The elevator at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is one of the city’s fastest, traveling from the lobby to the 103rd floor in a dizzying 10 seconds. It’s actually one of the reasons why people are willing to pay $480 a night for an elevated perch above the twinkling skyline of Hong Kong’s Kowloon region. The hotel occupies floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Center, a glass beacon made possible by the 1998 closure of an airport famous for requiring hair-raising descents, as planes passed between skyscrapers and towering apartment buildings. The Ritz-Carlton also has the world’s highest swimming pool — at nearly 1,600 feet — and its Ozone Bar at the top of the hotel bears the title of Asia’s highest rooftop bar. The Tin Lung Heen restaurant on the 102nd floor not only has delicious fare, but offers a beautiful view of the area. Once in the room, it’s easy to see the South China Sea and Hong Kong Island, thanks to the angular floor-to-ceiling windows. All rooms are equipped with king-size beds, a desk, a chaise lounge, a huge living room, and padded window boxes that make it easy to peer out and enjoy the view.
