The Origins Of The Fan: An award-winning logo

When Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group publicly launched the company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in the mid 1980s, there was a desire to create a symbol that embodied the hotel group’s luxurious and elegant image yet was still reflective of each hotel’s local charm. The company name evolved from the bringing together of the Group’s original flagships – The Mandarin in Hong Kong and The Oriental in Bangkok – two award-winning properties that were synonymous with quality.

A profoundly meaningful symbol of our oriental culture would strike a delicate balance – one that had a certain Oriental essence without being overly ethnic. After much consultation with an internationally recognized design house and research into symbols that embodied luxury, elegance and comfort, our well-recognized Fan logo was born.

Classically simple, visually elegant and indisputably a part of the Orient, the eleven-bladed fan ties together each hotel into the single identity of our luxury hotel group. The logo is a registered trademark internationally and is respected within the tourism industry as one of the worlds’ most highly recognized logos.

Unique fans for individual hotels

In addition to the registered trademark logo for the Group, all Mandarin Oriental hotels are encouraged to find their own unique fan to reflect the individuality of their property. Each hotel’s fan is sensitively linked to the environment in which it resides, taking into account the exclusive attributes of the culture in each location. Colours, designs and prints are carefully chosen in collaboration with local artists, historians and graphics experts. Originality also plays a key role in determining the desired fan for each hotel. Here are some examples:

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong’s fan is an authentic Canton fan (circa 1870), red in colour and symbolic of fortune and prosperity in the Chinese spectrum. Due to the social nature of a hotel as a meeting place, the fan was especially chosen for its “1000” faces theme depicting scenes from Chinese courts and social life.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

The designated fan for Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is an antique Ramayana fan depicting life by the river and dates back to 1810 – aptly connecting the hotel not only to its historical roots but also to its prime location on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Likewise, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur sought to design their own fan by involving the local community through a national art competition. The winning entry was an eclectic masterpiece, reflective of the multicultural heritage of Malaysia – Chinese, Malay and Indian. Incorporated into the colourful design was the country’s national flower, the Hibiscus, embellished by intricate Indian and Chinese motifs.

Mandarin Oriental, New York

Mandarin Oriental, New York’s signature fan was created by international fashion designer and New York City resident Vivienne Tam. Originally from Hong Kong, Ms. Tam provides a genuine connection between the Group’s Asian heritage and their flagship property in the US. The fan she created captures the hotel’s sense of place with a chic and sophisticated New York City feel.

Mandarin Oriental, Geneva

It was in September 1889, after a romantic holiday in Switzerland, this fan was offered by Edmond Taillard to his fiancé. Although this man is unknown, his signature can be found on the fan and it is assumed that he belonged to the high society that traveled to Switzerland to visit the famous lakes and mountains. The fan was found in an old town antique shop in Geneva and then lovingly restored by a local artist in order to become the hotel's distinct fan symbol.