The Heart and Soul of The Upper House
Meet Kristina Snaith-Lense, General Manager of The Upper House. With passion and pride, Kristina reveals a few of the secret places at The Upper House, her recommendations for the perfect Hong Kong experience and more.
Tell us about The Upper House and what distinguishes this brand from others?
We are a House, not a Hotel. The Upper House, as part of The House Collective, is centered on delivering highly personalized service, inspiring journeys, craftmanship, and design – while celebrating individuality at its core. Ensuring our guests feel at home with us remains at the epicenter of what we do every day. Every touch, and every detail has been carefully designed with this consideration in mind.
We hope to help them create a beautiful memory and a story to tell of their stay. Our House team is really focused on delivering that truly bespoke experience to each of our guests. We also want them to fall in love with the side of HK that interests them. Our team continues to curate authentic, unscripted, and unforgettable experiences for our guests and deliver top-notch services during their stay. This is what sets us apart.
Our people are at the heart and soul of our House. The people culture of Swire Hotels is truly special, built upon the purpose and thinking differently about everything that we do, and taking pride in delivering an unscripted guest experience.
What are some of the experiences that make The Upper House a leader in the Wellness space?
The Upper House is named to symbolize an ‘upward journey’ to a retreat above the bustling city. Our modern "Asian-influenced" residence conjures a sense of tranquility throughout, providing a sense of relaxation, warmth and understated luxury. Besides the hardware of design and architecture, we have been active in partnering with different partners to provide an all-encompassing wellness experience to our Guests, including FAMILY FORM, dynamic and bold full-body sculpting workouts, and GOOD Yoga, disciplined and centering practices.
10x Longevity is set to become the city’s foremost pro-aging, longevity, and recovery destination, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and technology, complemented by progressive facial and body treatments, offer an individualized approach to wellness that prioritizes long-term vitality.
From oracle and tarot reading and crystal viewing sessions with Stone & Stars to professional make-up artistry, complimentary meditation sessions, chiropractic services, functional medicine, and laser rejuvenating therapies - mind, body, and soul are catered for. We are particularly excited about our latest residency.
We also collaborate with the world's leading wellness experts to offer exceptional programming for our guests and community that prioritizes longevity and well-being. From 9 – 29 September, we will welcome Kaia Wellness Collective from LA for a 3-week residency at our House and offer transformative self-care programs, including longevity movement classes, myofascial body treatments, and natural fascia press facelifts that incorporate stem-cell technology products.
What’s the vibe at The Upper House in Hong Kong and who is the ideal guest?
Our clientele are discerning travelers who prioritize personalized experiences over conventional luxury amenities. They are typically well-traveled individuals who value privacy, exceptional service, and a refined yet relaxed atmosphere. They seek meaningful connections and experiences that resonate on a personal level. There is a growing desire for authenticity and individual expression. This has been a mainstay at The House through personalized itineraries created by our Guest Experience team who recommend authentic cultural and dining destinations, and curated experiences that go beyond what is typical.
What is your favorite room at The Upper House and why?
André Fu Suite - Enhancing Andre’s original design intention to create a sophisticated and modern residence, the Suite embodies Fu’s design ethos of ‘relaxed luxury’. Intimate and inviting, the Suite enables hosts to embrace their personal expression of living and is designed to enable relaxation and socializing in equal measure. Each year, we celebrate the launch of our Christmas tree with an intimate dinner with the designer and friends of our House at the Suite.
The suite also features a dedicated spa area with twin massage beds. Award-winning holistic wellness retreat The Farm at San Benito took over the suite for 2 weeks during their residency and offered a program of integrative medicine, holistic healing, and traditional remedial practices.
My other favorite room is our Family Form Studio.
Do you have any secret spots around the hotel?
The Green Room: Adjoined to our restaurant Salisterra is The Green Room our bar lounge, conceived as oasis inspired by a world of olive trees, pistachio, and vine trellises, and alludes to a backstage “green room” where actors unwind and entertain. It is adorned by high gloss racing green lacquer and vivid Pevla stone much akin to the abstract landscape of Wes-Anderson’s cinematic world.
We have hosted a collection of events within the space ranging from Community Guest Shifts where both local and international friends take over our bar to serve specialty cocktails to Drag Evenings with Madame Mincemeat, who always brings for an electrifying night of entertainment. Most recently we welcomed Andrew Ho and Bastien Ciocca, founders of Hope & Sesame to celebrate their climb to number 14 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 where they treated our guests to some of Hope & Sesame’s signature concoctions.
Can you tell us a little about your culinary offerings at Upper House and your favorite dish?
Crowning the top floor of our House, Salisterra is an elevated neighborhood bistro inspired by the colors and flavors of the Mediterranean. Guided by our House culinary advisor, Chef Ricardo Chaneton’s time in Spain and France, his passion for the region’s cuisine is driven by his Italian heritage and love for cooking from the heart. The flavors and cooking styles are inspired by the distinct seasonality and traditions of the Mediterranean.
Our deliciously warming meloso rice and churros con chocolate are my ultimate comfort food indulgence. As I entertain so much for work, I try to eat as cleanly as possible so FAMILY FOOD smoothies and salads at Salisterra are always a go-to. Another favourite is swapping Hainan chicken rice for grilled salmon which has become something of a House classic! I’m lucky that all dietary requirements are thoughtfully considered. On the weekends, nothing beats an indulgent brunch with the family at The Continental. And nothing beats a matchali matcha latte for a pick me up.
What is the one experience you have never had a chance to have but would love to have at a Swire Hotel property?
Whilst we have a comprehensive program of wellness residencies with best-in-class local and international partners, I would absolutely love to create a club within the House to bring them together in one space to enhance our guest journey even further.
What are a few of your personal recommendations for the perfect Hong Kong experience?
Pack a pair of good sneakers to enjoy the beautiful HK hikes. Seriously the best way to see our great city. Get an Octopus card as soon as you arrive and load it up. The public transportation in the city is amongst the best in the world. My favorites would include a ride on the Star Ferry to TST and riding the tram, also affectionately coined the “Ding-Ding” from East to West on Hong Kong Island. You must take the MTR to West Kowloon to visit HK’s newest museum M+, which is an incredible visual journey.
What are you most proud of during your long history with Swire and Upper House?
Having the opportunity to join our pre-opening team in Shanghai in 2017 to open The Middle House was definitely a stand-out moment. It was such an incredible experience and challenge. Most recently, celebrated winning #4 in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023 with drinks and dinner at Salisterra at The House to thank our friends and extended house family for their continued support over the years. We could not have achieved this incredible accolade without them, and it warmed my heart to have our nearest and dearest together in one room to celebrate our collective passion for hospitality. This is the reason why our House family loves doing what they do! It was truly an evening that will be etched in my mind forever.
What would you like the Four Hundred members to know about The Upper House?
The benefit of being a small luxury hotel is that we have a unique opportunity to get to know our guests on a personal level and pay close attention to their preferences to provide the best experience possible. We pride ourselves in providing an unscripted and authentic experience. We hope to curate uniquely different experiences for our guests, who seek originality, style, and highly personalized service.
We value the human touch more than ever. As a leadership team, we love nothing more than being visible in our guest areas, having a coffee or meal with our guests, to really connect person to person. We hope to create beautiful memories, so guests have a story to tell of their stay with us.
Contributor — Four Hundred by Design