Our work
Launch:
100 Queen’s Gate
Diffusion was tasked to launch the new 100 Queen’s Gate Hotel, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection and located in London’s historic and exclusive Knightsbridge. The hotel was lovingly refurbished and extended, paying homage to the deep Victorian-era heritage of the original building. Our hotel launch strategy needed to stay true to the Curio brand’s emphasis on discovery, sense of place and meaningful experiences.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the biggest event of its kind in the world and takes place each May close to the hotel. With the hotel opening coinciding with the high footfall event, Diffusion spotted an opportunity to use this as a springboard to introduce the hotel to key lifestyle media and social influencers, as part of it’s wider launch strategy for the hotel.
Insight & Idea
Our research revealed that many of the plants that would be showcased at the show from Dahlias and Rhododendrons to Lupins and Paeonies were discovered by plant hunters in the Victorian era, providing a link back to the hotels heritage as the former home of 19th century adventurer William Alexander. Diffusion developed the idea to create an afternoon tea experience inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show to run over the hotel’s opening summer.
To launch the new experience, Diffusion secured modern day plant hunter Tom Hart-Dyke, who had previously been captured and held hostage while working in South America, to deliver a guest lecture. The hotel’s talented F&B team meanwhile developed a floral inspired afternoon tea menu, with photography commissioned to capture the stunning creations.
Impact & Action
Key consumer lifestyle journalists and carefully selected social influencers were invited to the launch event held hosted in the hotel’s beautiful Botanica atrium. Diffusion secured attendees from the Mail Online, Sunday Times, the Independent, ITV News, Metro, London Evening Standard, Vogue and Huffington Post. Afternoon tea bookings increased with double digit growth following the launch. The Botanica is also now established as an Instagram-design sensation following influencer engagement and attracts bookings from key international markets.
The Metrics
