The lodging industry is one of the oldest businesses that exist in this world. It has been around since people began to travel from one place to another for trade and other purposes. What began as the need of the hour – rest and shelter during long journeys – soon grew into an industry that offered comfort, convenience, and even luxury to its guests. For example, the Greeks built thermal baths that allowed their guests to rest and recover. The Romans built palatial mansions for travellers, while the caravanserais along the famous Silk Road from Turkey to China offered refuge not only for men but also for their beasts.
In the 21st century, hotels have become a flourishing business that has become an inseparable part of the travel industry. Styles range from quirky estates to basic youth hostels, and all-inclusive honeymoon resorts to quaint country inns.
However, as competition grew and hotels began to offer standard services throughout the chain, the need for something innovative arose in the market. People, tired of impersonal services, began to move towards smaller hotels that offered personalized attention and unique experiences.
And so the hotel industry’s favorite was born: boutique hotels. Today, they are the most sought after stay option by leisure travelers and the quintessential name in exclusivity. More and more people are choosing to stay in boutique hotels, because they are almost always guaranteed to have a great time and get great value for their money.
Given their popularity, it’s worth taking a look at the fascinating history of boutique hotels and following their evolution over time.
History of Boutique Hotels
The first boutique hotels appeared in the early 1980s, with the first two being The Blakes Hotel in South Kensington, London, and the Bedford in Union Square, San Francisco. However, the term ’boutique hotel’ appeared much later, in 1984, coined by Steve Rubell. He likened his own establishment, Morgans Hotel, to a small boutique, obviously wanting to highlight its exclusivity and differentiate it from other hotels that were springing up everywhere, like monolithic department stores.
This is not to say that boutique hotels are a modern invention. There are many documented instances of similar lodging experiences dating back to the 13th century, when waypoints for travelers were established in Mongolia and China.
Here are a few more examples of unique boutique hotels that were popular in those days:
- In 1705, César Ritz opened a boutique hotel on the Place Vendôme, earning him high praise from King Edward VII, who called it “king of hoteliers and hotelier of kings”.
- In 1822, the Venetian artist Giuseppe Rubino transformed an old palace into a beautiful hotel and called it “il Rubino”.
- In 1880, the Sagamore Hotel in Lake George (in the state of New York) became the first to provide electricity to each of its rooms, creating quite a stir among visitors at the time.
- In 1900, Edouard Niiermans, known as the “architect of palaces”, transformed the summer residence of Emperor Napoleon III, the Villa “Eugenie”, into a beautiful and exclusive hotel.
- In 1919, Barcelona inaugurated an elegant hotel that was equipped with hot and cold water in its bathrooms.
As you can see, there have been numerous times throughout the history of the hospitality industry where hoteliers applied creativity and delivered world-class services to stay ahead of the competition and offer something extraordinary to their visitors.
XXI Century Boutique Hotel – Characteristics that Distinguish it
Today, the term ’boutique hotel’ is used to describe small establishments with around 150 rooms. They are privately owned, or part of a small group of hotels, and are best known for their iconic, memorable and sometimes eccentric design themes. The boutique hotel concept became a trend after hotelier Ian Schrager and French designer Philippe Starck used unique designs to build their hotels. And now, it has become a flourishing industry of its own, complete with unique features and qualities.
Below are some of the most important.
Size does matter
Boutique hotels are generally considered small, but they are not in the same category as Bed and Breakfast hotels or homestays that have fewer than 10 rooms. Boutique hotels can have up to 150 rooms, making them appear smaller compared to most chain hotels.
However, it is this intimate scale that helps create a home environment with a lot of peace and privacy. These cozy properties often have a common “living space” where guests can sit and interact with one another.
personality says a lot
Since boutique hotels are independently owned and not affiliated with any big chain, they are a brand unto themselves. They have a distinctive vibe that sets them apart from others. It is its unique personality and the absence of classic solutions that guests find refreshing, attracting more and more people to boutique hotels.
design by wish
Boutique hotels are known for their intriguing interiors, which are often created by leading designers and architects. Generally speaking, these niche hotels tend to maintain an upscale look, blending historic elegance with chic details. The decor exudes a progressive style and the overall design can range from contemporary and quaint to homey and artsy. Each room is individually decorated, complete with exclusive amenities and luxury bedding.
It’s all in the charm
You know how you walk into a grand hotel, but nothing really spectacular or interesting jumps out at you? Boutique hotels have none of that and the first thing that strikes you is their eccentric personality. They are funky, modern and unconventional. For example, the Hotel Monaco in Washington DC will bring a goldfish in a tank to your room, if you don’t have a pet of your own.
beautiful location
While there are no hard and fast rules about where a boutique hotel should be located, it’s no coincidence that the best ones have a great location going for them. When designing boutique hotels, most hoteliers choose the most modern and fun places to locate them. You can even find them in upscale neighborhoods, away from the hustle and bustle, but still close to the city’s attractions and highlights. Another popular choice for boutique hotels would be in areas far from the city, in the lap of nature and surrounded by lush greenery.
excellent service
One of the most distinctive features of boutique hotels is the highly personalized and exclusive services they provide to their guests. The staff is courteous and friendly and will likely know your name from day one. The hotel offers bespoke luxury amenities such as an extensive pillow menu, custom toiletries, and a variety of relaxing spa services. A sumptuous food and beverage menu is also a distinctive part of a boutique hotel. All of these services combined create a unique, upscale experience for guests.
Delicious dining options
Another feature that makes boutique hotels stand out from other hotels is their significant focus on creating extraordinary restaurants and bars that are modern and trendy. These hotels have a great reputation of their own, which is independent of conventional star ratings. Thanks to their appeal, they can draw crowds not only locally, but also globally.
As you can see, there are a number of reasons why boutique hotels are rapidly gaining in popularity with travelers who demand more than comfort and convenience in their stay options. They want to be surprised, they want to experience something new, something completely different from what ordinary hotels offer. In fact, these days, if you’re not staying in a boutique hotel, you’re considered old-fashioned.
I do not mean to imply in any way that hotels are dull or boring. There are excellent hotels all over the world that offer out of the world service to their guests. However, boutique hotels break the traditional mold and refuse to be boxed in by the usual standards. Offering visitors style, distinction, intimacy and warmth, they leave guests with an experience they can treasure forever. And isn’t that what hotels set out to do in the first place?
