Case study* · 01 · 2023All work

    Hospitality · Brand + Website + Collateral + Paid Media

    Carmel Beach Hotel.

    A boutique launch on Carmel-by-the-Sea — visual identity, print collateral, website, and a full-funnel opening campaign that landed the property at just 100 steps from the sand.

    Carmel Beach Hotel guest room with linen bedding, warm wood, and coastal light — Carmel-by-the-Sea, CaliforniaHERO · Guest room
    Client
    Carmel Beach Hotel — Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
    Year
    2023 — Ongoing
    Scope
    • Strategy & Consulting
    • Brand Visual Identity
    • Collateral Design & Production
    • Website Design & Development
    • Email Marketing
    • Paid Advertising (Search, Display, Video, Performance Max, Social)
    • Analytics & Reporting
    Pre-opening list
    27k.
    Email subscribers gained before doors opened
    Blended ROAS
    15x.
    15:1 average return on ad spend
    Social ad CTR
    7.7%.
    vs. 0.90% industry average
    Overview

    Spanning seven historic buildings, award-winning Mirabel Hotel & Restaurant Group’s newest property opened in 2023 with 26 guest rooms and suites, terroir-inspired seaside fare overseen by Chef Justin Cogley, and a wellness spa and fitness studio — all just 100 steps from Carmel Beach.

    The Ask

    With the opening coinciding with the debut of two other nearby properties, the hotel needed to nail its launch strategy to gain traction. Carmel Beach Hotel partnered with Pixel & Polish to create the visual identity, bring it to life across digital and physical mediums, and develop and execute a program to build awareness and drive direct bookings.

    The Approach

    We established the brand identity, designed and developed the website, produced a suite of print collateral to complement the on-site guest experience, and stood up booking-engine technology. In parallel, we executed a multi-channel launch campaign across email, social, and paid media — working closely with PR partner LGPR to coordinate print and digital efforts — before shifting into ongoing always-on campaigning.

    01* · Brand identity

    Casual luxury meets nature.

    Identity

    A palette drawn from Pacific fog, watercolor washes, and the weathered stone of the coast. Serif wordmark, quiet layouts, and a supporting system built to breathe — the best of both worlds where casual luxury meets nature.

    Carmel Beach Hotel — stationery systemSTATIONERY · Brand identity
    Carmel Beach Hotel — logo familyLOGO · Family
    Carmel Beach Hotel — guest room detailGUEST ROOM · DetailPhoto: BONJWING
    02* · Collateral

    Print pieces that bring the brand into hands.

    Production

    A full print suite designed to complement the on-site guest experience — from the SECOYA menu system and welcome booklets to coasters, in-room compendiums, and beach essentials branded to feel like Carmel itself.

    SECOYA restaurant menuSECOYA · Menu
    Carmel Beach Hotel — welcome bookletPRINT · Welcome booklet
    Carmel Beach Hotel — branded coasterCOASTER · Barware
    Carmel Beach Hotel — beach picnic with magazineEXPERIENCE · Beach picnic
    03* · Website

    A digital home that mirrors the walk to the water.

    Design & build

    We designed and built the launch site around the same editorial system as the brand — quiet typography, generous white space, and a booking experience wired directly to the property’s reservations engine. Content, SEO, and merchandising have been optimized on an ongoing basis since opening.

    Visit carmelbeachhotel.com
    Carmel Beach Hotel — website on laptopWEBSITE · Now Open
    04* · Paid + Social

    Paid media that filled the rooms from day one.

    Media mix

    We built a “100 steps to” creative platform that threaded across organic and paid social, display, video, Performance Max, and search — with editorial-feeling story units that outperformed industry benchmarks at every stage of the funnel. Result: 27k pre-opening email subscribers, a 15:1 blended ROAS average ongoing, and a 7.7% social ad CTR against a 0.90% industry benchmark.

    Carmel Beach Hotel — social story seriesSOCIAL · Story series
    Carmel Beach Hotel — paid web ad unitsPAID · Display + Social units
    Outcome

    Carmel Beach Hotel opened with a fully-formed identity, a 27k-strong email list, and a paid program returning 15:1 — proof that a boutique launch can hold its own against much bigger neighbors when brand and performance ship together.