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Ivy Hospitality Group develops and manages luxury hotels and resorts. The group began with Chalet Ivy, a boutique hotel centrally located in the popular ski resort town of Niseko, Japan.
The success of the 78-room property encouraged the group to open more hotels in the region.
Stepworks collaborated closely with the group to develop a unique identity system, designed to be applied across all its properties.
The initiative began with a site visit and research. The brand strategy emphasises Chalet Ivy’s natural warmth and cultivated hospitality inspired by the traditional Japanese garden. This informed a new identity for the group that aims to amplify its unique value.
Evocative positioning – The hotel’s promise of A naturally warm welcome in Hokkaido, coupled with the aesthetics of traditional Japanese gardens, presents a strong platform for creative development.
Maximised resources – Applying the Chalet Ivy name to new properties facilitates cross-selling and helps promotion budgets go further.
Distinctive identity – The logo playfully hides the brand name. Those who find it are rewarded with a sense of discovery, which many people like to share.
Photo courtesy of Chalet Ivy, Jozankei
Photos courtesy of Chalet Ivy, Jozankei
Photos courtesy of Chalet Ivy, Jozankei
The Chalet Ivy brand development project included a comprehensive website.
Built to express the brand model and corporate identity, the website served as a test bed for the new creative direction. It is presented in Japanese and English versions.
The website features a number of online applications, including booking widgets designed to encourage conversion, a reservation calendar for venues, and a newsletter subscription signup. A content management system enables the Chalet Ivy team to readily manage the website from day to day.
Enhanced guest experience – Website navigation and architecture aim to make it easy for the guest to make a reservation and learn about the facilities and amenities.
Helpful hotel guide – The website includes useful guest information for many aspects of each property from airport transfers, to special offers and local attractions.
Like many branding initiatives, the Chalet Ivy project began by assessing its legacy brand assets. The brand building team kept an open mind about starting everything fresh.
The team ultimately decided that the most effective approach would be to evolve the existing Chalet Ivy brand to a new level of relevance. Each of the three Chalet Ivy properties has different histories. It was important to find common brand attributes that could highlight the uniqueness of each hotel during the guest experience.
The new brand model and brand identity have been applied to a range of deliverables, which include everything from stationery to in-room amenities.
Integrated platform – A single name and creative platform for all hotels minimises brand management resources and enables new properties to be more easily onboarded.
Clarity in development – With a single set of guidelines and the ability to reference existing properties, the Chalet Ivy brand can be rolled out at an accelerated pace with minimum creative risk.
Photo courtesy of Chalet Ivy, Jozankei
“I am very pleased with the outcome of our branding project. Stepworks was very methodical and helpful. They helped us define what we can offer our guests and gave us a strong foundation for the future development of both Chalet Ivy and the Ivy Hospitality Group.”
Lady Ivy, Founder
Ivy Hospitality Group
Hong Kong
702, LKF29
29 Wyndham Street
Central
+852 3678 8700
Singapore
160 Robinson Road, #14-04
Singapore 068914
+65 6668 7233
