THE MYSTERY GUEST

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MYSTERY GUEST

New Campaign 2026

By Laura Martínez

An invisible, rigorous, almost surgical task. A job shrouded in a halo of mystery that is rarely portrayed on either the small or big screen. We’re talking about the figure of the Mystery Guest, who leads the new campaign by Concept Hotel Group, directed by Manu Jaime and Gerseys, and starring actress Karina Kolokolchykova. A short film shot on analog that breaks away from convention and returns to the essential: telling a story.

Thinking about the few on-screen representations of this little-known figure—the Mystery Guest—I’m reminded of Luc’s girlfriend in the series Emily in Paris. There’s an entire narrative of intrigue surrounding her: her own boyfriend, proud that his partner is an anonymous inspector for the Michelin Guide, tells everyone she’s an “accountant,” emphasizing the quotation marks as if something far more interesting lies hidden behind that word. And it is precisely from this interplay between what is said and what is concealed that this story is born.

This is how Mystery Guest emerges—a character moving between fiction and reality, slipping into Concept hotels as just another guest. No one suspects who she is or what she does. Her only companion is a red notebook she always carries, almost like an extension of her gaze. In it, she notes, analyzes, evaluates. She observes with nearly surgical precision, recording every gesture, every detail, every small moment that might go unnoticed by others.

Our Mystery Guest transforms the everyday into something almost transcendental. A check-in, a coffee served on time, a smile at reception—everything becomes material for study. She moves through the hotel with a nearly cinematic solemnity, as if each step were part of a carefully choreographed scene. She is a silent insider, an enigmatic presence that turns the hotel experience into a kind of essay on excellence, blending irony, comedy, and a sophisticated aesthetic.

This universe comes to life in what is, to date, Concept Hotel Group’s most ambitious short film. A project once again shaped by the vision of Cádiz-based audiovisual artist Manu Jaime, co-directed by Gerseys, and supported by a technical and creative team that traveled to the island to bring this small visual delirium to life—shot on analog with an Arri SR3 16 mm camera and Kodak 16 mm film. A commitment to the tangible and to that imperfection that makes everything feel more real.

And as every good story deserves its unexpected cameos, the shoot featured a very special guest: Ricardito, a Cuban artist based in Ibiza, a regular collaborator with legends such as Celia Cruz, Compay Segundo, and the Buena Vista Social Club, and a familiar presence at Hotel Cubanito. His participation adds another layer of authenticity and soul to this distinctly our universe.

Working with profiles like these not only elevates the final result but also enriches the journey. They are people who inspire, who contribute, who make everything a little more creative, freer, more alive. We’re very excited to share the final results.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!