For those of you who do not have P3 million to his/her name, HSBC Premier is Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation’s exclusive global wealth management proposition, designed to meet the personal financial needs of its most valued customers. With HSBC Premier, you learn the three Rs, and we don’t mean reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic (though they should come in handy). HSBC Premier, says Patrick Cheng, HSBC’s head of wealth management and Premier, is all about recognition, relationship and rewards: Building a relationship by treating customers as individuals and anticipating their needs, recognizing their value to HSBC wherever and whenever they choose to contact the latter, and harnessing the global reach and financial strength of the HSBC Group to reward and deliver benefits that add value to customers’ lives.
"Recognizing that when people reach a certain lifestyle, they have different interests and needs, HSBC Premier is an international standard done by HSBC for its affluent clients," asserts Patrick. "By international, we mean 10,000 HSBC offices in 76 countries/territories worldwide. I can say HSBC is one of only two financial institutions in the world that really encompasses the globe."
"These are the shared benefits enjoyed by our customers in Manila and those around the world by being Premier members," says Laine Santana, HSBC’s head of public affairs.
If you find the figures quite awesome, going through the actual experience of being a Premier customer is even more so. Let’s call it a day (or more) in the life of a Premier customer.
Our rewarding Hong Kong experience actually started at the Mabuhay Miles Lounge Access, where we waited for our 2:50 p.m. flight for Hong Kong on a sunny Tuesday. We cooled our heels over a hot bowl of congee and dim sum. Two congee bowls and a plateful of dim sum later, it was time to board our PR 306 plane for HK. It was a muggy afternoon when we arrived at Chek Lap Kok and were immediately whisked by coach to The Ritz Carlton on 3 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong. We were welcomed by The Ritz staff with drinks and cookies, probably the best chocolate cookies this side of Central Hong Kong. Now, you know who stole four chunky chocolate cookies from the cookie platter at The Ritz. Savoring our cookie to the last bite, we were ready for a taste of the good – make that ritzy – life.
We took adjoining rooms on the ninth floor of this 216-room and 25-story hotel – Linda Bolido of Inquirer, Lai Reyes of Bulletin, Byanne Rubio of Business World, Leah Caringal of Bridges@com, Laine Santana of HSBC and this writer. No, we did not use a key card to open the door to our room – just a plain, good old trusty key. And if our bellhops looked very Pinoy, it’s because they really are. Alas, all that practice with Mandarin speak back in Manila was useless. The rooms have a heartstopping view of Victoria Harbour with Kowloon beckoning in the distance.
Giving new meaning to impeccable personal service and world-class elegance, The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong is a haven for the business traveler. Occupying a whole city block on Connaught Road Central in HK’s financial district, it is half a mile away from the Lan Kwai Fong dining and entertainment area and two major shopping malls (yes!). And if you want to go to Kowloon and the mainland, The Ritz is only a stroll to the Star Ferry terminal. On its list of amenities are babysitting/child services (these we didn’t need, but traveling moms consider them God’s greatest gift), bar-cum-lounge, barber/beauty shop, business center, concierge, VIP rooms/services, "no smoking" rooms/facilities, handicapped rooms/facilities, mini bar, meeting/banquet facilities, restaurants, fitness center and spa, among others.
First on our rather hectic three-day eating itinerary was dinner at the Scala Restaurant of The Renaissance Harbour View on 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai. Selina Chan, director of communcations, welcomed us to Scala, voted by readers of Hong Kong Tatler Magazine as one of the Best Hong Kong Restaurants for consecutive years from 1991 to 2004. To fast-forward our story, at the end of our dinner, everybody gave the fine dining resto a hearty two thumbs up. Halfway through our meal, we were joined by Scala chef Ricky Cheung, whose bio says he has almost 30 years of experience in European cuisine tucked under his toque, having started apprenticing at age 13 – actually 12, he corrected the hotel press release. This hot, award-winning, red wine-loving (he prescribes red wine for insomniacs) chef came up with a six-course surprise menu to dazzle the taste buds of his Filipino guests:
• Lobster and smoked salmon parcel (poached lobster wrapped in Scottish smoked salmon, golden oscietra caviar and mesclun salad) or
• Foie gras and scampi (seared French duck liver and roasted scampi, perigueux truffle sauce and caramelized apple) or
• Iberico ham salad (Spanish Iberico ham with fresh blue fig carpaccio, wild mushroom and arugula salad)
• Baked seabass (oven-baked seabass fillet with scallop mousse, ragout of baby fennel, spinach and Roma tomato) or
• Truffle lamb fillet (roasted lamb rack fillet with truffle crust, grilled asparagus and ratatouille tian)
• Chocolate gateau (warm chocolate pudding with banana rum raisin ice cream or
• Ceneri cheese (selection of Ceneri cheese with glazed walnut and pear.
Coffee and petits fours were the last items on the menu, but we had to graciously pass up on the latter as we were about to explode from the night’s indulgence.
The enticing news is that HSBC Premier MasterCard holders can avail themselves of a 20 percent discount on food and beverage on Mondays and Tuesdays (we came on a Tuesday night) and a 10 percent discount on F & B on Wednesdays to Sundays in all the dining outlets of Renaissance Harbour View, which include Scala (for Continental fine dining), Dynasty (Cantonese), The Lobby Lounge and the Coffee Shop.
And if you want to mix your food with a little relaxing music, the Style Plus with Filipina vocalist Janette Sayle, singer Bong Valenzuela, keyboardist Gorman de los Santos and guitarist George Emata dishes out oldies but goodies as well as Mandarin and Cantonese songs nightly Mondays to Saturdays.
Getting to the meat of our trip, it was time we got to know more about why we were in Hong Kong in the first place: HSBC Premier and HSBC Premier Rewards. HSBC Philippines senior VP-wealth management Patrick Cheng, who flew in from Manila, gave the presentation and fielded questions from the press.
To begin with, what is HSBC Premier?
HSBC Premier is HSBC’s exclusive global wealth management proposition, designed to meet the personal financial needs of its most valued customers. It offers:
• A wide range of high-yielding investment instruments to match the customer’s risk appetite.
• The highest level of personalized service through a dedicated portfolio/relationship manager (who often knows more about the client than the latter’s own spouse or family).
• Rewards that reflect the customers’ lifestyle.
What is the HSBC Premier Rewards program?
It is a program designed to give incentive to and reward new and existing Premier customers by offering luxury items that complement their lifestyle by simply banking with or referring friends to HSBC Premier. Talk about lifestyle banking.
How does it work?
There are three ways to join (program is ongoing until December):
1) Open a new account with minimum of P3 million (or its foreign currency equivalent).
2) Invest fresh funds of at least P3 million (or its foreign currency equivalent) if you are an existing Premier customer.
3) Refer family, friends and colleagues to open a Premier account of at least P3 million (or its foreign currency equivalent). Every successful referral entitles the customer to the item in the category corresponding to the number of referrals.
What are the perks of being a Premier customer?
Says Patrick Cheng: "As HSBC Premier customer, you are recognized as such and enjoy access to 11 exclusive Premier Centers in the Philippines and when you travel, as you would probably do often, in over 250 Premier Centers in 32 countries and territories abroad. Polished wood panels, fine carpets and upholstery, a business library with Internet access, espresso makers (go ahead and smell the coffee) and individual meeting rooms ... it’s like stepping into a hotel’s business center or first-class airline lounge. Premier Centers are separate from the general banking areas to afford more privacy for customer transactions. On some occasions, Premier Centers become a stage for lifestyle events such as golf tournaments; exclusive shows of the likes of Lea Salonga, Lani Misalucha and Kevyn Lettau; wine-tasting; ikebana seminars and beauty and wellness talks. And yes, even lunch with the CEO."
He adds, "By saying we’re the world’s local bank, we mean we have the international expertise and at the same time, we also have the knowledge to bring products and services that are both international and unique to the Philippines."
We got to visit the HSBC Premier Center at the Norman Foster-designed HSBC Hong Kong headquarters on Queen’s Road Central. We were awed by this steel/glass/aluminum behemoth but more than that, we were impressed by the warm personal service accorded to us. Why, one of our girls, who had a screw loose – in her eyeglasses, that is – was promptly attended to by a Premier staff!
HSBC has a total of 11 Premier Centers in the Philippines, 10 in Metro Manila and one in Cebu.
All this talk about HSBC customers’ risk appetites made us all literally hungry and so, off we went to The China Club for lunch. At this trendy nightspot which bears traces of the imperial era, we had a filling lunch of dim sum combination, hot and sour soup, deepfried prawns coated with sesame, panfried beef fillet in brown sauce, deepfried crispy duck, braised Tianjin cabbage with Yunnan ham, fried rice Yeung Chow style and fresh fruit platter – in that order.
If only to burn all the calories we just ingested, the walk to Aveda on 36 Queen’s Road Central after lunch was a godsend. Elena Shi, assistant manager-sales and training, introduced us to the art and science of pure flower and plant essences. Here, we girls had an afternoon of pampering under the skilled hands of an attentive and efficient Aveda staff. Laine and Lai had a facial while Linda and I opted for a 45-minute spa foot treatment (quite a relief, indeed, after all that walking). We had a most soothing exfoliating scrub and hydrating foot massage.
Having been recharged, we drove to The Repulse Bay for a leisure afternoon tea at The Verandah. We had a stimulating talk with marketing manager Annie Chan over tea, scones, pastries, sandwiches and fresh fruit tarts. It was a tea-tillating end to a most rewarding Hong Kong experience.
Indeed, the rich are different from you and me. While some people get their just rewards in heaven, the rich get theirs right here on earth, thanks to the HSBC Premier.