In their ongoing commitment to bring unique and stimulating experiences to their guests, Le Méridien is transforming the arrival experience to enhance their guests’ senses. This event will commence from the moment the guest arrives at the hotel until they have opened the door to their guest room. “Le Méridien is committed to transforming the functional and transactional elements of the hotel into experiences that emotionally connect with our guests. We aim to inspire our guests at every turn. Through strategic relationships, Le Méridien is accelerating to emphasise on “chic, cultured discovery,” commented Eva Ziegler, Senior Vice President, Le Méridien Brand.
Transitional Portal
Upon entering the hotel, a visual and audio effect – a “wall” of sound and art – will engulf each guest. The experience will create a change in mood for guests and signify their entrance into a new environment. This portal will create intrigue, will re-set guests’ expectations and will encourage them to be open-minded to new experiences during their stay.
Sensory Experience by Le Méridien
Once through the transitional portal, guests will be enveloped with Le Méridien’s signature scent, sound and use of light. Global-lighting leader Philips Lighting Company has been appointed to work with Le Méridien brand world-wide on the lighting components, evoking a sense of warmth and drama depending on the time of the day and occasion.
Le Labo, the innovative perfume house, has created a signature scent for Le Méridien. The different fragrance notes of frankincense, musk, iris and earthy notes vibrate from the central theme of cedar wood, creating a round, distinctive and enveloping scent.
Unlock Art
Developed to engage its guests, Le Méridien’s Unlock Art programme will include an artist-designed key card that offers access to more than just the guest room — the card, created by artist Michael Lin, is intended to become a collectors’ item for guests and will grant guests complimentary access to Le Méridien’s affiliated arts organisations. Le Méridien’s Cultural Curator, the cutting-edge Jérôme Sans, is the curator for Unlock Art, an experimental programme to re-launch the brand through new initiatives and partnerships.
Michael Lin, who will design the key card artwork for Le Méridien’s Unlock Art programme globally, creates art consisting of large-scale floral “room-scapes” in patterns appropriated from traditional Taiwanese and Chinese textile designs. With his “Kiasma Daybed” 2001 in Helsinki, Finland, he encouraged the viewer to sit, lie down and relax on the work; in 2002 at Stroom city hall in The Hague “Atrium Stadhuis” and at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, people had to walk on the artwork in order to move from one part of the building to another. Michael’s career has taken him around the world with solo exhibitions across the US, the Far East and Europe including Hawaii, Vienna, Paris, Barcelona and most recently at the Eslite Gallery in Taipei.
Jérôme Sans, co-founder of Paris’ Palais de Tokyo museum has achieved a devoted international following as Director of Progamme at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead; teacher (Central St Martins, Milwaukee Institute of Visual Arts), art critic, author, musician and arts provocateur. As cultural curator for Le Méridien brand, Sans is responsible for forging relationships with emerging artists and arts institutions.
Elevated Experience
Le Méridien will transform the expected and predictable event of riding an elevator into an “elevating experience” through video and sound.
Le Méridien has appointed Henri Scars Struck, the visionary Grammy-winning French composer/producer, who will create the elevated experience for Le Méridien hotels globally. This unconventional approach will mix natural sounds, beats and music. Based in New York, Henri Scars Struck has been at the forefront of music and media production for over 15 years and has worked with acclaimed talent including Yves Saint Laurent, No Doubt, Madonna and Alicia Keys.