer expectations, striving to exceed those demands through upgraded facilities and services. The revamped hotel is positioned to complement the company’s broader property ecosystem around Tseung Kwan O Station, which includes shopping malls, office buildings, and residential developments, thereby fostering a more integrated lifestyle experience.

The hotel originally opened in 2012 as the Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, marking the first grade A luxury hotel in the area. While SHKP owned and developed the property, it initially delegated management to InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which operated the hotel under the Crowne Plaza brand.

With IHG’s management contract expiring at the end of 2025, SHKP opted not to renew the partnership and instead assumed direct control of the operation in January. The owner then integrated the hotel into its own Royal Garden brand to better align with ongoing changes in Hong Kong’s travel and tourism sector.

The rebranding entailed a three-stage renovation project that began mid-2023, involving an investment exceeding HK$100 billion. This extensive overhaul included increasing the number of guest rooms from 359 to 366, alongside enhancements to the hotel’s design and amenities, aiming to deliver a fresh urban resort experience in the heart of Tseung Kwan O.

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