A boutique hotel is one of the best places to stay while travelling. It’s a great option if you want your own space, prefer not to stay in a hostel, or don’t have the money to pay for upscale accommodations. Halfway through the area are boutique hotels with top-notch amenities at a lower cost.
Have you considered opening your own boutique hotel? You’ll find all the information you need below if you’re an interested hotelier or contemplating converting your property into a boutique hotel.
What Exactly Is a Boutique Hotel?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a boutique hotel is “a beautiful little hotel, especially one placed in a stylish urban environment.” A boutique hotel has a distinct character, thoughtful design, décor, and personalised service.
The term “boutique hotel” is a relatively modern innovation, even though the notion is timeless. When they established the Morgans Hotel in New York City in 1984, famed hotel owner Ian Schrager and his partner Steve Rubell invented the phrase. The Morgans Hotel was more like a boutique: charming, fashionable, and creative, in contrast to the big-box hotels like Hilton and Marriott, which were compared to department stores.
Notwithstanding the possibility that Ian Schrager invented the term, some sources claim that the Clarion Bedford Hotel, which debuted in San Francisco in 1981, was the first boutique hotel. Like everything else, there is some competition between the east and west coasts.
Why Are Boutique Hotels Different From Regular Hotels?
Boutique hotels have a few more distinctive qualities, are significantly more individually tailored, and are more “niche” than regular hotels. Among them are:
Boutique Hotels
- Usually has between 10 and 100 rooms.
- Have a small, kinship-based crew.
- Think of closeness, richness, and comfort.
- Each boutique has family hotel rooms that are distinctive. Each is unique in fashion, cuisine, design, and other facets.
- They have greater freedom as they are privately owned and operated by a business person.
- Concentrate on including all the basic comforts and a few unexpected touches to increase the “wow factor.” They have in-suite dressing rooms, lavish bathtubs, and private balconies.
- Local knowledge and attention. Boutique hotels provide visitors with a more authentic flavour of their area.
- Most are in posh urban areas with good access to public transit.
Regular Hotels
- It might have between 100 and 1,000 rooms. As of December 21, 2020, the top-chain hotels in the United States have an average of 313.1 rooms.
- Ensure that you are comfortable overall.
- They are owned and run by a significant hotel company.
- The sites are often the same in size, furnishings, fashion, cuisine, etc.
- Handling washing, cleaning, check-ins, and check-outs requires a vast workforce.
- Just make sure the bare minimum is accessible.
- Provide the same quality of service and experience wherever you are.
The Features of Boutique Hotels
If you’re planning to create a boutique hotel, the following items should be on your list:
Elegant Design: The façade of a boutique hotel is either attractive and historic or cutting-edge and contemporary.
Personalised décor: Each boutique hotel has a distinctive design that complements the external decor and gives the inside a warm personality.
Fashionable eateries: Include a restaurant or bar in your boutique hotel to provide authentic, locally sourced regional food. Identifying the specialty ingredients and the nearby businesses they originate from might help your neighbourhood and your customers.
Individualised Service: Let guests customise their purchases and toiletries while living at your boutique hotel. You may differentiate your business by greeting consumers by name as soon as they arrive.
Local Culture: No matter where it is situated, your boutique hotel must help guests fit in with the locals. These must be presented in the best way possible, whether via locally made artwork, complimentary bicycles for your clients to explore the area, or a few brochures via a brochure maker offering local insider tips.
Size: If a boutique hotel has more than 100 hotel rooms, it will be challenging to create that “special something.” There may not be many accessible hotel rooms in boutique hotels overall. What matters is the calibre, not the quantity. The ultimate goal of your boutique hotel should be to inspire a sense of cosiness and intimacy.
Instead of adding more rooms, create a “community living space” where guests can gather, relax, and have fun.
Ways for Boutique Hotels to Succeed
Boutique hotels with individualised in-room service are still becoming more popular in many major cities and small towns across the globe. The items on the list below are what your boutique hotel has to have to stand out from the crowd:
- A stylish bar or lounge
- A modern salon or spa
- Contemporary furnishings and a cosy environment
- Customised and specialised services
- Gratuitous breakfast
- Pet-friendly
- Yoga courses or nature treks are unusual group activities.
If you like personalised service, unique design, and a sense of location, a boutique hotel might be your best choice. There could be a better option than a boutique hotel if you want a good deal, global loyalty benefits, or specific amenities. A boutique hotel is an excellent option for travel, investment, or building your own. Boutique hotels may provide character, service, and a distinctive feeling of place to travellers who want a more authentic local experience. A boutique hotel is the best option if you want to make the most of your vacation while maintaining your privacy.