Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Announces Three New Celebrity Fans

Online, September 17, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Mandarin Oriental's USD multi-million global print advertising campaign "He's a Fan/She's a Fan", continues to gather 'fans' from around the world. This year, the Group is delighted to add three new fans to the tally of celebrities who regularly stay at Mandarin Oriental hotels.

Gifted international singer, composer, pianist and actor Harry Connick, Jr., has received a multitude of accolades over his career. These include three Grammy awards and an Emmy, as well as several acting nominations. Connick is a particular 'fan' of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, where he hosted his record release party in 2009 and performed several songs to a spellbound audience at an intimate evening in the hotel's stylish MO Bar. He cites the property as "one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in." Mary McCartney, the Group's official campaign photographer, captured Connick in the tropical surrounds of Mandarin Oriental, Sanya.

The graceful, internationally acclaimed French pianist, Helène Grimaud, was photographed close to her home in Switzerland, a place of tranquillity and refuge which she returns to as often as possible when her schedule allows. She particularly enjoys staying at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, as she regularly performs in the city's famous concert halls including the nearby Royal Albert Hall.

Grimaud began playing at the age of seven in her home town of Aix-en-Provence and launched her professional career when she was 18 in Paris. Today she is one of the world's most sought after pianists, performing with the leading orchestras and conductors, with chamber music partners and in solo recital.

Rising star Sa Ding Ding was born in Inner Mongolia and is a powerful and sophisticated singer, musician, composer and choreographer. A product of modern China, she melds Eastern and Western music, even singing in Sanskrit and Tibetan, and has created her own language where new words are formed from the emotions evoked by music. McCartney's portrait of the performer beautifully captures her colourful and vibrant personality and was taken during a recent tour in the UK, where the singer was a guest of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. Sa Ding Ding's newest album is entitled 'Harmony'.

The campaign which is the creation of advertising gurus, Alan Jarvie and Michael Moszynski, who head up LONDON Advertising, continues to increase Mandarin Oriental's brand awareness globally. The campaign simply and elegantly connects Mandarin Oriental's well-recognized symbol - the fan - with international celebrities who regularly stay at the hotels and are true fans of the Group. Earlier additions to the campaign were photographed by celebrated photographer and British royal, Lord Patrick Lichfield who sadly passed away in 2005. The Group appointed renowned portrait photographer Mary McCartney in 2006 who photographs each celebrity in a location of their choice which, for them, best represents a feeling of well-being. In appreciation of their support, the Group makes a donation to each celebrity's individual choice of charity.

"We continue to be delighted with the campaign, which celebrates 10 years this year, and believe it makes a strong statement about our Group in a simple and luxurious manner. By focusing on celebrities who clearly appreciate the finer things in life, we have been able to show the quality of our hotels in a far more interesting way than traditional hotel advertising", says Jill Kluge, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group's Director of Brand Communications.

Harry Connick Jr., Helène Grimaud and Sa Ding Ding join Mandarin Oriental's 17 existing fans: IM Pei, Lance Armstrong, Michelle Yeoh, Jane Seymour, Kenzo Takada, Jerry Hall, Vanessa Mae, Vivienne Tam, Barry Humphries, Frederick Forsyth, Darcey Bussell, Bryan Ferry, Liam Neeson, Helen Mirren, Maggie Cheung, Sigourney Weaver and Sir David Tang.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most prestigious hotels, resorts and residences. Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, 41 hotels representing over 10,000 rooms in 27 countries, with 17 hotels in Asia, 12 in The Americas and 12 in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. In addition, the Group operates, or has under development, 13 Residences at Mandarin Oriental, connected to the Group's properties.