Hong Kong hotel lends guests a smartphone with free calls, data

This is in no way exclusive to Marco Polo. It is now the norm in Hong Kong. Nearly all 5 star hotels in Hong Kong offer this - for example the Grand Stanford Intercontinental and Hotel Icon - to name two I have used. Users just need to be prepared to sign their life away for more than the cost of the phone if they use it, and I doubt travel insurance would cover you. Personally, I'd pay the personal roaming fee deal with my provider.

It's a nice feature and (despite what their PR team may have told you,) it is not that new. I've used similar services in Seoul and Teipei a few years ago. It was so useful, not only for everything noted here but also for using them like intercoms to stay connected with my co-worker.

Call me Sir Buzz Killington, but I'm always skeptical when I read 'free unlimited data'. It must be only a matter of days now until a guest tries to download a whole season of GoT, it won't work cause it's a mobile and they'll run down to reception to make a scene of biblical proportions. 

I don't know why Aussie hotels don't offer this service.

I have had it at the Intercontinental and the Hyatt Regency HK TST too

Not just Hong Kong - The Holiday Inn Atrium in Singapore offers Handy as well, So it is around a bit.

Crowne Plaza at Causeway Bay has been offereing phones for  years now for local calls etc. It is handy to grab one to give the other half to find out where my plastic card is having a meltdown.

Cosmopolitan Hotel Wanchai had it. We only used it for the wifi hotspot and calls! Excellent idea and was super helpful for what we used it for. It did cut out when we went to the mainland for obvious reasons. Found the battery didn't last all day though. 

The Butterfly group also do this. I looked at staying there, I believe they're 4 star.

The 4* Eaton Hotel (Langham Group) on Nathan Road has had them for a few years.

Good feedback on other hotels with this, but just to clarify: we've never claimed this was exclusive to the Marco Polo hotels, it's just a feature of the hotel which we chose to write up after a recent stay there. The more hotels offering this or similar, the better! :)

It's been around for a long time at the Hyatt Hong Kong.

Charterhouse Causeway Bay also offer this. 

I used one of these phones over Chinese NY as a guest of the Intercontinental HK - I was sceptical at first but used it for data as well as tethering for my partner and had no issue over 5 days of serious data usage. I think on day 5 we got a data usage warning but never had an issue.

I also enjoyed this service at the hotel Icon. Great HTC unit with unlimited data and calls. Good story but it's been around for years already.  

I had the same in London at Montcalm London (Marble Arch)

These phones have been in the ICON hotel for many years. It is about being a market leader that had them in the ICON first. When I first stayed there, that was one of the first things introduced to you by th ehotel staff. That and the free mini bar. That is right, they had a free mini bar. So it was often I sat there at night having a free mini bar beer and using their cell phone. It was also super handy to find places around HK.

Good Hotels have Good Equipment and Service. This is what I have found with my nearly 20 years on international travel on my own dime......

Mira in kowloon.  Another hotel that has been doing this for years (and more).

So why highlight Marco Polo?

This is not new but rather a very common service provided by 4-5 star hotels in HK.

Personally I do not like Marco Polo (I have stayed both Gateway and Prince before) the rooms are smaller and it is right above the Harbour City which are usually packed with shoppers and tourists, fair bit walk to Tsim Sha Tsui Station as well (through Haiphong Rd which are pretty much packed 24/7).

My personal favourite hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui in The Langham on Peking Road, much bigger suites and best concierge staff I have seen.