Bacchus, the leading luxury brand development and creative communications agency, expands its international footprint, and opens its first GCC office in Dubai.
With headquarters in London, New York and now Dubai, the agency’s international client roster continues to grow and diversify – now covering industry-leading brands across wellness, beauty, design, travel, fashion, hospitality, food and beverage.
The new office is the culmination of a long track record of operating in the region – including projects for the luxury Omani fragrance house, Amouage and trailblazing property developers LaMar and their new project Sea Mirror, and the launch of Habitas in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Most recently, Bacchus led the production and creative direction of Arise Fashion Week 2021 at Expo 2020 Dubai. The show, which took place on the grounds of the Burj Khalifa, featured an impressive roster of African talent from the worlds of fashion and music and featured appearances by Naomi Campbell, Alton Mason, D’Banj and Akon. Arise, the most important pan-African fashion week, has been a client partner of the agency since its inception in 2011, building on Bacchus’ impressive fashion roster that includes a fourteen season-long tenure as lead producers of London Fashion Week for the British Fashion Council.
Bacchus GCC is led by Fiona Wishart, who brings with her years of brand development and public relations experience, working with leading brands in the GCC as head of business development at Dubai-based Z7Communications. Other current projects include EXPO2020 F&B – a world hospitality exhibition for more than 200 businesses, and EatX, the first hospitality group in Dubai to open an independent, home-grown venue in 2013. Forthcoming projects in 2022 include the much-anticipated launch of The Guild at the prestigious ICD Brookfield Place, a 18,000 square foot dining and entertainment concept, in DIFC.
Established in 1998, Bacchus has consistently achieved significant year-on-year growth, and successfully expanded into a range of new sectors and services. The decision to open their third office in the GCC has been in response to growing client demand in the region.
Founded by Charlotte Lurot and Anouschka Menzies, and stewarded by CEO Daize Washbourn, the agency specialises in brand development, brand imaging and identity, creative, global and regional campaigns, content creation, communications and marketing, creative production, digital marketing, strategic partnerships and influencer relations.
Bacchus clients across London, New York, and the GCC include Diageo brands Talisker, Tanqueray, and Ketel One Vodka; NoMad London, Habitas, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts; British Land, Burlington Arcade, Ennismore, The V&A, David Koma, Design Shanghai, Decorex, Chelsea Barracks, Aesop, Arise Fashion Week, and The Well.
Anouschka Menzies, Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer, comments,
“The opening of our third office continues to enhance our global presence. The decision to open in the GCC was driven by strong client demand and our experience delivering on the ground campaigns and activations. At Bacchus, our mission is to guide brands through the increasing fragmentation of audience and channels, to focus the international spotlight, to stimulate meaningful conversation and to generate legacy.”
Charlotte Lurot, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, comments
“This is an exciting opportunity for the agency. Bacchus works at the intersection of brands and culture – and the region is incredibly rich in both. Global brands are increasingly seeking activation opportunities in the region – notably in music, film, fashion, hospitality and the arts – whilst home-grown brands are gaining increasing traction on the global stage. Our repertoire of creative, digital, communications and production skills, and our keen understanding of global culture and consumer behaviour, are ideally suited to this continually burgeoning market.”