BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Boutique hotel is a term originating in North America to describe intimate, usually luxurious or quirky hotel environments. Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from larger chain/branded hotels and motels by providing personalized level accommodation and services / facilities.

Sometimes known as "design hotels" or "lifestyle hotels," boutique hotels began in the 1980s in major cities like New York, London, and San Francisco. Very often it is the Morgans Hotel in Murray Hill of New York, that is awarded with the title of first boutique hotel in the world. It was opened by Ian Schrager in 1984 according to design of Andrée Putnam.

Typically boutique hotels are furnished in a themed, stylish and/or aspirational manner. Although usually considerably smaller than a mainstream hotel (often ranging from 3 to 100 guest rooms), boutique hotels can often have hundreds of rooms in major cities. Guest rooms and suites are fitted with telephony and Wi-Fi Internet, air-conditioning, honesty bars and often cable/pay TV. Guest services are attended to by 24 hour hotel staff. Many boutique hotels have on-site dining facilities, and the majority offer bars and lounges which may also be open to the general public.

Despite this definition, the popularity of the boutique term and concept has lead to some confusion about the term. Boutique hotels have typically been unique properties operated by individials or companies with a small collection. However, their successes have prompted established multi-national hotel companies to establish their own brands. The most notable is Starwood Hotels and Resorts' W Hotels.

Currently, there is one publication dedicated to the boutique hotel, boutique DESIGN magazine, which is published quarterly. Boutique hotel resources are more commonly available online and there are a number of sytlized design and coffee table books highlighting various properties throughout the world.

UK boutique hotels

Some examples:

• The Sanderson in London's West End is a former paint and wallpaper manufacturer
• The Art House in Glasgow was built in 191 and restored in 1999
• K-West in Shepherd's Bush was until the mid 1990s, the BBC's Kensington House
• Montagu Place Hotel in Marylebone, London. Refurbushed in May 2006.

USA boutique hotels

• 60 Thompson in New York City's SoHo district
• Soho Grand also in NYC's SoHo district
• Sunnyledge in Pittsburgh

Boutique Hotels Representation Companies

• Epoque Hotels [1]
• Design Hotels [2]
• Small Luxury Hotels [3]
• Leading Hotels of The World[4]
• Rusticae [5]

This business-related article is a stub. You can help by expanding it.