The ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan is set to close in December, with the building to be converted into student accommodation, according to a report citing a hotel representative.
The 550-room hotel at 28 Des Voeux Road West has been a familiar sight beside the tram line since it opened in 2012. Its closure would remove one of the area’s hotel options for visitors and residents planning a staycation.
Sing Tao reported on 30 October that a hotel marketing representative confirmed the property would close on 6 December 2026, with renovation work beginning on 7 December. The representative said the building would be converted into student accommodation, but a reopening date was not yet known.
A Threads post by Runhotel.hk had cited an 8 December closure date and said the last date available for booking on Accor’s website was 6 December. Given the differing dates, anyone with a booking around that period should contact the hotel or their booking provider to confirm their stay and any arrangements for changes or refunds.
Reported HK$2.3 billion deal
The planned conversion follows reports that Singapore-based CapitaLand Investment was seeking to acquire the hotel for approximately HK$2.3 billion.
In September, Caixin reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that CapitaLand planned to buy the property and turn it into student accommodation. It said the transaction had not yet closed at the time of its report. Other property reports have described the acquisition as agreed or completed, but the final transaction status has not been independently confirmed for this article.
The hotel’s 550 existing rooms do not necessarily represent the number of student rooms or beds that will ultimately be provided. No opening date or final accommodation capacity has been confirmed in the sources reviewed.
The proposed change reflects wider interest in converting Hong Kong hotels and other properties into student accommodation. For travellers, it also means that anyone considering the Sheung Wan hotel for a December trip should check availability and booking terms before making plans.
