AS THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE SPY RETURNS TO THE SILVER SCREEN IN SPECTRE, THE PENINSULA HONG KONG PAYS TRIBUTE TO JAMES BOND WITH A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION BY ICONIC BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHER TERRY O’NEILL AND A SERIES OF TOP SECRET EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS – FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
With their twin histories of glamour, refinement and timeless style, James Bond and The Peninsula Hong Kong have long been kindred spirits. It is fitting then that Asia’s Grande Dame is celebrating the latest cinematic outing for the world’s most famous secret agent with a programme of special themed events, kicking off with a unique photographic exhibition by iconic British photographer Terry O’Neill, entitled “All About Bond at The Peninsula” ahead of the Hong Kong premiere of Spectre in November.
To whet appetites for the new film, which sees Daniel Craig return to play 007 for the fourth time, The Peninsula is hosting a spectacular VIP dinner at Gaddi’s in partnership with Bond’s favourite bubbly, Bollinger Champagne, on 4 November 2015. The hotel will be hosting a high-profile exhibition by the renowned British photographer Terry O’Neill, who has the distinction of having shot five Bonds, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, more than 20 iconic “Bond Girls”, as well as Frank Sinatra, Elton John, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Audrey Hepburn and Faye Dunaway, to name a few of Hollywood’s elite. O’Neill will be guest of honour at the VIP dinner, in addition to hosting an artist talk that day, charting his career as one of the leading celebrity photographers of the 20th century. The Peninsula is even giving guests the opportunity to emulate the iconic British spy’s opulent lifestyle with “A Bond-worthy Stay”.
Guests will have the chance to trace the cinematic history of the dapper secret agent by visiting a curated exhibition of Terry O’Neill’s Bond photographs, which features unique images of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig in the role, as well as a selection of the films’ most famous Bond Girls.
A must-see for fans of 007, the exhibition will be on display at Gaddi’s and the hotel’s first-floor corridor exhibition space from 4 November to 10 December 2015, in tandem with a pop-up exhibition from 2 to 8 November 2015 at leading Hong Kong contemporary art gallery, The Cat Street Gallery, featuring signed editions of O’Neill’s iconic photographs. Jetting in to host a VIP “In Conversation with the Artist” talk in Felix on 4 November, O’Neill will offer insights into his impressive body of work and reveal the stories behind these arresting images.
Gaddi’s, Hong Kong’s original French fine dining restaurant, pays homage to Bond with “Licence to Thrill”, an exclusive VIP dinner on 4 November 2015. Held in conjunction with Champagne Bollinger, the six-course dinner will showcase delectable dishes inspired by past Bond movies. The sumptuous menu will be paired with five types of Champagne from Bollinger and Jebsen Fine Wines, including the Bollinger Spectre limited edition, which has been created to celebrate the release of Spectre. The dinner is priced at HK$ 3,288 + 10% per person, and reservations can be made by e-mailing gaddis@peninsula.com or by calling +852 2696 6763.
For the ultimate 007 experience, The Peninsula is offering an indulgent accommodation package through “A Bond-worthy Stay” promotion, which includes a stay in a suite, “Licence to Thrill” dinner at Gaddi’s for two, a pair of James Bond-themed “Shaken Not Stirred” cocktails, and round-trip luxurious Rolls-Royce transfers, as well as the Bollinger Spectre limited edition. And exclusive for those who book the night of 4 November, access to the VIP artist talk with Bond photographer extraordinaire, Terry O’Neill. Guests can also make their stay even more indulgent with a 15-minute helicopter tour* of Hong Kong at an additional cost of HK$ 9,995.
Priced from HK$ 8,740 + 10%* per room per night, “A Bond-worthy Stay” is available from 1 to 30 November 2015 can be booked by e-mailing reservationphk@peninsula.com or by calling +852 2926 2888.
*Subject to availability. Minimum stay of two consecutive nights required. The helicopter experience is subject to weather conditions. Terms and Conditions apply.
As well as a shared appreciation for the high life, James Bond’s connection to The Peninsula Hong Kong stretches back to 1974, when the hotel served as a home from home for the cast and crew of The Man with the Golden Gun. Director Guy Hamilton was effusive in his praise at the time, stating that, “The Peninsula hotel is the hotel in Hong Kong,” and commending The Peninsula for allowing the filmmakers to make use of the hotel’s exterior and suites during the shoot.
Other cast members also praised the hotel, including two-time Bond Girl Maud Adams, who called The Peninsula “The best hotel in Hong Kong” and later recalled that: “Hong Kong was a great place. I’d always wanted to go there and it was a fantastic place to be… We stayed at The Peninsula hotel, which is of course world famous… We were met by Rolls-Royces, which they’re famous for. Each of our suites had its own private valet… We were really treated royally.”
The Peninsula, and its world-famous fleet of signature green Rolls-Royces, also features in a memorable scene from the film in which Bond (Roger Moore) and Mary Goodnight (Britt Ekland) tail Adams’ character, Andrea Anders, to the hotel. “All the green Rolls-Royces belong to The Peninsula hotel,” says Goodnight. “You see what a two-year posting to staff intelligence does for a girl?”
About Terry O’Neill
London-born Terry O’Neill is one of the most acclaimed British photographers of the past 50 years, having taken iconic pictures of several generations of Hollywood stars as well as 20th-century music legends such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. His work is currently on show in galleries and museums in more than 30 cities around the world, with many of his photographs being held in the permanent collections of major institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery in London. His association with James Bond films began in 1964, when he photographed on the set of Goldfinger, starting a relationship with the franchise that has endured for more than 50 years.
The Cat Street Gallery
Founded in 2006 by Founder and Director Mandy d’Abo, The Cat Street Gallery is one of Hong Kong’s most well-known galleries. Originally established to exhibit the talents of contemporary Australian artists, the gallery has continued to grow, representing some of the most important and exciting emerging and established talents from all over the world. The Cat Street Gallery has two other exhibition spaces: its partner venue the Space and the Aberdeen Annex, a private viewing venue on the south side of Hong Kong Island.