Shishi-Iwa House

CatchOn was appointed by HDHP to provide strategic counsel for the launch of Shishi-Iwa House, a collection of boutique hospitality concepts in Karuizawa, Japan. The genesis of Shishi-Iwa House began with an interest to use architecture as a means to provide a sustainable, restorative sanctuary and a place for intellectual creativity. The first Shishi-Iwa House, designed by Pritzker Prize laureate Shigeru Ban, launched in February 2019. CatchOn worked with HDHP to develop the messaging and positioning for Shishi-Iwa House, an unknown hospitality brand at the time. As a result, Shishi-Iwa House has been recognized by Travel + Leisure as a top hotel in the annual It List in 2020. The project has also been shortlisted in AHEAD Asia Awards and longlisted in FRAME Awards in 2019.

“This is an amazing result especially when we are in first two months out of the 6-month campaign…For a new brand launch in the hospitality sector, I was told by someone in the industry, Shishi-Iwa House is considered one of the most successful PR campaigns with the widest reach ever covered by the media at this early stage!” - Huy Hoang, Director of Shishi-Iwa House