The Ultimate Rendezvous

Landmark Focus

Born in the Philippines, educated in Australia and running a business in Hong Kong, sisters Reyna Harilela and Shirley Hiranand are typical of the cosmopolitan clientele who flock to the Landmark, the city’s most esteemed lifestyle destination.

The primary attraction has to be the Landmark’s distinct ambience – something that’s appositely summed up by the French phrase bon chic, bon genre – good style, good attitude. It’s a result of a unique combination of A-List designer labels, Michelin-starred dining, luxury accommodation and superlative experiences, spanning Prince’s, Landmark, Alexandra and Chater buildings that are clustered together at the very epicentre of Central.

For the sisters – who back in 2005 founded luxury PR firm Bonvivant & Bellavita – the Landmark is somewhere that’s as much about work as it is about leisure. “With a business like ours, we find ourselves all over town for meetings and events. We love using Landmark as a base: we can meet in places like MO Bar or The Clipper Lounge for business, then head over to catch up with friends at the Landmark Cafe or Zuma,” says Shirley.

Reyna adds, “I always try to include an appointment at Kim Robinson’s salon as part of my weekly routine. It gives me some time to myself in a beautiful, relaxing setting. Most of our favourite shops like Diane Von Furstenberg, Tod’s and Vivienne Tam are in Landmark, so we love meeting there to shop around with friends.”

With eight children between them, and having both married cousins from the same family, Reyna and Shirley often get together for special occasions at Landmark. “Sevva is a wonderful place for celebrations ­– we’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and many other family milestones there,” says Shirley. For Reyna, The Mandarin Grill is also a firm favourite, and it’s a family tradition to have brunch there over the New Year.

Reyna and Shirley frequently find themselves at the Landmark for business, too, having held launch events for luxury brands including Dior, Homme and Tod’s at this chic Central hot spot.

Some customers have been struck by the analogy that Landmark is like a big family itself, whose individual parts each play a different role. Such thinking runs in parallel with Shirley and Reyna, who being part of the same family and the same business share many similar traits.

“Our approach to beauty is the same,” says Reyna. “Our mother had a very youthful appearance because she relied on tried-and-true beauty methods and used simple products like Ponds for daily care. We’re also great advocates of exercise and try to squeeze in at least an hour’s workout every day.” Shirley adds: “Although we’re 12 years apart, we’re similar in many ways. While our style is individual, we can share our wardrobes as we’ll each use pieces in different ways.”

Their partnership in business is similarly neatly balanced. “We have respect for one another, and understand where one of us can shine and where the other can support,” says Reyna. “Shirley specialises in the front end of PR events, and really knows how to connect people and make them feel special. I love handling logistics and understanding how to make things happen, and together we’re able to create very special experiences for clients. And, of course, we admire each other’s tolerance, patience and dedication to our children,” she adds.

Content with their high-energy lives in the professional and personal sense, Reyna Harilela and Shirley Hiranand are prime examples of the Hong Kong success story – just like their favourite destination, the Landmark.