IHG Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce the role of two luxury flagships in the upcoming BBC Studios series Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby. The popular BBC series will air on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer from 12 September and will offer a never-before-seen perspective on InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland and Six Senses Ibiza, with each property starring in its own hour-long episode. Both properties are part of IHG’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio – one of the largest in the world.
Each episode gives audiences an unparalleled look into the hotels’ unique take on luxury hospitality, as hosts Chef Monica Galetti and TV attorney Rob Rinder accompany hotel teams on all aspects of the guest experience. The pair are deployed behind the scenes, venturing into places and locations hidden from the public to uncover the meticulous focus required to deliver impeccable service. As each episode documents, Rob and Monica join the experienced hotel teams to bring to light the heartwarming stories of the communities within the storied walls of each hotel.
Jane Mackie, Senior Vice President for Global Luxury, Lifestyle and Premium Brands at IHG Hotels & Resortssaid: “We are delighted to be taking BBC viewers on a virtual journey through InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland and Six Senses Ibiza in the next season of Amazing Hotels. These two spectacular hotels each have their own unique story to tell and incredible colleagues to bring them to life. The architectural masterpiece of InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is awe-inspiring, while Six Senses Ibiza challenges perceptions of what Ibiza has to offer as a destination.”
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland: A marvel of modern architecture and engineering
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is the world’s first and largest luxury hotel brand with over 220 hotels in 70 countries. Founded in 1946 by Juan Trippe, founder of Pan American Airways, InterContinental is guided by the belief that travel can broaden horizons and connect cultures.
Built in a former quarry, the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is actually an upside-down skyscraper designed by visionary architect Martin Jochman. The episode looks at how this hotel seamlessly blends its stunning surroundings with the elegance of InterContinental hospitality. Unusual locations bring their challenges. The episode explores the upside-down nature of the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland and how it was built using patented innovations in structural and seismic engineering right down to day-to-day hotel operations.
Opening doors to a “world of intrigue,” InterContinental is a brand that reimagines the luxury travel experience, putting the modern luxury traveler at its core. The BBC episode strikes a harmonious balance between freedom and familiarity, celebrating how InterContinental focuses on satisfying its guests’ thirst for knowledge and culturally rich experiences, building on its legacy as a beacon of affordable luxury travel.
Six Senses Ibiza: An oasis of well-being and sustainability
On the northern tip of the White Isle, Monica and Rob arrive at Six Senses Ibiza to find out how the resort has established itself as the island’s wellness and cultural destination since opening in 2021. Throughout the episode, the pair delve into the live levels of the year-round programming available to guests and gain an insight into the dedicated team that brings these unforgettable moments to life every day.
From cacao ceremonies, silent hikes and biohacking practices to cyclical fashion, recording studios and cooking with farm-fresh ingredients, Monica and Rob take viewers behind the scenes to explore the estate experiences that celebrate and reflect Ibiza’s deeper roots through groundbreaking wellness, music, art, fashion, culinary discoveries and culture.
The next series of BBC Studios Amazing Hotels: Life Behind the Lobby will be available to stream on demand on BBC iPlayer from 12 September. Episodes will air on BBC2 at 8pm BST, kicking off at the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland on Thursday 12 September, followed by Six Senses Ibiza on Thursday 26 September.
