Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

A permanent display at 60

Curating and project managing a permanent historical exhibition in the East Lobby of one of the world's most storied luxury hotels

At a glance

60 years of history
1 permanent display
1 historical narrative
Image sourcing and licensing
Exhibition curation

Hong Kong

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Hong Kong 〰️

The brief

The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong invited History Ink to curate and project manage a permanent historical archive display for the hotel's East Lobby, a tribute to 60 years of one of the world's most celebrated luxury hotels. The display was unveiled in 2023 to mark the hotel's diamond anniversary.

The exhibition was written by celebrated Hong Kong historian and journalist Vaudine England, who set out to do justice to a hotel whose guest book reads like a who's who of the twentieth century - and whose story is inseparable from the story of Hong Kong itself.

Hidden histories and remarkable personalities

The research process was extensive and wide-ranging. History Ink collected stories from former employees and sourced photographs from archives spread across the world. We also found hidden histories within the Mandarin Oriental's own historic collection of materials.

The resulting exhibition chronicles the birth of the brand in the 1960s, when the Mandarin was the tallest building in Hong Kong, through to its roaring success as a global icon today. The display is rich with personalities, anecdotes and rare images that give the exhibition a warmth and intimacy unusual in corporate histories.

From the East Lobby to the press rooms

The permanent display, situated in the hotel's East Lobby where every guest passes, has become a destination in its own right. Since its unveiling, the exhibition and its stories have attracted wide media attention. The project was featured on RTHK's Hong Kong Heritage podcast, in which host Annemarie Evans interviewed Vaudine on the Mandarin's illustrious history and personalities. It has also been covered by The Standard, Travel Weekly Asia and Remote Lands.

The full exhibition is additionally available to read online through the Mandarin Oriental's own website, bringing the hotel's 60-year story to a global audience far beyond Hong Kong.