Celebrity Life

The new hotel, which is set to open in Winter 2020, is the second hotel to open under the independent hospitality brand The Hari.

As Hong Kong's hospitality scene gets excited at the prospect of welcoming a new hotel opening, others are, well, just a tad surprised as to why one would open during the current economic climate, a direct result of the global pandemic.

We took a moment for a quick chat with the man of the hour himself, Dr. Aron Harilela Chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels Ltd., to find out why and what we can expect from the new hotel.

"Of course it is a difficult time to open right now," says Harilela. "However, I am confident in Hong Kong. We will take this quiet period in the hospitality industry to get everything perfect in the hotel. It always takes time for training people into The Hari style, and it takes time to test all the equipment. We will be very ready when the market picks up again."

[caption id="attachment_209462" align="alignnone" width="1194"] Image: The Hari Hong Kong[/caption]

Location

Situated in bustling Wan Chai, the hotel is in the middle of a metropolitan area filled with commercial and residential buildings, but sits on the somewhat quieter end of Lockhart Road. It is also in close proximity to a wealth of bars and restaurants that breathe life into the neighbour.

On his belief that Hong Kong will, no doubt, bounce back, Harilela is also confident in the foundations of his brand. "We have a very good team that has been in the hotel industry all their careers and have much experience spanning all aspects of the hotel -- finance, operations, real estate and legal, he says. "I am also very confident in the location; we are walking distance from the convention centre which also is planned for expansion. With such foundations, I am confident we will do very well and am very much looking forward to opening."

[caption id="attachment_209461" align="alignnone" width="1241"] Image: The Hari Hong Kong[/caption]

Rooms and Design

The Hari Hong Kong is the second hotel from the group, with the first being The Hari London, which opened in August 2016. And how do they differ? "In essence it is the same," explains Harilela. "They have the same DNA, the same styling, the same threads that run through both of them... The personalisation of service is what characterises The Hari."

For the hotel's interior, Harilela brought in acclaimed British designer, Tara Bernerd, who has worked on a host of luxury hotels around the world including Four Seasons, Sixty Hotels and Equinox Hotels groups.

At The Hari Hong Kong, which comprises 210 guest rooms, three signature rooftop suites showcase a layered approach in design. It is an interior concept inspired by Harilela's own layered tailoring and style, in which guests can expect a modern, but clean, aesthetic in the rooms where plush textures meet contemporary shapes over a warm, inviting colour palette, while luxurious marble bathrooms are fitted with walk-in rainforest showers.

"The only difference will be that The Hari Hong Kong will be a larger property." (as The Hari London has 85 rooms).

[caption id="attachment_209459" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image: The Hari Hong Kong[/caption]

Restaurants and Bars

With two restaurants, Italian and Japanese, and two bars including a large terrace bar, The Hari Hong Kong aims to be more than just a hotel, and rather a social space.

The Japanese restaurant, named Zoku (meaning clan in Japanese), will offer robata grilled dishes, tempura and sushi. Its dining area will be filled with angled booth seating, bar lounge seating and a terrace bar. Here, a soft palette of pink will give way to khaki velvet banquettes, patterned fabrics and sculptural furniture.

Meanwhile, Lucciola is made for comforting Italian cuisine in a relaxed yet refined space. Offering regional classics on the menu, the Italian restaurant will also feature a bright and bold palette of ambers and green, in which timber, polished plaster, and artwork, line the walls.

The Harilela Group

Established in 1959, The Harilela Group is a wholly owned company by the Hong Kong-based Harilela family. As the parent company of Harilela Hotels, the group owns a total of 15 properties across Hong Kong, China, Asia, Europe, and America.

All images are renderings provided by the The Hari Hong Kong.

The post What You Need to Know About New Hotel The Hari Hong Kong appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The St. Regis Hong Kong has officially opened its doors on Harbour Drive in Wan Chai and is now accepting reservations -- but before you book that lavish staycation, here's what you need to know about this new luxury hotel.

[caption id="attachment_138882" align="alignnone" width="767"] A full view of The St. Regis Hong Kong's exterior.[/caption]

1. The Heritage

The St. Regis brand was founded by John Jacob Astor IV in 1904, when he opened the very first St. Regis in New York City's most exclusive residential area. Thought to be the richest man in America at the time, he was still onboard the Titanic when it sank in 1912, but only after helping his pregnant wife into the last lifeboat. What he left behind was a legacy that lives on today at over 40 properties around the world, and is where traditions of the Gilded Age meet modern luxury and style.

[caption id="attachment_138883" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The living room of the Presidential Suite in The St. Regis Hong Kong has impressive views of the harbour.[/caption]

2. Interior Design

Acclaimed Hong Kong architect and designer André Fu has created the interiors of the 27-storey hotel using his vision to combine a classic style with contemporary elegance. The result is an understated luxury that feel timeless, with pops of colour and signature design elements to reflect the diversity of the city.

3. The Rooms

The St. Regis Hong Kong offers a total of 129 rooms -- 112 guest rooms and 17 signature suites to be exact -- that range from 538 to 2,583 square feet. Guests can opt for a Deluxe guest room or even the Presidential Suite, all of which feature wood flooring, sumptuous textures, and marble bathrooms in a bright and relaxing space. What’s more, in-room check-in is available for all rooms and suites.

[caption id="attachment_138884" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The Grand Deluxe room at The St. Regis Hong Kong.[/caption]

4. The Butler Service

All rooms come with complimentary butler service. We’re talking about personalised service that is available 24 hours a day. It’s a St. Regis trademark after all, and now it can be experienced for the first time in Hong Kong, so you'll be able to sit back while your butler helps you unpack, presses your suit, brings you tea and cupcakes and packs it all up again at the end of your stay. The Hong Kong flagship will also introduce eButler chat -- where guests can contact their Butler through an app or through a dedicated line, email, WhatsApp and WeChat.

5. The Dining Experiences

Guests can experience three different styles of gastronomy at The St. Regis Hong Kong. This includes French fine-dining at L’Envol, where esteemed French chef Olivier Elzer will offer curated lunch and dinner menus, and Cantonese cuisine at Chinese restaurant Rùn, which is spearheaded by award winning chef Hung Chi-Kwong. Not forgetting afternoon tea, The Drawing Room will offer an indulgent experience (along with a menu of international fare) in this stunning space as well as on the adjoining Astor Terrace.

[caption id="attachment_138881" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Behind The St. Regis Bar is a bright mural that reflects a part of the city.[/caption]

6. The St. Regis Bar and the Canto Mary

Set to be Hong Kong’s new hotel bar of choice, The St. Regis Bar offers a craft cocktail menu in addition to over 800 wine labels and more than 100 champagnes. And if that wasn’t enough reason to go, there's the hotel’s signature cocktail since 1934: The Bloody Mary. Here, it's been given a Cantonese twist with dried tangerine peel, five spices and Kowloon soy sauce, and you can enjoy it with live jazz in the bar every evening.

7. A Sparkling Sabrage

There’s nothing like celebrating with champagne, and The St. Regis Hong Kong is right there with you with one of their signature traditions: the nightly sabrage, a sword ceremony to open bottles of champagne that dates back to the battles of Napoleon. So who are we to argue -- cheers!

The post 7 Things You Should Know About The St. Regis Hong Kong appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

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