The Hotel TV series: Channel 4 seeks new hotel as previous stars reveal impact
The fly-on-the-wall documentary is filmed over one month, following the day-to-day life of a hotel, its staff and selected guests to give a light-hearted insight of the workings of a 21st century British hospitality business.
Lucy Malins, casting producer for Dragonfly Film and Television Productions Ltd – the BAFTA-award-winning company behind other reality TV shows including One Born Every Minute, told BigHospitality: “With an audience of over 2.5 million in a peak Sunday night slot, this is a chance for one hotel to show the Great British public what we love about hotels.
“The hoteliers we have worked with in the first two series were keen for the cameras to return – this shows what a positive experience it was for them, and we are looking forward to a new hotel having the same experience.”
The Damson Dene
The Hotel, consisting of eight episodes, was first filmed at the three-star Damson Dene Hotel in the Lake District (pictured) in the summer of 2010. Jonathan Denby, the hotel’s owner, believes that the experience has boosted the business’s reputation.
He said: "Our concerns as owners were that the cameras would frighten away the guests; that the crew would be a nuisance; that they would leave the place a mess; that the process would upset the staff and make fools of the hotel.
“The reality was that very few guests were put off by the cameras; the crew were unobtrusive and great fun to deal with; they left the hotel exactly as they found it; the staff, after initial apprehensiveness, loved the experience; and the hotel is, on the whole, shown in a good light."
The Grosvenor
Hotelier Mark Jenkins, from the three-star Grosvenor Hotel in Torquay, which featured in the second series, added: “The installation of cameras was done with minimum of fuss and my guests totally forgot they were there. My staff thought it was an excellent idea, where very excited to be on TV and thought it was a new and different thing to do for the summer.
“When the cameras came down after five weeks I felt totally deflated - I missed them. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and if anyone turned it down they would always be left wondering ‘what if?’ That’s the reason I took part – I have no regrets and I would highly recommend it.”
So… does your hotel have what it takes?
Speaking of the ideal hotel to fit the bill for the documentary’s third series, which will air later this year, Malins concluded: “For the next series of The Hotel, we would be looking to include in a vibrant hotel with warm and humorous staff which caters for regular customers, summer trade and functions such as birthday parties, weddings or wakes.
“We are keen to see the snapshot of daily life in a hotel, with all the ups and downs that are part of the package. The series will be a celebration of the Great British holiday.”
If you would like to find out more about the forthcoming series, or take part, please contact the Producers on gurubgry@qentbasyl.gi
