ASIA PACIFIC
"We are thrilled that Music Concierge has successfully created such a brand-focused approach, where our guests can emotionally connect to us not only based on visual but audio as well"
Dean Winter,
Operations Director
Swire Hotels
"We are thrilled that Music Concierge has successfully created such a brand-focused approach, where our guests can emotionally connect to us not only based on visual but audio as well"
Dean Winter,
Operations Director
Swire Hotels
Each year, the world spends more than $50 billion visiting Asia. And that figure is growing fast.
All across the region, markets are evolving and diversifying at a breakneck pace to meet the demands of an increasingly discerning client base of lifestyle travellers and local consumers.
Nowhere is this more pronounced than China, where the changing expectations of an emergent but rapidly maturing consumer-based society have kick-started a hospitality revolution.
A young, entrepreneurial generation is demanding and delivering hotel and lifestyle brands with depth, nuance and convincing storytelling.
Characterful new neighbourhoods with clear-cut community identities are taking shape in cities such as Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai. World-leading retail brands are drawing on the power of personal service and experiential atmospheres to compete with online shopping.
With the likes of Jason Atherton and Gordon Ramsay at the vanguard, respected restaurateurs and celebrated chefs from Europe and Australasia are setting up bold new dining enterprises in Asian cities, and innovative international hotel brands such as Swire and Rosewood are growing with bold new concepts tailored to the growing influx of Western and regional visitors.
The emergence of China has had an impact on its neighbours too, fuelling an expanding market for inter-Asian tourism as Chinese and Korean honeymooners discover the Maldives, Sri Lanka and the islands of Indonesia. Meanwhile, cities such as Jakarta, Singapore and Hong Kong cement their reputation as powerhouses of international business by ditching anodyne corporate gloss in favour of personality-led service and fresh design.
Competition is not only increasing in terms of density but in sophistication too. The brands that will define the new Asia are the ones that succeed in adapting to the demands of a diverse new market and the tastes of a new generation – and the part that music plays in that cannot be underestimated.
The music of Asia is breathtakingly complex, rooted in numerous national traditions and shaped by a multitude of cultural contexts.
Travel from one Chinese city to the next or fly from one Indonesian island to another and you’ll discover an entirely distinct musical culture. Music Concierge has been working in Asia long enough to develop a peerless understanding of these differences – and to witness and respond to the sea change in Asian hospitality across the continent.
From the evocative tones of the gamelan orchestra, to swinging Japanese ska, to the manic bubble-gum energy of K-Pop, Music Concierge can piece together genres, instruments and artists to create unique music identities that both embody the brand and inspire its audience, whether they’re demanding Western jet-setters, discerning Asian millennials or both.
We might be reinventing the sound of the slickest HK city stay, turning up the serenity at a temple-surrounded spa resort in China, or bringing easy-going cool to the atmosphere of a Balinese beach bar, but whatever the brief and wherever the location, we know how to blend local tradition and credible contemporary sounds with sensitivity and imagination.
"As music is key to the ambience of our hotels and due to the diverse nature of our locations and portfolio, the Music Concierge team has been a perfect partner."
Simon Kerr,
Commercial Director
Como Hotels & Resorts
COMO
Renowned for their exotic and enviable locations and incredible design, COMO Hotels & Resorts needed a worldwide signature sound with subtle local influences woven into the playlists at each hotel.
Experiencing each property first hand, Music Concierge gathered a deep understanding of the COMO ethos. The teams immersed themselves in local music and sought out traditional performances in places such as Bhutan and Bali to add a subtle but compelling sense of place.
"AS MUSIC IS KEY TO THE AMBIENCE OF OUR HOTELS AND DUE TO THE DIVERSE NATURE OF OUR LOCATIONS AND PORTFOLIO, THE MUSIC CONCIERGE TEAM HAS BEEN A PERFECT PARTNER.”
Simon Kerr
Commercial Director
Como Hotels & Resorts
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
Harvey Nichols
With almost two centuries of high-end fashion heritage, Harvey Nichols recently undertook a large-scale brand update.
With not much change in the retail experience over the past decade, the music in stores had become detached from the brand’s ‘fearlessly stylish’ identity. Music Concierge developed ahead-of-the-curve playlists that reflected Harvey Nichol’s passion for distinctive style and distaste for bandwagon fashion, while inspiring the brand’s audience of style-conscious, highly individual professionals.
“MUSIC CONCIERGE HAS EXPERTLY CRAFTED OUR BRAND’S NEW MUSIC IDENTITY. THE TEAM ARE INCREDIBLY ATTENTIVE, CREATIVE AND TOTALLY COMMITTED TO GETTING THINGS RIGHT.”
Gemma Hare,
Brand Guardian
Harvey Nichols
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
ESPA
Exclusive and luxurious, The Corinthia’s ESPA Life is a next-generation spa set across four floors in an atmospheric subterranean setting.
The design and concept demanded a unique signature sound that sidestepped spa-music cliché. Music Concierge crafted an ethereal, futuristic soundtrack for all the public areas, giving the whole experience a designer, cocoon-like feel that ensures ESPA Life stand out from its competitors.
"THE MUSIC CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR ESPA LIFE BY MUSIC CONCIERGE ALLOWS OUR CLIENTS TO TRULY RELAX."
Paula Perkins,
Director of Spa Development
ESPA
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific has a reputation for high levels of comfort and Asian-inflected elegance.
Wanting to change the forgettable, high-gloss atmosphere of conventional airport lounges, the airline enlisted Music Concierge to create engaging soundtracks for the various areas of The Pier – its Ilse Crawford-designed first-class lounge in Hong Kong. These were matched to the daily pattern of lounge use to ensure each evolved in accordance with the needs of Cathay Pacific travellers. The airline is now extending the music concept globally.
“WE WANTED THE INTERIOR DESIGN AND MUSIC TO COME TOGETHER TO DELIGHT PASSENGERS, ELEVATING THE WAY THEY FEEL ABOUT THE LOUNGES. MUSIC CONCIERGE ACHIEVE THAT BRILLIANTLY.”
Toby Smith,
General Manager, Product
Cathay Pacific
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
The Upper House
Designed by innovative architect Andre Fu, The Upper House prides itself on exclusive contemporary design and its unique appeal to independent-minded travellers.
Its destination bar, Café Gray, needed to attract people not just for special occasions, but also post-work drinks. Music Concierge created a buzzing soundtrack that is both aspirational to the local market and appealing to switched-on international guests, matching the sound to the visuals in a way that immediately connects with the audience.
“WE ARE THRILLED THAT MUSIC CONCIERGE HAS SUCCESSFULLY CREATED SUCH A BRAND-FOCUSED APPROACH AT THE UPPER HOUSE, WHERE OUR GUESTS CAN EMOTIONALLY CONNECT TO US.”
Dean Winter,
Area General Manager, Hong Kong
Swire Hotels
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
Trisara
One of the most popular coastal resorts in Thailand, Trisara maintains an atmosphere of contemporary exclusivity in a spectacular beachside setting.
The Trisara team were keen to underline the resort’s sophisticated and serene ambience with a sound that would encourage guests to linger longer in the restaurant and bar areas. Uplifting but unobtrusive, the ever-changing playlists reinforce each concept’s story and inject energy to elevate the ambience without overpowering the flow of conversation.
"MUSIC CONCIERGE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH A MUSIC SOLUTION THAT ADDED VALUE TO OUR GUEST EXPERIENCE BY OFFERING UNIQUE PLAYLISTS WITHOUT SOUNDING COMMERCIAL LIKE OTHER COMPANIES”
Quentin Fougeroux,
Director Of F&B
Trisara, Thailand
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
Mulberry
A fashion-forward British brand with an age-spanning appeal, Mulberry needed to be relevant to a wide demographic of fashion-conscious daughters and stylish mothers.
Working closely with management and spending extensive time in the stores, Music Concierge designed a concept that brings together hip music pioneers from the past with new ambassadors of innovation from today, to create an on-brand statement of creativity that was rolled out globally.
"MUSIC CONCIERGE TAKES CARE OF EVERYTHING; THE WHOLE PROCESS IS SLICK & EFFICIENT, & THEY ARE A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH.”
Nick Robert
Retail Manager
Mulberry
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
Tastings Group
The brains behind some of the most in-demand bar and restaurant hotspots in Hong Kong, Tastings Group is a major independent player on the city’s night scene.
Music Concierge created a musical identity for Quinary, the group’s convention-busting flagship cocktail bar, whose contemporary-industrial design and experiential cocktail concept demanded a fresh and boundary-pushing sound. After that success, we took on the challenge of three more venues. One group, four brands: four very different sounds.
“THE FIVE SENSES PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE DINING & DRINKING EXPERIENCE. WITH MUSIC CONCIERGE'S WELL-TAILORED SELECTION AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, WE NOW ENJOY MUSIC PLAYLISTS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO EACH OF OUR F&B OUTLETS."
Charlene Dawes
Managing Director
Tastings Group
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
Temple House
The latest addition to Swire Hotels’ portfolio, Temple House brings modern-Asian elegance to old-town Chengdu.
The hotel’s ancient-meet-modern setting, cutting-edge architecture and wow-factor restaurant and bar offering demanded a broad family of unique soundscapes. Music Concierge worked closely with the pre-opening team to ensure that the hotel’s signature sound was in tune with its style, personality and location.
“THE TEMPLE HOUSE FINALLY OPENED ITS DOORS AND THE FEEDBACK ON THE MUSIC HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE!”
Mark Passmore
General Manager, The Temple House
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
Studio City
Unparalleled in scope or scale, Studio City’s vast, cinema and entertainment themed leisure complex is the biggest and boldest on the Asian Continent.
Based on the flow of people through the buildings and the ambience of each area, we developed and delivered a suite of music concepts that helps drive and maintain traffic to target areas; sustains an upbeat, dynamic atmosphere across public spaces 24 hours a day; fits the wow-factor scope and scale of the complex; and pays tribute to the high-energy Hollywood-glamour style.
Ryan Choi
Executive, Entertainment & Projects,Studio City Macau
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
M Glam
M Glam bar on the Bund is a Shanghai institution, providing modern dining and inventive cocktails to the creative sophisticates of the city.
M-Glam’s design scheme is full of colour, inventive juxtapositions, and unusual artwork – so its soundtrack required a similar degree of creativity and imagination to suit the ‘consistently eclectic’ vibe. The alluringly confident new sound of M Glam is designed to support and enhance the bar’s atmosphere – and inspire its guests to linger as the night evolves.
"MUSIC CONCIERGE HAVE HELPED US CREATE AN AMAZING ATMOSPHERE. THE SYSTEM IS EASY TO USE, THE TEAM ARE FANTASTIC AND VERY PROFESSIONAL TO WORK WITH!"
David Wang
General Manager, M Glam
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk
Grand Hyatt Shenzhen
Like its sister five-stars in the Grand Hyatt family, the new 38-storey development in Shenzhen has a dramatic sense of spaciousness, and a spotless look of luxury.
With eight restaurants and bars and a host of public spaces, the hotel needed a complex music solution. We created a series of soundtracks that matched the widely different atmospheres, but still coherently communicated the Grand Hyatt brand.
"WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR BACKGROUND MUSIC SINCE WE HAVE STARTED TO PARTNER WITH MUSIC CONCIERGE."
Richard Van Westing
Executive Assistant Manager, F&B, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen
To read the full case study, please email info@musicconcierge.co.uk