A late checkout often goes hand-in-hand with a great vacation where a good time—perhaps too good a time—was had by all. The Ritz-Carlton collaborated with Madrid-based fashion brand Late Checkout to capture this joyful, carefree spirit via an exclusive capsule collection that includes everything from classic crewnecks to cozy navy joggers.

Designed with leisure and long nights in mind, each piece bearing The Ritz-Carlton lion or flag insignia plays into the sartorial narrative developed by the Spanish label. “Our brand is a fictional hotel where several characters cross paths—from the staff to the guests who come and go, each collection tells a new story,” explains Alex Turrión, Late Checkout’s creative director, who often references classic cinema when crafting this fantastical world.

To celebrate the collection, The Ritz-Carlton and Turrión teamed up with director Rogelio González to create a campaign film starring Josh Hutcherson, an American actor renowned for his leading role in The Hunger Games series. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, a sky-grazing sanctuary perched more than 100 floors above Victoria Harbour, serves as the stunning backdrop. “We needed to shoot in an iconic location,” says Turrión. “I remember the first time I saw the view from my room on the 117^th floor, I completely freaked out at how small the rest of the city looked.” 

Taking inspiration from real-life magical moments masterminded by members of The Ritz-Carlton staff to surprise and delight guests, the film chronicles the adventures of a diligent employee (played by Hutcherson) and Mr. Wong, a frazzled father of two who retreats to The Ritz-Carlton when his house floods. “We wanted to present some comic situations to show how good, even magical, a hotel experience can be by focusing on an employee who is almost like a guardian angel solving every problem,” says Turrión. Naturally, scene-stealing pieces from The Ritz-Carlton x Late Checkout collection make multiple cameos.

“As a brand whose whole aesthetic revolves around hotels, collaborating with The Ritz-Carlton and being able to add our unique vision and narrative is a dream come true and a full-circle moment,” says Turrión. “Throughout the campaign video, the idea of leaving better than you came is shared, which is [a concept] both Late Checkout and The Ritz-Carlton embrace. We just want your day to be a bit better by wearing our clothes.”

Here, Turrión takes you behind the scenes of the exclusive collection and reveals his favorite excuse for a late checkout.

The Ritz-Carlton is known for its unique blend of luxury, heritage, innovation, and craftsmanship. How do you incorporate these elements into your designs?

“Quality and attention to small details are among our main goals when designing our collections … I also like to create from a sense of nostalgia and past eras, looking back and bringing those ideas into our designs while making them contemporary and adapted to the times we are living in.”

What was your inspiration for Late Checkout: A Ritz-Carlton Story?

“We wanted this collection to embody the heritage of The Ritz-Carlton from every angle. We stuck to the brand’s iconic colors and gradients of blue, keeping the lion as the central element and incorporating timeless hotel imagery like the gold and blue flag. We also included some of our signature details, such as the key zipper and classic buttons. The goal was for the collection to represent fictional uniforms from the hotel while being completely wearable in everyday life.”

What are your favorite pieces in the line?

“My personal favorites are the blue zipper jacket and the light blue V-neck jumper. The best piece for traveling, without a doubt, is the navy tracksuit. It’s ultra-comfortable!”

What are the essential items that you never travel without?

“A book, my Nintendo 3DS, chewing gum, and acidic candies. I love sour straws and green Skittles! I also can’t sleep without an eye mask, so that’s important too.”

What was the last great trip you took?

“My last great trip was to Hong Kong to shoot this campaign. Most of the team who worked with us on this trip are also my friends, so being able to do this project surrounded by [loved ones] in such an amazing city is a blessing. A few months earlier, I spent Christmas in Japan. For an all-kinda-stuff collector like me, it was heaven on earth! I went home with a couple extra bags.”

How do you unwind on vacation so that you return home refreshed?

“Completely disconnecting is impossible but I try to immerse myself in the place I’m in and do what I feel like in each moment, avoiding planned schedules and going with the flow every day. If you feel like going to the same place two days in a row, eating more than once at a restaurant because you loved it the first time, or skipping a city’s main attraction, do it. I like leaving a place thinking I need to come back.”

What is the best reason to ask for a late checkout?

“Obviously, a great (and long!) night, which usually involves a good dinner with friends, some drinks afterward, nice music, lots of laughs, and forgetting to check the time.”