The agreement marks the brand’s entry into Singapore and strengthens its presence in Hong Kong and London
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of a three-hotel franchise agreement with Harilela Group, a Hong Kong-based hotel development and management company with a portfolio spanning Asia and Europe. The three properties under The Hari brand will join Vignette Collection, the British group’s luxury and lifestyle collection brand.
The 85-room The Hari London and the 210-room The Hari Hong Kong are joining Vignette Collection as part of the agreement, alongside the conversion of the 324-room Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre into The Hari Singapore, Vignette Collection.
A partnership built on more than five decades
The agreement forms part of a relationship between Harilela Group and IHG stretching back more than fifty years. The two groups now collaborate on six hotels, a portfolio that also includes the Holiday Inn Golden Mile in Hong Kong, recently recognised for its fiftieth anniversary, as well as the Holiday Inn Express Changzhou Center and the Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom.
Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President and Managing Director East Asia & Pacific at IHG, welcomed “more than five decades of partnership with Harilela Group,” describing a relationship “built on trust, shared ambition and a commitment to exceptional hospitality.” He noted that the agreement now brings the shared portfolio to six hotels across five major tourist destinations.
Dr Aron Harilela, Chairman and CEO of Harilela Group, said the company has a “clear and ambitious vision for The Hari brand,” with development plans in major international destinations. He added that joining Vignette Collection offers “a powerful platform for growth,” combining the hotels’ distinct identity with IHG’s commercial reach.
Singapore: converting the Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre
The Hari Singapore, Vignette Collection will be created through the transformation of the current Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, which opened in 1985 and is the longest-standing IHG hotel in the city-state. The 324-room property is currently being renovated under the direction of British designer Tara Bernerd, who was also responsible for the design of The Hari hotels in London and Hong Kong.
Located in the sought-after Orchard Road district, close to the historic Emerald Hill area, the hotel benefits from steady year-round demand driven by regional leisure travellers, a high-spending shopping-oriented clientele and international long-stay guests. Its location offers good connectivity to Marina Bay, the civic district and Changi Airport. Opening is scheduled for 2027.
London and Hong Kong: two established The Hari addresses
The 85-room The Hari London, Vignette Collection, is located in Belgravia, one of the British capital’s most sought-after districts, and offers a residential-style experience. The hotel sits close to Knightsbridge, Sloane Street and Hyde Park, a position that appeals to leisure guests seeking an intimate stay near central London’s shopping and cultural districts.
The 210-room The Hari Hong Kong, Vignette Collection, is located in Wan Chai, a developing district linking Causeway Bay and Admiralty. Positioned between the business centre and the city’s main leisure and dining hubs, the property caters to a mixed business and leisure clientele, with direct access to Hong Kong’s shopping, cultural and harbourfront areas.
Vignette Collection: a sustained growth trajectory
Launched in 2021 as IHG’s first collection brand, Vignette Collection had already passed the milestone of 50 open and pipeline hotels by 2024, against a target of 100 properties within a decade. The addition of the three The Hari hotels brings the brand to more than 80 open and pipeline hotels worldwide, a momentum already seen in recent signings, notably the brand’s entry into France on the Riviera.
Recent openings include The One Shanghai Downtown, Vignette Collection, Palm Springs Hotel Chengdu, Vignette Collection, and CIEL Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection, billed as the world’s tallest hotel. Further projects are in the pipeline in Kuantan (Mangala Estate) and the Maldives (Vaagali Maldives).
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Outlook
For Harilela Group, the agreement provides a growth lever combining its hotels’ identity with IHG’s commercial and technological reach. For IHG, it represents a further step in strengthening its luxury and lifestyle offering across three strategic urban markets, as Vignette Collection continues to develop ahead of its original target.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
IHG and Harilela Group expand five-decade partnership through Vignette Collection deal
Three-hotel franchise agreement: The Hari London (85 rooms), The Hari Hong Kong (210 rooms), The Hari Singapore (324 rooms, conversion)
Marks Vignette Collection’s brand debut in Singapore
Partnership between IHG and Harilela Group now spans six hotels across five destinations
The Hari Singapore is a conversion of Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre (opened 1985), designed by Tara Bernerd, opening 2027
Vignette Collection now counts over 80 open and pipeline hotels, tracking ahead of its 100-hotel, 10-year target
