On 3 March, 1866, The Hongkong Hotel Company was incorporated with limited liability. The board consisted of Douglas Lapraik, a Scotsman whose former home is now University Hall; Englishman C H M Bosman, a director of the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company; and German national Baron Gustav van Overbeck, Consul for Prussia and Austria in Hong Kong, who became the first chairman. The company was financed by the Hong Kong branch of the Bank of Paris.

The Hongkong Hotel Company acquired the Oriental Hotel and adjoining building, Keying and Marine House in Pedder Street.

The original Hongkong Hotel, on this central site, held its soft opening, presided over by C H M Bosman, and with the governor, His Excellency Sir Richard Macdonnell, as guest of honour. The hotel was dubbed by the media the "greatest enterprise of the kind in China and Japan". Charles Duggan was recruited from The Langham in London to be the hotel's manager.

C Langdon Davies, superintendent of the Bullion House at the Mint, fulfilled the role of company secretary.

In 1873, E R Belilios was chairman, and C P Chater was a director of the company. During the following decade, the Hongkong Hotel was leased to Mr Dorabjee Nowrojee, a Parsee baker. The Board eventually took back control of the hotel, whereupon the lessee set up a rival hotel in Pottinger Street and two more on Kowloon. He also began a cross-harbour ferry service, which he sold in 1898 to the new Star Ferry Company.

W. Kerfoot Hughes, a broker who owned a third of the hotel company's stock, brought in a manager from The Baldwin hotel in San Francisco, a Mr Greeley, who introduced outside catering to Hong Kong and proposed the expansion of the hotel.

The hotel company bought a site at Pedder Wharf, at the end of the Praya, now the site of Gloucester Tower in The Landmark. A 5-storey north wing of the Hongkong Hotel was built, and a 2-storey building to its north leased as a residence to The Hon. C P Chater.

A wall of the original hotel building collapsed, destroying two rooms and damaging the dining and billiards rooms, although there were no casualties; mishap delayed the opening of the new wing, rescheduled to open in August 1889.

The architect's plans were approved to move the main entrance to the harbour side and build out to what would become Des Voeux Road when the Praya reclamation was completed in 1904.

Sir Elly Kadoorie purchased 25 shares in the hotel company in March through brokerage Benjamin & Kelly of which he formed one half.

The Hongkong Hotel verandah provided the gathering point for the colony's stockbrokers to ply their trade; in February, led by C P Chater, they formed the first proper stock exchange.

Robert Hotung became chairman of the hotel company and by the turn of the century, he and a member of the Hutton Potts family were the two major shareholders.

A new wing of the Hongkong Hotel in Pedder Street was completed.

The Board decided the Hongkong Hotel was no longer in the deluxe category. A scheme was proposed to sell it and rebuild on 50,000 sq.ft of newly-reclaimed land bordered by Chater Road, Ice House Street and the New Praya (now Connaught Road), but the scheme was voted down at an EGM.

Entire Hongkong Hotel furnished with electric light.

Sir Ellis Kadoorie knighted.

The Repulse Bay Hotel officially opened by Sir Edward Stubbs KCMG, Governor of Hong Kong.

Sir Ellis Kadoorie died; the Company acquired 85% of The Shanghai Hotels Limited which held 60% of the share capital of The Grand Hotel des Wagons-Lits; The Peak Hotel was purchased from Mr C. Findlay-Smith; the business and assets of Hotel Kalee in Shanghai were acquired; and the foundations of The Peninsula, Kowloon were laid.

Company name changed to The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited; the two companies' assets amalgamated and The Shanghai Hotels Limited liquidated. The Company controlled The Astor House, The Palace Hotel in Shanghai and owned 60% of The Grand Hotel des Wagon-Lits in Beijing.

Company purchased 16-16d Des Voeux Road, Central, adjoining the Hongkong Hotel, for reconstruction; opened The Majestic Hotel in Shanghai; and purchased the unexpired lease period of The Palace Hotel in Shanghai. Company completed ownership of all sites upon which its hotels were built; increased its shareholding in The Grand Hotel des Wagon-Lits Ltd to 90%.

A new wing of 60 rooms added to The Repulse Bay Hotel.

Company disposed of the Kalee Hotel, Shanghai.

The Peninsula taken over by military authorities, accommodating The Second Battalion, The Coldstream Guards and a battalion of The Devonshire Regiment; soldiers vacated the hotel a year later.

The Peninsula officially opened to the public by Sir Wilfred Thomas Southorn CMG, Governor of Hong Kong.

Company disposed of The Majestic Hotel in Shanghai.

The Peak Hotel closed.

Outbreak of the Sino-Japanese conflict; The Astor House Hotel, Shanghai completely evacuated and subsequently occupied by the Japanese YMCA. A direct hit by a bomb on The Palace Hotel caused extensive damage; slow reparation work undertaken.

Japanese YMCA left the Astor House Hotel but leased it to another party for a three-year term sufficient to produce a reasonable return.

Japanese entered The Peninsula and the Company was precluded from continuing its business from the time of the Japanese occupation until August 1945 after the surrender.

The Peninsula renamed the Toa (East Asia) Hotel and became Japanese Headquarters.

Japanese reopened The Repulse Bay Hotel to the public, renamed it the Midorigahama Hotel ("The Hotel of the Green Mountain").

Japanese surrendered at The Peninsula; The Repulse Bay Hotel was liberated and the Midorigahama Hotel ceased to exist.

The Astor House Hotel and The Palace Hotel in Shanghai, occupied by the US Army and Navy respectively, vacated during the year. The Hong Kong establishments returned to the company's control after being requisitioned.

Disposal of The Palace Hotel, Shanghai.

The hotel property in Beijing sold and owning company of Grand Hotel des Wagons-Lits Ltd liquidated.

Local Enterprise Limited entered into an agreement to lease the premises of the Hongkong Hotel for 14 years. The existing structure was to be demolished, hotel and office buildings were to be erected and these would revert to the company's ownership on lease expiration. HSH also had the option of managing the resulting hotel portion on a profit-share basis.

Gaddi's restaurant opened in The Peninsula.

The Astor House Hotel, Shanghai taken over by the Land and House Bureaux.

Disposal of the Hongkong Hotel for HK$11.0 million; new restaurant "The Playpen" opened in The Peninsula; work commenced on The Peninsula Court, adjacent to The Peninsula, consisting of 12 floors and operating as an annexe to the hotel; a staff provident fund set up.

Chesa restaurant opened in The Peninsula.

The Scene, a discotheque, opened in The Peninsula.

Agreement reached with Cathay Pacific Airways Limited to form a new company, Air Caterers Limited, to handle aircraft catering. HSH own 25%.

Company purchased 10% share of equity of Harbour Centre Development Ltd and agreed to manage the new 800-room Hong Kong Hotel (owned by Harbour Centre).

The Hong Kong Hotel opened; The Peninsula Court developed into 10 suites and 107 bedrooms with a bridge linking it to The Peninsula, thereby increasing the total accommodation to 31 suites and 307 rooms.

Largest single order in the history of Rolls-Royce at that time was from The Peninsula for eight Brewster Green Silver Shadows.

The Peak Tramways Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited; the Company acquired the entire share capital of Peak Tramways Company Limited in exchange for the issue of 600,000 shares and payment of HK$3 million in cash; The Peak Tower under construction at the upper terminus of the Peak Tram; agreement reached with The Hongkong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company Limited to manage, under a long term agreement, a new 1,370-room hotel to be erected on a site adjacent to the Hong Kong Hotel, scheduled to open in 1975.

Agreement reached with New World Development Company Limited to rent, on a long term basis, part of the Holt's Wharf site; plans were to construct a new Peninsula hotel of around 500 rooms, agreement terminated in 1975. Harbour Centre Development Limited purchased the Empress Hotel in Chatham Road, Kowloon with HSH managing under a long term agreement; hotel subsequently sold in 1982, and management by HSH ceased. The new Peak Tower opened. A 15% share of the equity of hotel group Marco Polo Private Limited taken up when a company was formed to purchase the 300-room Hotel Malaysia in Singapore. A new management company formed to provide management for hotels overseas with The Hongkong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company Limited taking 25% equity. The Peninsula Overseas Management Ltd (POM Ltd) shareholding expanded to include the Swire Group providing the marketing services.

The Peninsula Hotels formed as the marketing division of HSH, charged with promoting the Company's hotel interests.

HSH head office moved to St George's Building after 48 years at Lane Crawford House. HSH participated in forming Manila Peninsula Inc. to construct and own a luxury 600-room hotel in the Makati district. 60% equity was to be held by Filipino interests, and one third each of the remaining 40% was to be held by HSH, Wharf, and Swire Pacific Ltd. The property was to be managed by POM Ltd.

The Manila Peninsula Hotel partially opened for business. An agreement reached with Harbour Centre Development Ltd to provide catering facilities in the Ocean Centre complex, to be operated by HSH as managers of The Hongkong Hotel. Lucullus Food & Wines Ltd formed as a wholly owned subsidiary, operating from rented premises in North Point. Premier Restaurants was also formed to operate a number of fast food outlets, restaurants and coffee shops.

The Scene discotheque closed in 1977 and Gaddi's moved from the ground floor to an area formerly occupied by The Peninsula ballroom; shop space thus expanded. Four apartment blocks comprising 212 units completed on The Repulse Bay site adjoining the hotel, and fully let. The Ocean Centre outlets opened, including the "Paprika" restaurant, the "Brewery", a new coffee shop and fast food and self-service outlets. Marco Polo Hotel in Singapore decided to proceed with planned extension to provide an additional 300 rooms. A Group Personnel Department was established to coordinate wide-ranging aspects of staff management.

The Peak Tramways celebrated its 90th anniversary.

The Spice Market food outlet opened in Ocean Centre in 1979; The Club discotheque opened at The Peninsula in 1980; and a replacement fleet of nine Rolls-Royce Silver Shadows ordered. Completion of new Grange wing to Marco Polo Hotel, Singapore. "Restaurant 1819" opened in downtown business district. Management provided by Marco Polo Hotel and ultimately HSH. Agreement to manage a new hotel to be built in Bangkok, known as the Bangkok Peninsula. The owning company, Rayadamri Hotel Co. Ltd, in which HSH held a 32.66% equity stake, to develop a 420-room hotel.

Agreed to purchase the Merlin Hotel in Kowloon. HSH sold equity stake in Hotel Marco Polo Ltd to reduce holding to 10.24%, with HK$35.34 million in extraordinary profit.

The Empress Hotel sold by Harbour Centre Development Ltd and management by HSH therefore ceased. Agreement reached to manage the 528-room Jianguo Hotel in Beijing on opening; hotel fully operational that year. Management relinquished in 1987 at end of contract. Purchase of Merlin Hotel completed and building demolished. Repulse Bay Hotel closed. Marco Polo Hotel in Harbour City opened with 440 rooms, managed by HSH. Jianguo Hotel, Beijing fully operational with 528 rooms. Peninsula Court closed for redevelopment and demolished. Bangkok Peninsula Hotel opened with 424 guestrooms, managed by HSH.

New lower terminal of Peak Tram came into operation. 22-storey St John's Building completed and fully let; awarded the 1983 silver medal from The Hong Kong Institute of Architects.

402-room Prince Hotel in Harbour City opened and managed by HSH. Provision of hotel and building management services to The Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, a 1,146-room hotel and adjoining apartment and office complex, for a five year term. Management relinquished to Lee Gardens International in 1989.

Acquisition of minority shares of Peninsula Overseas Management Ltd to become a wholly owned subsidiary. HSH withdrawn from management of the Hong Kong, Marco Polo and Prince Hotels. Commenced redevelopment of the 25,700 sq. meter site of former Repulse Bay Hotel into a commercial complex with four residential towers. Sale of 10.24% equity shareholding in Hotel Marco Polo Ltd resulting in HK$27 million extraordinary profit. Management services for Singapore Hotel also withdrawn.

Kowloon Hotel opened with 740 rooms and 5,000 sq.metres of commercial space. First phase of redevelopment of the old Repulse Bay Hotel site completed, including the new Verandah Restaurant. Two new Chinese restaurants opened - The Spring Moon in The Peninsula, and Wan Loong Court in The Kowloon Hotel.

Former managing director David Liang sold his 30.3% stake in the company to China Entertainment (20.3%) and Lai Sun Garment (10.0%). The former increased its stake to 25.9% that was subsequently sold to an international consortium at an adjusted HK$6.50 per share. International consortium's shares were placed, 60% overseas, in a fully-subscribed offer. Secured the management contract to operate an hotel of 112 rooms and 88 suites to be developed in Beverly Hills. Marketing services provided overseas by The Peninsula Hotels on behalf of The Portman Hotel, San Francisco, and pre-opening services and management of The Portman, Shanghai. Both contracts ended in 1990.

Purchased the Hotel Maxims de Paris, formerly the 1905-built Gotham Hotel, in mid-town New York for HK$990 million, renamed it The Peninsula New York. Cathay City Investments Limited, a locally quoted company, launched a HK$6.39 billion takeover bid for the Company. A counter offer by the Kadoorie family resulted in the latter controlling 68.88% of the issued share capital of the Company. The Repulse Bay complex completed. Celebrations held for Peak Tramway centenary.

Peak Tram completely remodernised and reopened after a six-week closure. Minority stake (20%) in The Peninsula Beverly Hills acquired. Acquired the management contract of the 578-room Palace Hotel Beijing. Purchased The Sutton, New York to convert to luxury serviced apartments. Entered into joint venture agreements with companies in Thailand to acquire three development sites to include a 400-room Peninsula hotel.

Group restructured into a holding company performing development and corporate functions only. Group's assets held by individual subsidiary companies. Subsequently established HSH Holdings Limited to hold group's Hong Kong subsidiaries, whilst overseas assets rested with Peninsula International Limited. The Peninsula Beverly Hills officially opened.

Sold 70% stake in Lucullus. Acquired 12% stake in The Peninsula Palace Beijing.

Lord Kadoorie died. Unveiled details of major extension to The Peninsula Hong Kong. The company's Thai joint venture announced three projects under development including the construction of the new Peninsula hotel on the Chaophraya River in Bangkok. Commenced construction on The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City. Construction of 208 Wireless Road in Bangkok completed and the office building fully let. Peak Tower and Victoria Apartment buildings vacated and demolished to make way for a new development. Commenced the HK$500 million redevelopment of The Peak Tower into a new retail and entertainment complex.

Grand Opening of The Peninsula extension. The Landmark, Ho Chi Minh City, opened. HSH has 70% equity. Issued US$175 million 5% guaranteed convertible bonds. Increased stake in The Peninsula Palace Beijing from 12% to 20%. Premier Restaurants withdrew from operating restaurants in non-owned premises and changed name to Peninsula Clubs & Consultancy Services Limited.

Sir Horace Kadoorie died. Entered into a joint venture development project with Ciputra Group in which HSH holds 20% interest. Development in Jakarta's Golden Triangle, to include a Peninsula hotel, put on hold in 1998.

Disposed of entire 25% interest in Cathay Pacific Air Catering Services (HK) Limited to Cathay Pacific Airways. Formed a joint venture with Colonial Mutual Life Assurance in Australia to develop a Peninsula hotel and residential complex at the Bennelong Point site in Sydney. In 1997, reverted to all residential complex for sale, held and managed the retail portion until this was sold in 2001.

Quail Lodge Inc. purchased including hotel, golf and country club and residential plots for sale. The new Peak Tower opened. Rights issue with warrants.

Closed The Peninsula New York for complete internal reconstruction, reopened later that year. Opened The Peninsula Bangkok, celebrated the Grand Opening in 1999.

Entered into a joint venture to develop a Peninsula hotel in Chicago on a prime location. Construction commenced in September that year. Increased equity in The Peninsula Bangkok and other Thai projects to 75%. Increased equity in The Peninsula Manila to 40%. Long-term management contract agreed for The Peninsula Palace Beijing.

Sale of The Sutton, New York completed. Began negotiations on restructuring The Peninsula Palace Beijing joint venture. Loan facility arranged.

HSH signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mitsubishi Estates Limited, Japan to develop a Peninsula hotel in Tokyo. Sale of 208 Wireless Road completed. Opened The Peninsula Chicago. Sale of retail component of Opera Quays, Sydney completed. (30%) sale of remaining equity in Lucullus completed. Entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to restructure the then joint venture, including The Peninsula Bangkok, to 90% equity.

Agreement signed with Mitsubishi Estate Company to develop The Peninsula Tokyo. Disposed of the remaining assets at Bennelong, Sydney. The Palace Hotel Co., Ltd restructured from a sino-foreign equity joint venture into a sino-foreign cooperative joint venture, becoming an HSH subsidiary. HK$2 billion loan facility signed with 16-bank syndicate. Restructuring of group's Thai businesses, including The Peninsula Bangkok, completed; Thai partner exercised option to repurchase 15% of equity, giving HSH group 75% equity. Phase I renovation at The Palace Hotel Beijing completed, Phase II commenced. Major renovation of Quail Lodge resort commenced.

Company successfully raised HK$1,135 million through a share placement exercise. Major renovation of The Palace Hotel completed and hotel rebranded and relaunched as The Peninsula Palace Beijing. Framework agreement signed to further discussions on development of a Peninsula hotel in Shanghai. New brand identity launched for The Peninsula Hotels. The Peninsula Hong Kong celebrated 75th Anniversary with Charity Gala. Renovation of Quail Lodge Resort completed and property re-opened. The Peninsula Bangkok opened Thiptara, a new Thai restaurant. The impact of SARS on the group's business mitigated by strong recovery in second half of year.

Sale of The Kowloon Hotel agreed for consideration of HK$1.93 billion. Major revitalisation programme announced for The Peak Tower. Partial offer launched for shares of The Manila Peninsula Hotel Inc. Formal land grant contract signed for The Peninsula Shanghai. Groundbreaking ceremony for The Peninsula Tokyo held, followed by commencement of construction. Peninsula Merchandising Limited opened first overseas Peninsula Boutique opened in Mitsukoshi's flagship store in Tokyo.

Sale of The Kowloon Hotel completed. Partial offer for shares in Manila Peninsula Hotel Inc. successful, giving HSH 71.68% equity. HSH signed a term loan facility for JPY14.2 billion with a six-bank syndicate. The Peak Tower closed and work commenced on a major internal renovation. Peninsula Merchandising Limited opened Peninsula Boutiques in Hiroshima, Osaka and Taipei.

The Peak Tower's renovation was completed and the building was fully reopened in November. The Peninsula Palace Beijing was re-named as The Peninsula Beijing. Extensive renovation of The Peninsula Manila's Makati Tower, Rigodon Ballroom, lobby and some public areas was completed. In Thailand and Hong Kong, new spas were opened at the Peninsula Hotels. A new fleet of 14 Rolls Royce Phantoms was delivered to The Peninsula Hong Kong in December. Construction of The Peninsula Shanghai commenced, while The Peninsula Tokyo was topped out in the middle of the year.

The Peninsula Tokyo soft-opened on 1 September and celebrated its grand opening on 14 December. The Peak Tram Historical Gallery was opened in the Peak Tram's lower Terminus in September, paying tribute to the Tram's 119-year heritage. In November, The Repulse Bay obtained Town Planning Board's approval to proceed with its revitalization plan. In the same month, construction of the new Spa at The Peninsula Beijing commenced. Four new Peninsula Boutiques were opened in Beijing, Tokyo, Fukuoka and Yokohama.

The Group celebrated three milestone birthdays in 2008: the 80th anniversary of our flagship hotel property, The Peninsula Hong Kong; the 120th anniversary of The Peak Tram; and the 10th anniversary of The Peninsula Bangkok. Several hotels enhanced their existing facilities - new Peninsula Spas were constructed at the Peninsula hotels in Beijing and New York, the Ayala Tower was renovated at The Peninsula Manila, the roof garden and pool terrace were renovated at The Peninsula Beverly Hills and the new Salon de Ning lounge bar concept was launched at the Peninsula hotels in New York and Hong Kong. A new Health Wing opened at The Repulse Bay. The Company also made important progress in development and expansion: The Peninsula Shanghai, due to open in late 2009, was topped out in January 2008, followed by a ceremony in April marking the occasion; and in July, HSH entered into a non-legally binding heads of agreement with Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company for a proposed hotel re-development in Paris, France. The deal was formally concluded in January 2009 and the hotel is expected to open in 2012.

HSH was honoured to receive several distinguishing corporate awards in the year. The Wall Street Journal named HSH as one of Asia's Most Admired Companies, ranking second in Hong Kong for quality and ninth for innovation. In the 2008 DHL/South China Morning Post Hong Kong Business Awards, HSH received the 2008 International Award. HSH also received a Gold Award from the Galaxy Awards in the United States for its 2007 Annual Report.

In January, HSH entered into formal agreements with Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Limited to develop The Peninsula Paris in an historic building in the centre of Paris. The joint venture took possession of the building in March and construction work began apace. In June, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSH signed a HK$1.225 billion four year term loan facility with a group of seven international banks, with the funds slated for refinancing existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes.

During the summer, the Repulse Bay Arcade completed its revitalisation, a project which saw new shops introduced, facilities enhanced, The Verandah and Spices restaurants renovated and a Historical Gallery created. HSH closed the hotel portion of Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club in September. In the same month, the Group purchased the remaining 7.5% ownership interest in The Peninsula Chicago, following which the Group now has full ownership of the hotel.

The Peninsula Shanghai soft opened in mid October, heralding HSH's return to one of its two founding cities after an absence of 55 years. The 235-key hotel is the only new building with a Bund frontage. In December, The Peninsula Hong Kong celebrated its 81st anniversary by adding two bespoke M1N1 Clubman vehicles to the hotel's fleet of Rollys-Royce Phantoms.