“Consumers are gravitating toward bold, high-status brands like Prada and Louis Vuitton,” he said. “It’s a strong reminder that culture and commerce have never been more connected.”
2. The Four Seasons is a big winner
Since day one, luxury hotel chain Four Seasons has partnered with the show to provide filming locations. The most recent season was chiefly shot at the Koh Samui resort, while the previous two were filmed in Maui at Wailea in Hawaii and San Domenico Palace, Taormina in Italy.
Four Seasons told the Wall Street Journal that visits to its webpage for the Sicily-based hotel soared 193% after season two aired. The business confirmed that season one’s Maui property saw a 425% increase in website visits and a 386% increase in availability checks year over year when the show premiered in 2021.
Travel platform Tripadvisor collected data between the premiere’s announcement in January and its debut in February. The destination of Ko Samui noted double-digit growth in inbound traffic among its users, with 18% year-on-year growth for January to February and 57% month-on-month uplift for January this year, compared to December last year.
In February, the island’s Four Seasons resort, in particular, saw 213% year-on-year growth.
For season 3, HBO and White Lotus extended their relationship to include a marketing partnership: “World of Wellness 2026,” a 20-day private jet excursion to eight destinations, including the three properties featured on the show. It’s scheduled for flight in May, with prices starting at $188,000.
3. Some brands nailed the screen-to-store pipeline
Where designers like Gucci and Prada were embedded into the show, other less luxurious brands, such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Coffee Mate, and H&M, inked official deals to create White Lotus-themed merch.
Banana Republic did both, seamlessly jumping from screen to shelves. Parker Posey’s Victoria Ratliff wore the brand’s Cruz Poplin Mini Dress in episode one when she first arrives on the island, making the product an instant sell out.
The Gap-owned retailer also launched a dedicated White Lotus capsule collection intended to be both “aspirational and attainable,” per a statement from Meena Anvary, Banana Republic’s head of marketing. The 24-piece range features men’s and women’s apparel and accessories with “rich hues” of turquoise, navy, red, and yellow, alongside graphic prints and fluid silhouettes.
This strategy paid off, with data from Launchmetrics showing Banana Republic was among the top five brands mentioned in relation to the show after its premiere. It earned $173,000 in media impact value, coming behind Gucci, Jacquemus, Chanel, and Ralph Lauren.