The term “boutique hotel” has gained popularity in recent years, but what does it mean and why stay in one?

Several companies assert their expertise in boutique hotels. They define boutique hotels as unaffiliated with national or international chains. These hotels distinguish themselves through unique design, location, or special features. Many hotels strive for boutique status, but not all succeed. Genuine boutique hotels display four key elements.

Size

Large hotels can be cool, trendy, and chic, but they can’t be boutique. The term “boutique” describes small, design-focused specialist shops and applies similarly to hotels.

Hotels that label themselves as “boutique” or have this label ascribed to them are typically small, often with fewer than 50 rooms and sometimes as few as one or two. Their size contributes to the unique atmosphere and personalized service that set them apart. While the number of rooms is a defining factor, it doesn’t mean the rooms themselves must be small. In fact, a hotel that could easily house 20 rooms might opt to create just ten, making them spacious and luxurious to cater to the boutique market.

Design

In 1984, hotel entrepreneurs Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell opened the first boutique hotel in New York. The hotel received praise for its original design and quirky nature. They designed Morgans for travelers who wanted to actively engage in their travel. Morgans and subsequent hotels challenged traditional hotel concepts. Though Schrager now avoids the term “boutique,” it applies to hotels following his design philosophy. Boutique hotels range from clean and contemporary to themed rooms and classic elegance. They must have a clear design theme and attention to detail.

Service

The hallmark of an excellent boutique hotel is its service. Whether the hotel chooses to assign a personal butler to each guest, or just hires and trains staff to anticipate your every need, the service at a boutique hotel is really what it should be at any hotel: ensuring that your stay goes without a hitch, that you can get transport, opera tickets or excellent meals when you want them and making you feel at home rather than feeling like you’re a nuisance. Scattered all over the world, boutique hotels grace 24-hour cities like New York, London, and Rio De Janeiro. You can also find them in island havens in the Indian or Pacific Oceans.

What often sets them apart are the buildings that contain them. From former plantation houses to old textile mills, towers and palazzos, the type of building often forms the basis of the design and it is the blend of architecture, design and service that turns what could be just another hotel into a boutique one.

Facts Fbout Boutique Hotels

• Hotel entrepreneurs Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell opened New York’s first boutique hotel in 1984 named Morgans.
• Morgans was praised for its original design and quirky nature, and was designed for travelers who wanted to actively participate in their travel experience.
• Morgans, and subsequent hotels inspired by it, challenged traditional hotel concepts.
• Ian Schrager now does not classify his hotels as boutique.
• The term “boutique hotel” has been applied to hotels with a strong design focus, following Schrager’s style.
• Boutique hotels feature a clear design theme and meticulous attention to detail.
• These hotels can range from clean and contemporary to themed rooms and classic elegance.

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