Four Seasons has just announced an expanded partnership with Max and HBO, regarding The White Lotus series. This could be pretty interesting for Four Seasons guests.
In this post:
The White Lotus is coming back for a third season
The White Lotus is one of the most popular TV shows of the past few years. I’m sure most OMAAT readers have seen the series, given the travel angle, plus how generally addictive the show is.
The first season was filmed at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, and debuted in 2021, with the theme being money.
The second season was filmed at the Four Seasons Taormina, San Domenico Palace, and debuted in 2022, with the theme being sex.
The third season was filmed at the Four Seasons Koh Samui, and is expected to air in 2025, with the theme being spirituality.
From Four Seasons’ perspective, I’ve found this to be absolutely fascinating marketing. It has been no secret that The White Lotus has exclusively been filmed at Four Seasons properties, but Four Seasons hasn’t necessarily marketed the show directly, even though it’s hugely beneficial for the brand.
That’s fair enough, given the theme of The White Lotus, and you don’t necessarily want people thinking that they might die if they check into your hotel. 😉 However, Four Seasons is now leaning into The White Lotus even more, with an interesting program planned for the debut of the third season…
Four Seasons will offer The White Lotus experiences
Four Seasons, Max, and HBO, have announced a new global partnership, ahead of the debut of the third season of The White Lotus. So, what does this partnership entail?
In 2025, leading up to the third season of the show, the Four Seasons Westlake Village will transform into the world’s first immersive hotel experience inspired by The White Lotus. As it’s described, “the multi-day activation will gather guests to indulge in a luxurious celebration of the third season’s launch.”
Beyond this event, the partnership will also feature on-site activations at Four Seasons properties globally, designed to engage audiences across multiple touch points. Many Four Seasons properties will offer experiences grounded in the theme of the show’s third season (which I believe is spirituality), including with dining and wellness.
As you can tell, so far details are pretty light, though we’re told that more will be revealed in the coming months. As a fan of Four Seasons and The White Lotus, suffice it to say that I’m very excited to learn more details.
I suppose that if there was a season for Four Seasons to start embracing the show, this would be it. It’s probably easier to plan guest experiences centered around spirituality, rather than around sex or money. 😉
Here’s how Marc Speichert, Four Seasons’ EVP and Chief Commercial Officer, describes this expanded partnership:
“Formalizing our partnership with HBO and Max marks an exciting milestone in our journey together, embracing a cultural phenomenon that blends exceptional storytelling with the universal love of travel. Mike White and his team have created something truly special. For many Four Seasons guests, especially our pop culture enthusiasts and travel trendsetters, The White Lotus serves as the perfect travel inspiration. After showcasing the beauty of Maui and then our breathtaking Taormina property, we’re excited to celebrate Koh Samui in the third season of this beloved show.”
Bottom line
Four Seasons will start more directly marketing The White Lotus series, ahead of the launch of the show’s third season, which was filmed in Koh Samui. While details are limited, an “immersive hotel experience” is planned for the Four Seasons Westlake Village, and Four Seasons also plans special offerings related to The White Lotus at properties around the globe.
I’m looking forward to learning more details…
What do you make of Four Seasons & The White Lotus partnering more closely?
This partnership will guarantee a Season Four, right?
The theme of the first two White Lotus seasons was Jennifer Coolidge is a Cultural Treasure, and the theme of the third season will be Why is Jennifer Coolidge Not in This?
Hear hear!
Best summary ever.
It depends. I have been to Taormina many times before they had a White Lotus there. The place was quieter and more affordable. I just visited it this past summer and it is a total zoo. Locals claim the White Lotus brought flocks of tourists to the city that are there to post on social media vs enjoying the place. The place is super crowded, super expensive and all you see are Instagramers everywhere. I...
It depends. I have been to Taormina many times before they had a White Lotus there. The place was quieter and more affordable. I just visited it this past summer and it is a total zoo. Locals claim the White Lotus brought flocks of tourists to the city that are there to post on social media vs enjoying the place. The place is super crowded, super expensive and all you see are Instagramers everywhere. I heard from some locals that most people don’t spend much money there but go for the posts. The city even offers a White Lotus tour that takes tourists to the spots where the show was filmed. As for the Four Seasons, it used to be easy to visit the hotel and access the bar. Now you can only access if you are a guest or have a reservation so they don’t want people there just for social media posts. I am glad they are not doing the next show in Europe.