Belgraves hotel to be rebranded as the Hari

22 July 2016 by Janet Harmer

Belgraves, the 85-bedroom hotel in London's Belgravia, is to be relaunched under a new brand by its Hong Kong-based owner, at the end of August.

The Hari will be the first of what will be a new concept from Harilela Hotels, which originally opened Belgraves in 2012 with US-based Thompson Hotels, owned by Commune Hotels & Resorts, as the management company.

Harilela will now take over the operation of the hotel under its newly created brand, which it intends to expand globally. A second hotel will open in Hong Kong in 2019.

The hotel's restaurant was originally launched as Hix Belgravia, but Mark Hix, who headed the venture, left within eight months. More recently, the outlet has been run by chef Sophie Mitchell, who left earlier this year.

Andrew Coney, who was appointed general manager of Belgraves in 2014, will remain at the newly branded hotel.

Aron Harilela, chairman and chief of Harilela Hotels, said: "For me this launch is the culmination of a lifelong dream to create my own hotel brand. Global travellers are deserving of a more layered and singular hotel experience which our team will deliver. The Hari will wholly encapsulate my values and reflect everything I love when it comes to design and service."

Established in 1959 and still wholly owned by the Harilela family, the Harilela Group is the parent company of Harilela Hotels which owns 15 properties across Hong Kong, China, the Far East, Europe, Canada and the US. Thirteen of the hotels are currently managed under third-party brands, including Holiday Inn, interContinental and Centara.

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