Built to Last

The Hari Hong Kong opens in Wan Chai

It takes spine to open a new hotel in the middle of a pandemic, but Aron Harilela wanted to seize the moment. “The decision to open The Hari Hong Kong after a year of protests and the pandemic represents a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s future as a city,” the chairman and CEO of the Harilela Group said at the opening on December 12, when members of the Harilela family gathered for an intimate ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the hotel to the public.

Harilela was joined by his wife, Laura, and their two children, as well as members of his extended family, including David and Avisha Harilela and their daughter Divia, Shirley Hiranand, Reyna Harilela and friends Shaman and Hersha Chellaram.

The Wan Chai property’s interiors were overseen by British designer Tara Bernerd. The hotel has 210 guest rooms and three topfloor suites, many of them packed with design details inspired by the Harilelas themselves. Bernerd once saw a tweed jacket Aron was wearing and said, “Yeah, we’re going to do it as a curtain.” The Hari is also home to two new restaurants, Japanese Zoku and Italian Lucciola.

The clan ushered in their latest milestone with a traditional bai sun ceremony to bring prosperity and good fortune to the business. Although they launched The Hari hotel brand in London in 2016, this second opening is especially meaningful to the Harilelas, who have lived in Hong Kong for five generations. The Hari has come home.

1. Luke Harilela, David Harilela, Gary Harilela, Aron Harilela, Laura Harilela, Kamilla Harilela and Vijay Harilela 2. Vijay Harilela and Mahesh Harilela 3. The Hari, now open in Wan Chai 4. Avisha and David Harilela with their daughter Divia 5. Kamilla Harilela and Laila Harilela 6. Roni Hiranand and Reyna Harilela 7. Aron Harilela and Rory Slater 8. Laura and Aron Harilela with their two children, Uma and Kiran