BETHESDA, MD—Coinciding with the sixth annual 360° multi-platform, music program, Renaissance Hotels has partnered with Billboard, a leading global source for charts, news, trends and innovations in music.
The partnership provides guests with direct and on-the-go access to music, live entertainment, behind-the-scenes festival coverage, exclusive event access, artist meet-and-greets and social media ticket giveaways. Exclusive artist interviews and other related content from the studios will be streamed on Billboard.com and Billboard social channels, Renaissance social and YouTube channels, and in-room at Renaissance properties.
“Renaissance guests are business travelers who view travel as an opportunity to see the world and collect stories to share with others. So, we made sure that when they stay with us, they stumble into unexpected experiences, from discovering unique local city finds to hearing an emerging musician play in our hotel lounge,” said Dan Vinh, VP, marketing, Renaissance Hotels.
He added, “We believe that music is universal and cultivates memories, so we launched our entertainment program five years ago, which has now evolved to include the arts, culinary, mixology and more. But, it’s not just about having live music in our hotels. It’s about giving our guests up-close and personal experiences so they get to know the band behind their next favorite songs. The partnership with Billboard allows us to collect exclusive content from leading artists in the music industry and share with a larger community.”
The lifestyle brand actively seeks out newly discovered artists from around the world and has introduced its guests to more than 50 musical acts including Bruno Mars, Robin Thicke, Janelle Monae, Solange Knowles, Jamie Cullum, Gavin DeGraw, Robyn, Grouplove, Walk The Moon and Kodaline.
“We work with leading music and media partners to identify artists to watch. And they can be from any musical genre—indie, alternative, R&B, pop, country, EDM—as long as the artist is trending and someone truly discovery-worthy,” said Vinh.
The newly formed partnership with Billboard also supports the second year of Navigator Live, a live-event series and TV show that invites viewers to explore different cities through the eyes of touring musicians. This year’s series features an artist lineup including Tove Lo, A-Trak, Awolnation and The Lone Bellow, who will perform live at various Renaissance Hotels in the U.S., while sharing their personally curated guides to the best local city finds and discoveries.
Billboard Studios powered by Renaissance Hotels took place on property at Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa in California, the host hotel during the Coachella Valley Music Festival (April 10-11 in Indio, CA). Upcoming festivals include BottleRock (May 29-31 in Napa Valley, CA); Governor’s Ball (June 5-7 in New York City); Firefly (June 18-21 in Dover, DE); and Lollapalooza (July 31-Aug. 2 in Chicago).
“The Billboard Coachella Brunch was a fantastic way to officially kick off the Billboard and Renaissance Hotels partnership,” said Vinh. “Guests had a chance to enjoy the welcoming and laid back atmosphere at Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa, while also mixing and mingling with attending artists. Our first Billboard Studios powered by Renaissance Hotels was a huge success, with interviews featuring Kimbra, Martin Garix, Keiza, Gorgon City, Porter Robinson and Glass Animals.”
—Matthew Marin