Boutique hotels tips

When the Gansevoort hotel first opened back in 2004, the boutique property had no competition in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. “We were the only game in town, and it was just the right moment in time,” said Michael Achenbaum, the president and founder of the Gansevoort Hotel Group. That gave the boutique hotel a distinct advantage, as the neighborhood became arguably the nightlife capital in the aughts. The hotel — as well as other players, such as the restaurant Pastis and the lounge Lotus — helped speed up the growth of the Meatpacking District. But there was a tipping point. “I think there was a moment where it became too much, and the term ‘jump the shark’ was appropriate at the time,” Achenbaum said. Almost 20 years later, the neighborhood has morphed. More luxury shops like Gucci and Hermès have entered the space, Lotus is long gone, and packing plants are nowhere to be found — though Achenbaum believes there are still one or two left on the fringes of the district.

U.S.-based hospitality company Soul Community Planet has been growing its SCP Hotels brand at a modest clip, having reached 10 properties in only five years.

When Phil Hospod started his hospitality firm, Dovetail + Co, back in 2018, he was coming off some pretty big wins as part of the Sydell Group, helping launch the Freehand New York and The Line DC. Still, he knew he wanted to go out on his own.

The idea behind the family-owned boutique hotel brand, Maisons Pariente, when it launched in 2019, was to create intimate luxury hotels — each in extraordinary places. “Rather than build vacation homes, we designed homes that have everything to make you feel like you’re invited to a friend’s house,” said Kimberley Cohen, co-founder of Maisons Pariente.

At first glance, Faraway Nantucket, a 62-room boutique hotel created by the real estate investment and development firm Blue Flag Partners, may seem like just another shingle-clad property on the Massachusetts island. But take a step inside, and the interiors seem anything but traditional or ordinary.

Real estate development firm Quadrum Global said this week that it planned to bring The Williamsburg Hotel under its Arlo Hotels brand by September — having in April bought that boutique hotel in Brooklyn, New York, for $96 million.

Maison Brummell Majorelle – an 8-room design-driven boutique hotel located in Marrakech – balances contemporary sculptural design with a traditional Moroccan undertone to stand out to design-minded travelers coming to Morocco.

A handful of real estate investors are exploring how to combine hotels with members clubs — which typically charge an annual fee for access to co-working spaces, food and beverage offerings, and a fitness or wellness center. Yet blending a hotel with a club can be tricky, said Michael Achenbaum, the president and founder of the Gansevoort Hotel Group.

The founders of Urban Cowboy opened their first boutique hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in 2014 without a real plan. Little did they know they were starting a minor hotel empire.

When brothers Tony and Nate DeLois opened The Francis, a boutique hotel in Portland, Maine, back in 2017, they realized something was missing in the market. “There has been a lot of hotel development in the past 10 years in Portland, and every new hotel that has been built on the peninsula has been branded,” said Nate, the co-principal and chief financial officer of Uncommon Hospitality.

One of the most influential players among boutique hotels, Eagle Point Hotel Partners, didn’t set out in 2010 to sidestep the major global hotel brands. 

The Ozarks may have a branding problem. Built up in the ’80s and ’90s with big hotel chains and arguably kitschy attractions, Branson has garnered a reputation among some as “the Las Vegas of the Midwest” — just more family-friendly. But the team behind The Ozarker Lodge in Branson, Missouri, which opened June 30, has some fresh ideas.

U.S. hotel groups and developers have a red-hot interest in lifestyle hotels, soft-branded hotel collections, and independently-run boutique hotels. A new report suggests just how hot — even if actual development may not meet the loftiest goals.

Nik Feldman long believed that Lexington, Kentucky, was ready for a high-end boutique hotel.

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Tucked away on a quiet street in the heart of Paris’ fashionable Le Marais neighborhood, Maison Proust has become one of the city’s most spectacular gems. Opened at the start of the year, the 23-key boutique hotel pays homage to one of France’s literary legends while simultaneously celebrating La Belle Époque. And once you pass through its discreet doors, it’ll feel as though you’ve been transported back to the late 19th century, in all of its brilliance and intimacy, but without any pomp and circumstance.

If you’re looking for a stylish holiday without maxing the plastic, Sri Lanka has a burgeoning number of chic, affordable hotels and B&Bs. Here are some our favourite boutique hotels in Sri Lanka.