The mission

The Montenotte is a unique urban resort, nestled within a luscious oasis overlooking Cork City. It boasts design-led hotel rooms, homey self-catering apartments as well as luxurious private cabins and woodland suites unlike anything else in Ireland. The property also offers a cinema, spa and gin bar plus a number of dining options.

Following significant investment and refurbishment, The Montenotte needed a refreshed visual identity firmly aligned with its ambitious business goals:

• Establish itself as Ireland’s leading independent urban resort
• Transform perceptions of what The Montenotte represents
• Shift the brand from a corporate aesthetic to an elegant, high-end leisure positioning that reflects the property’s unique style and personality
• Create a cohesive identity that unifies its eclectic offerings while building strong domestic and international brand awareness

The solution

We carved out a unique space for The Montenotte as an Urban Paradise. A property with the best of both worlds: the hustle and bustle of Cork City, tucked away in a tranquil oasis.

Building on its most recognisable asset, the bold sans serif logotype, we developed a versatile and cohesive visual system to ensure the brand could adapt seamlessly across applications. We introduced the jackalope motif, a mythical creature rarely seen and impossible to catch, representing The Montenotte’s enticing wild side. We created a suite of illustrations of wildlife seen on the grounds interacting with different elements of the hotel, inspired by the juxtaposition of Urban and Paradise.

A sophisticated, warm colour palette was chosen to align with the hotel’s vivid, eclectic and colourful interiors. We selected strong modern patterns from textiles and interiors, ensuring the brand and its environment work in harmony. A minimalist, modular wayfinding system was developed for external signage, perfectly complementing the hotel’s newly remodelled facade.

The impact

This project has cemented The Montenotte’s rightful position in the luxury hospitality landscape. This has been further reaffirmed by Failte Ireland, who recently recognised The Montenotte as one of Ireland’s key premium destinations. This recognition has been pivotal in building awareness of The Montenotte and attracting high-end guests and luxury travel operators outside of Ireland.

Internally, the refreshed brand has reinvigorated the team, creating a renewed sense of pride and purpose by clearly articulating what The Montenotte stands for and elevating its position in the luxury hospitality space. This renewed focus has also helped attract top-tier talent while strengthening the hotel’s ability to retain its dedicated staff.

Recognition

The results speak for themselves: The Montenotte has redefined its reputation, elevated its market position, and now competes among Ireland’s most elite leisure properties, consistently growing its market share.

This project was entered into the 2024 IDI Awards in the competitive Brand Refresh category, which featured more than 10 shortlisted entries. While we didn’t take home the top prize, we were honoured with a coveted commendation, a distinction shared by only one other project in this highly contested category.