Get the low-down on a studio session with our travel-storytelling community
As boutique hotel match-makers, we’ve always sought to pair independently minded travellers with their perfect property – and recently, we took this one step further. We sent out an open invitation for our community to share their holiday stories with us, with a chance of becoming the face of our next campaign and to win the trip of a lifetime – to a hotel which captures each spirit of our characterful contestants. After receiving 400 responses, we handpicked 40 travel lovers to attend a casting call. This is how we spent our time in the studio…
On a blue-bird morning in London last month, our team eagerly awaited the casting call attendants to arrive. We’d already read through their online responses, so we knew some ever-so-interesting guests were on their way – and the crowd who filled the studio that day did not disappoint. Polaroids were snapped on arrival, and then it was time to meet, greet, and most importantly – mingle. We spent the morning getting under the skin of how our community likes to holiday, delving into what makes a trip stand out in your mind, and why memories stay special post-check-out.
Wild tales were told of horse-riding across steppe-like plains, trekking through the jungle in tropical climes, and taking back-country ski routes by torch-light. Others were adventurous in their own way – volunteering for the day at a gallery just to sneak a peek at a closed-to-the-public exhibition, or befriending the hotel’s chef to learn more about her family recipes. Some were dedicated beach-goers who simply must be barefoot all holiday long, chasing the sun season after season. And there were eccentric culture-cravers who visited a new city almost every month for long weekends filled with history, art, and architecture.
By the end of the morning, we were swapping social media handles and already planning a reunion. We’d connected through our shared love of travel, however far-flung or close-to-home our experiences had been. It was then time for an almost impossible task – to select our finalists to be interviewed by a panel of travel and lifestyle experts.
After much (and we do mean, much) deliberation, 13 finalists were chosen – who shared their stories with the panel on camera. We were on the look-out for can’t-get-out-of-your-head holiday moments, whether good, bad, funny, sad, or simply beautiful. The panel conferred and chose our three worthy winners – Kerry, Shivam, and Beverly – to take part in a portrait photoshoot, and be matched to the hotels of their dreams.
Keep an eye out for our winning contestants, who will soon be starring on TV and billboards across London. We can’t wait to share their stories, and where they’ll be travelling to next.
Join the search to find hotels as characterful as you by visiting slh.com
Share this article
Latest stories
Independent Minds: Amelie and Dominik Posch, eriro
On the slopes of the remote Ehrwalder Alm, some 1,550 metres into the clouds, eriro has just nine rooms for those seeking a quiet refuge from the noise and pace of city life. Encouraging guests to do less rather than more, the hotel offers an opportunity to reconnect with themselves
Our top boutique stays for June
From a baroque waterfront retreat on Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor to a design-led hideaway in Goa and an alpine sanctuary overlooking Lake Tegernsee, these are the hotels we’d like to check into this June
The most stylish hotels in Rome
Architecture approved by the gods, gastronomy that once fuelled gladiators, and Italian style that has remained timeless for centuries — a trip to the Eternal City never fails to inspire and nourish the soul with its beauty. Anchored by a stay at the recently opened Palazzo Talia, we then venture
Crowd-free alternatives to our favourite European destinations
Long days with the sun stretching late into the evening. Lazing on the beach after slow lunches of fresh seafood dressed with olive oil and lemon. Following unmarked paths off the map to beautiful views and empty coves. Spontaneous encounters with locals in sleepy villages. Flavourful fruits and vegetables glowing in the
