ABOUT

Intercontinental – one of the world’s leading hotel brands and a pioneer of luxury travel in emerging destinations – had ambitious plans for the Intercontinental Ljubljana. Opening its doors in the Slovenian capital in August 2017, the modern and stylish 20-floor hotel was set to be the city’s tallest and first to carry a ‘5-Star’ classification. Fine dining was an essential ingredient in the luxury mix – and the hotel’s roof-top restaurant needed branding and visual identity that would do justice to its stunning menus and panoramic views.
 
The vision for this unique venue was that it should be a destination in its own right – equally appreciated by locals and visitors to the city as the hotel’s guests. To support this, the brief for the brand went deeper than luxury ambience – it had to embody a story that would become the restaurant’s signature.
 
The rich cultural heritage of the region and the myths and legends of the City were a fertile and fascinating source of inspiration. The dragon – symbol of Ljubljana and a common motif in its streets – suggested itself as the start-point for an idea. But in the end, it was another winged creature, although much smaller and friendlier, that won the day.
 
The restaurant’s menu, while representing a fusion of influences, had fresh local ingredients at its heart. Famous amongst these is the honey of the prized Carniolan bee that is native to Slovenia. So, it seemed right that these tiny but precious creatures should be celebrated in what was to become the hotel’s B culinary concept.
 
With its rich, luxurious but contemporary cues the name and striking visual identity was rolled across all touchpoints. As a result, a beautifully refined guest experience was created securing IHG a 97% traveller recommendation, showcasing that Intercontinental Ljubljana really is the place to be(e).