Hong Kong tycoon Aron Harilela: Why I’m opening a hotel during a pandemic
From the rewriting of architectural blueprints to navigating protests and a pandemic, the structure of The Hari Hong Kong has been cipher short of eventful.
All the same its owner Dr Aron Harilela, chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels, never doubted that they would brand it to the end line (and on fourth dimension at that). Even when the Wan Chai neighbourhood they were in was a mayhem of smashed vehicles and tear-gassed protesters final year, and 2022 was a mad rush to become permits and licenses delayed by COVID-nineteen.
The hotel's Dec 12 opening is now even sweeter with the upcoming air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong. "Information technology's fantastic … we might fifty-fifty have durians in the hotel for the Singaporeans to come!" he said with laughter during a video interview with CNA Luxury.
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The lite-heartedness and relaxed demeanour belie a man who has been all hands on deck since day i with architects and interior designers as the 30-storey hotel carved its manner into the skyline. Lately, he's been scrutinising the washi bands that would exist wrapped around the chopsticks used in The Hari's Japanese eatery Zoku. The smallest details don't escape his keen eye.
But information technology'southward not but nearly superficial glitz and swanky design, even though the hotel is stunningly dressed in warm forest, muted tones and textile accents in its 210 rooms, including iii luxurious penthouse suites.
Contemporary art and sculptural highlights grow in spaces such equally Zoku, which has an extensive al fresco terrace in which to soak up city vibes and mod Italian restaurant-bar Lucciola, and a lobby lounge.
It has eco-credentials also – the architecture comes with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Edifice Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certifications. The unabridged building was designed by British interior designer Tara Bernerd, who also worked on the 85-room The Hari London, which opened in August 2016.
Harilela shared, "I recollect there'south a massive gap in the market, non but in Hong Kong, merely actually in a lot of places around the globe, between 4-and-a-half, and v-star properties. There are many business and leisure travellers looking for luxury products, merely they're not looking for that sort of over-the-top luxury service or size of rooms."
As for why he's pushing alee with the opening, Harilela explained: "I recall at some betoken nosotros have to find a way around it rather than shutting businesses and, you lot know, putting restrictions because people still have to find a livelihood."
Community FIRST
Every bit a family, the Harilelas are known for existence close-knit and hospitable hosts equally they live nether the same roof in a sprawling mansion in Kowloon Tong. Aron and his late male parent Hari Harilela are also well-respected business advocates and philanthropists in the local community, contributing to the city'south educational causes and speaking out on of import economic policies. Harilela was the chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, a mail service he held from 2022 until June this year.
This community connexion is what he espouses in The Hari, whose construction journey uncannily replays that of the group'southward flagship Vacation Inn Golden Mile, now an IHG-managed hotel. His father had ploughed through riots, a devastating typhoon and wary investors wanting to bond out earlier successfully opening it in 1975.
The Hari Hong Kong is thus a fitting homecoming project for Harilela as he comes full circle from owning properties spanning China, Europe and the United States, back to where The Harilela Group started in 1959.
Harilela wants The Hari to exist a Hong Kong hotel brand with international wings and to reflect the city'south multiculturalism, including his family'south Indian heritage.
"Our family has been here since 1930, and our heritage is very Hong Kong while we proceed a singled-out Indian culture in our house. It is alluded to in our hotels – I walk in and say hello to everybody, occasionally take a java with them. It'south not going to be a strong hotel. Y'all tin walk in and experience very comfy there. The Japanese and Italian restaurants are going to requite you very personalised hospitality."
And when hotel guests venture outside, Harilela is making sure that they become authentic recommendations from the concierge and not merely the spiffy ones just because they are staying in a "overnice hotel". Instead, information technology would be an insider list of local restaurants and places that the hotel staff love to consume and hang out at for "the best feeling downtown".
He added, "There volition exist different curated versions of how we can see the city and our neighbourhood between Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. We can extend that to other parts because when people travel to a city, they don't only want to stay in one neighbourhood."
With myriad COVID-19 tests and precautions to take, travellers would certainly be more finicky well-nigh the destinations, hotels and places they visit. Harilela believes that the pandemic is a wake-upward call to the hospitality industry on many fronts.
"We can't exist conceited like we were earlier. We had always idea that Hong Kong and Singapore were such neat places and people would always come. (The pandemic) has given united states of america a big shot of reality and fabricated us realise that we take to be as hospitable equally we can and produce experiences that tourists and business organization people like. Non only does the hardware have to be good, the software has to be proficient too."
The Hari Hong Kong opens on Dec 12. Special opening offer of HK$i,450 (S$250) +ten per cent per night, with HK$700 F&B credits and late check-out until 3pm. Valid until March 31, 2021. Terms and conditions apply
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/people/hong-kong-tycoon-aron-harilela-the-hari-hotel-247006
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