Glitz, Glamour and Reality TV comes to Cape Verde
Shining the spot light on Cape Verde is important to us and being able to showcase our world class Resorts while educating the industry about what this amazing destination has to offer is a priority for the Group. That is why we were delighted to host and work in Cape Verde with British production company Thumbs Up Production to film the glamorous fashion TV programme, Britain’s Next Top Model.
A hugely successful franchise, which has been launching models into the industry since 2005, it is the highest rated show on Lifetime – achieving a cumulative weekly audience of over 650,000 and airing in up to 70 countries worldwide. With this in mind, and having been hand selected to host the show, it was a synergy that felt right as part of the Group’s strategy to support tourism growth.
The highly anticipated three final episodes, which will air in spring/summer 2017, were filmed across a number of locations and required months of strategic planning between The Resort Group PLC, Meliá Hotels International, the Cape Verde Tourist Board and Thumbs Up to enable the three-week shoot to run smoothly.
The production crew didn’t have too work hard to find the perfect locations and activities to feature in the show and with The Group’s support there was a variety of possibilities identified for the shoots, taking high fashion, entertainment and aesthetics into consideration. Set locations included MELIÃ Dunas Beach Resort & Spa, MELIÃ Tortuga Beach Resort and exclusive secret filming at soon-to-be-opened Bikini Beach Club, as well as the dramatic Salt Mines, luscious Botanical Gardens and stunning Algodoeiro Beach. The show will also feature some of the UK’s top cosmetic and fashion brands, who also took the opportunity to film additional digital TV and social media campaigns for 2017.
Filming took place between 12th October and 23rd October, with over 30 crew members accommodated on Resort, increasing to over 45 people at times. The team worked meticulously to organise their stay at MELIÃ Dunas Beach Resort & Spa, which was just perfect in terms of logistics and filming needs. Catering for every meal and ensuring quick and easy travel on and off the Resort was just a few of the finishing touches that demonstrated the level of hospitality provided. Private dining was arranged after a long day’s filming and in some cases the F&B team were on hand to prepare for up to 30 people at a time – no mean feat when also taking care of our five-star Resort guests.
Arriving at MELIÃ Dunas Beach Resort & Spa, the finalists stayed in one of the luxury 5-star exclusive three-bedroom villas, situated near the beach with a private swimming pool and gardens. Decorated for impact, they were welcomed in true Resort Group style. Meanwhile, the four VIP show judges – Abbey Clancy, Nicky Johnson, Hillary Alexander and Paul Sculfor – were provided with luxury accommodation including balcony Jacuzzis and a separate lounge area for the ultimate VIP treatment. Everything was considered and Meliá’s expertly trained hospitality department went above and beyond to make sure it all worked like clockwork, just as they have done for all guests since the Resort opened two years ago. It just went to show, the Resorts were the perfect setting for the reality show and captures the holiday atmosphere perfectly.
Regular liaisons with the Cape Verde tourist board also ensured that the Islands were shown in the best possible light and that the VIP guests received the true “No Stress” experience. They were also on hand to provide support when filming around the Island, an undeniably invaluable resource. Especially because when travelling to the shoot locations, it was all hands on deck as The Resort Group team worked tirelessly to ensure everything was available to the busy production crew. It is something the Group have become well-versed in, having scaled many logistical challenges since the construction of the first Resort on Sal Island, MELIÃ Tortuga Beach Resort.
We can’t wait to see the finished product, portraying Cape Verde and Sal Island as the beautiful destination it is. In the meantime, you can browse behind the scenes with the official hashtag #BNTMCapeVerde on Twitter and Instagram and watch out for more insights into Britain’s Next Top Model and filming with The Resort Group PLC on the blog as the wider story unfolds.