Boutique hotel
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Boutique hotels are small-inventory, design-driven hotels.[jargon][United States-centric] Positioning is secondary for these hotels as they focus on authenticity and personalization.[clarification needed] They focus on providing enriching experiences centered around elements such as nature and environment, cuisine, history, community and cultural immersion, attentive service, and well-being.[1]
History
Boutique hotels first began appearing in the 1980s in major cities like London, New York, and San Francisco. Two of the first opened in 1981: Blakes Hotel in South Kensington, London (designed by Anouska Hempel) and the Bedford in Union Square, San Francisco (The first in a series of 34 boutique hotels currently operated by the Kimpton Group). Although there is some debate as to whether it was the first boutique hotel, Morgans, founded by Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell in New York City, is the most notable of the era; it debuted in 1984. San Francisco & Los Angeles boutique hoteliers, Paul Ruffino, Charles Mosser & Chip Connely were engaged in what was an East Coast/West Coast debate over who coined the phrase. Many claims have been made.[2]
Major hotel chains have recognized the potential for growth in the luxury boutique sector and have responded by creating sub-brands. These sub-brands are aimed at capitalizing on the demand for unique and personalized experiences. Furthermore, some hotel chains have introduced a concept known as "soft brands." This allows independent hotel owners to leverage the expertise, brand recognition, and distribution capabilities of established hotel chains while maintaining the distinct concept, character, and design of their hotels.[3] [4]
Description
Many boutique hotels are furnished in a themed, stylish, and/or aspirational[5] manner with distinctive concepts, often reflecting the local culture and neighborhoods in which the hotels reside in. The popularity of the boutique concept has prompted some multi-national hotel companies to try to capture a market share.[5] In the United States, New York City remains an important center for boutique hotels clustered about Manhattan.[6] Some members of the hospitality industry are following the general "no-frill chic" consumer trend, with affordable or budget boutique hotels being created all around the world.[7] Boutique hotels are commonly found in London, New York City, Miami, New Orleans and Los Angeles. They are also found in resort destinations with exotic amenities such as electronics, spas, yoga and painting classes.[8]
References
- ^ "Boutique Hotel, what does it mean". 8 August 2020. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ Rosner, Cheryl. "What is a boutique hotel?". blog.stayful.com/. Stayful. Archived from the original on 2017-06-24. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ^ "History of Boutique Hotels". Retrieved 2017-03-08.
- ^ uhttps://str.com/resourcesglossary/soft-brand-hotels
- ^ a b "The Boutique Hotel: Fad or Phenomenon" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ Levenson, Eugenia (2007-11-12). "Road Warrior: Michelin Guide's Jean-Luc Naret". CNN. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "No-frills chic hits the hospitality industry". Archived from the original on 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ "The Definition of Boutique Hotels – Written By: Lucienne Anhar – HVS International". Retrieved 2014-04-03.
