Boutique hotel trends

Instead of taking a page of history to reflect the theme of the inn, today’s boutique hotels and B&B’s of late are getting sleeker, more upscale, and high tech to meet the demands of modern travelers who are style-conscious, food-oriented and tech-savvy.

Because they can (and should), boutique hotels are taking advantage of their flexibility to offer a more distinctive experience. Here are some important trends in the industry that appeal to travelers:

Experiences:
A significant trend towards offering B&B in distinctive, design-led properties with a range of added service and experiences available, such as visiting chefs, wine tastings etc.

Authenticity, Sustainability:
Boutique hotels are particularly suited to conversions of historic or interesting buildings. By doing this with sensitivity to the materials used and the original structure, they can be among the most sustainable and authentic hotels in terms of the built environment.

Technology:
It’s important for boutique hotels to offer technology that is better, or at least as good as the guest would have in their home. But it also has to make sense by being user friendly and practical. The technology must also mesh with heritage buildings, and not clash with its surroundings.

The Wall Street Journal noted some good examples of this trend… “An escape from the traditional” is the slogan of the Modern B&B in Houston. All rooms have flat-screens and Wi-Fi and vegan-friendly breakfast. Converted from a 19th century brothel/sailor tavern, The Inn at 2920 in Baltimore now has an urban-chic vibe. The eco-friendly, five-room B&B touts flat-screens, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, full limestone baths, free Wi-Fi and complimentary breakfast. The Lafayette House in New York blends 1840s row house in the now-hip Bowery neighborhood with modern photography and state-of-the-art bathrooms, well-curated mini-bars and working gas fireplaces.

Not a fan of traditional inns, Andy Spade, founder of the Jack Spade accessories label and husband of designer Kate Spade, plans to open what he calls a “B&B hybrid” in downtown Manhattan, and has his sights on a building that would be broken into full-floor lofts. The innkeeper will be more akin to a concierge, “invisible until needed,” he says. Lodgers will be able to provide advance grocery and liquor lists, and would be free to use the kitchen and bar stash 24-7. Will be interesting to see this vision some to life.