Boutique Hotels

Boutique hotel is a term popularized in North America and the United

Kingdom to describe intimate, usually luxurious or unique hotel environments.
Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from larger chain/branded hotels and
motels by providing personalized accommodation and services / facilities.
Sometimes known as "design hotels" or "lifestyle hotels", boutique hotels began
appearing in the 1980s in major cities like London, New York, and San Francisco.
Typically boutique hotels are furnished in a themed, stylish and/or aspirational
manner. They usually are considerably smaller than mainstream hotels, often
ranging from 3 to 50 guest rooms.
Boutique hotels are believed to have been invented in the early 1980s.
Two of the first boutique hotels in the world opened their doors to the public in
1981: The Blakes Hotel in South Kensington, London (designed by celebrity stylist
Anouska Hempel) and the Bedford in Union Square, San Francisco (the first in a
series of 34 boutique hotels currently operated under the flag of one of the most
eminent players in the boutique hotel world today, the Kimpton Group). In 1984, Ian
Schrager opened his first boutique hotel in Murray Hill in New York City: the Morgans
Hotel, designed by French stylist Andre Putnam.
The definition of a boutique hotel varies, especially among the hotel
industry's primary players. However, the majority of boutique hotel operators,
creators, and owners can all agree on the following primary features of boutique
hotels:

-Service:The question that blurs the meaning of boutique hotels is, "Does
size matter?" Most boutique hotel "celebrities" insist that it does, and that boutique
hotels are properties that do not exceed 150 rooms. They believe that what
distinguishes boutique hotels from standardized hotels is the connection that hotel
guests experience with members of the hotel staff. Most of these hotels impose the
acknowledgment of guest names by all hotel staff members, an experience that is
clearly difficult to achieve in a large-scale hotel.Nevertheless, Ian Schrager, founder
and president of Ian Schrager Hotels, which currently comprises approximately
3,000 guestrooms in nine properties, is among those who do not believe in this
commonly accepted facet of the typical boutique hotel. With creative people as his
target market, he defines "boutique" as an approach and attitude, with no regard to
hotel size. Personalized service does not appear to be important at Schrager
properties, especially in his "biggies," such as the Paramount Hotel (594 rooms) and
the Henry Hudson Hotel (821) rooms. Instead, Schrager hotels place the emphasis
on entertaining their guests by creating a theatrical atmosphere that attracts all
senses: through architecture, design, colors, lighting, art, and music.
Bibliography : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boutique_hotel
The Definition of Boutique Hotels:
Written By Lucienne Anhar

-Target Market:Boutique hotels generally target customers who are in

their early 20s to mid-50s, with mid- to upper-income averages.

Bibliography : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boutique_hotel
The Definition of Boutique Hotels:
Written By Lucienne Anhar