The Platano Hotel

Nestled in the depths of Cebu The Platano Hotel is a modest retreat set above the lush canopies of the jungle, surrounded by an abundance of tropical greenery, far away from frenetic urban life.

To develop the foundations of my brand I began by looking at what made this hotel remarkably unique. I imagine ‘The Platano Hotel’ to be a place that is self-sufficient on the surrounding land, where ‘buko’ juice is collected from the nearby trees and banana leaves are spread out on teak table tops providing a plethora of Filipino delights for all guests to enjoy. A place where people can wind down and become attuned to their senses. A place where people can listen to the calming sound of raindrops falling melodically on the tin roof. A place where a sporadic downpour can occur in an instance, only to be suddenly washed away by sunlight that nourishes the greenery. But because you are cocooned in the depths of nature, there’s a distinct feeling of safety and comfort.

I chose a dark yet warming colour palette for my hotel brand to honour the soft, mesmerising hues of an uninterrupted sunset. I also felt that the darkness aptly reinstated the hidden, secluded aspect of the retreat. I wanted it to feel as if it was one of Island’s best-kept secrets. I decided to call it ‘The Platano hotel’, ‘Platano’ is Spanish for banana – this imagery has inspired much of the identity. I envisioned the hotel brand to be set in the Philippines, a place where banana trees grow in abundance and are somewhat of a food staple to locals. ‘Platano’ also provided a subtle nod to the Spanish influence that has trickled down through the years and influenced the melting pot culture that we now know today. The identity as a whole has been elegantly adorned with botanical illustrations to enhance the rustic feel of the hotel and pay homage to the local craftsmen who I imagine constructed the hotel without the use of modern machinery.