Photo by Star Sabroso I Shot on location Ella at The Trilogy
Tiana Ludhani
Group Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of Singular Concepts
“Dive in with both legs forward. Do not hesitate for a second. You deserve your seat at that table. You have the passion. Jump in. It doesn’t matter if you can’t see the bottom,” shares Tiana Ludhani. These words reflect her fearless spirit in Hong Kong’s hospitality scene. Starting as a public relations assistant, Tiana quickly rose through the ranks by trusting her instincts and seizing opportunities. With over 12 years of marketing and communications experience in the food and beverage sector, she co-founded The Daily Tot, a Caribbean-themed rum bar, in 2020 and in 2022, together with David Sit, Arnaud Pothier, Francis Hau, Christopher Chan, and Gagan Gurung, launched Singular Concepts, a hospitality group with 11 successful establishments, including Kinsman, Bianco & Rosso, Barcode, Tell Camellia, Barkada, Yurakucho, and The Trilogy.
Watch the video for her full interview:
Being a successful woman goes beyond building a thriving business. Tiana Ludhani combines her expertise in marketing, event creation, and journalism to enhance the experience at her venues. She uses the business as a platform to unite the community and promote meaningful conversations and movements. Initiatives like International Women’s Day and Breast Cancer Awareness showcasing industry icons and highlight emerging female bartenders, and raising awareness and funds for men’s health, with a particular focus on mental health and wellness within the food and beverage (F&B) industry with the month-long campaign, Mindful Mo’s during Movember, demonstrating her commitment to meaningful change.
How did you find your way into the F&B industry?
My journey began before the Gen Z years were born (laughs), but we’re not going to guess my age at all. I started way back when social media wasn’t a channel for marketing. I think that was a really interesting time—how do we connect with people through concepts? What were we planning to do? I started out in Sydney, where I planned various festivals around some of the best landmarks, including the Opera House and Darling Harbor. We built F&B festivals that included the Coffee Festival, Asian festivals, and Singaporean festivals. It was all about F&B, and that’s where I fell in love with it.
“We are only going as far as we can with the industry backing us, and I think that’s what is important.”
What have been the most rewarding aspects of your work?
One thing I’m very blessed with is that I get to learn from the people I work with. Meeting individuals like Gavin Yeung (co-founder of Cantonese Bar Kinsman) and Jen Balisi (founder of the blog Indulgent Eats and co-founder of Filipino restobar Barkada) has been invaluable. Jen has built her career on content writing, not just for her cookbook offline but also on Instagram, sharing her message and what she’s about. Then there’s Gavin, a journalist who is incredibly well-versed with his words. I look at him writing press releases, and I get to learn from him. I learn from both of them and share that knowledge with the rest of my team. We get to witness the best of what others are doing, and we also learn from when things don’t go our way.
“Hong Kong doesn’t see women as a gender.”
How do you define success, and has that definition changed over time?
I would love for my success to be attributed to whoever decides to move on from Singular. I hope they take some life lessons from it in a positive way. I hope they see what work-life balance and support look like, along with the fun, creative, and innovative aspects of our work. There’s always something happening, and we want to ensure that people leave with something gained from their experience, not just thinking, “Oh, I’m here for a paycheck” or “I’m here for a job.”
My success as a company owner involves wearing many different hats. We are therapists, putting out fires like firemen and constantly evaluating the entire operation. We are always looking at our staff and their well-being, and we’re continually focused on building.
“I have a seat at the table because I have men not looking at me as a woman, but looking at me as a partner, seeing that I can bring something to the table.”
What is the current state of women’s representation in Hong Kong’s F&B industry?
The women’s community in Hong Kong is not just about the women; the men who raise them up are massive. We are only going as far as we can with the industry backing us, and I think that’s what is important. You know, I have a seat at the table because I have men not looking at me as a woman, but looking at me as a partner, seeing that I can bring something to the table. When we don’t define people by their gender, we automatically start breaking down those barriers.
The women in the industry are incredible. We have people like Beckaly Franks and Ezra Star (mixologists and founders of the hospitality group Hungry Ghost). We have people like Holly Graham (co-founder of Tokyo Confidential bar in Japan) who have done what they needed to do to break down the barriers, but they’re not doing it as women; they’re doing it as people. And Hong Kong doesn’t see women as a gender. And that’s exactly what we need to keep doing—to build on this idea that it’s amazing that you’ve done this as a woman. No, it’s amazing that you’ve done this, period.
What advice would you give young women aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
The first is to dive in with both legs forward. Do not hesitate for a second. You deserve your seat at that table. You have the passion. Jump in. It doesn’t matter if you can’t see the bottom. The second is to stand your ground. Don’t waver. You know what’s right for you. Do not move or lean for anybody. Trust your intuition—your gut tells you something, so don’t miss out. And the third thing is to learn that you’re not always right.
To learn more about Singular Concepts venue and projects, visit singularconcepts.com and follow them on Instagram for any updates. Be sure to visit the group’s Caribbean-inspired bar, The Daily Tot, in March and catch their special edition menu called Tot Icons for Women’s Month.
Read more inspiring stories of women in the world of drinks.
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