The term "boutique hotel" originated about 40 years ago in San Francisco, America. Bill Kimpton, who founded his chain - Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group, is considered an innovator in this field. The group gradually grew to include 34 hotels and 29 restaurants. In late 2014, the chain was acquired by InterContinental Hotels Group for $430 million.
In this article, we will present some basic characteristics of this concept, we will tell you which hotel chains around the world have their own boutique brands, and finally we will recommend 5 special boutique hotels in Bulgaria.
Small hotel
Most hospitality experts agree that a hotel must be relatively small—10 to 100 rooms—to be defined as boutique.
Personal attitude
Guests who stay regularly in such hotels are looking for personal treatment. They want to be recognized at every subsequent stay, which is difficult to achieve in large business hotels.
Part of a larger hotel
Some large hotels have a separate boutique wing - it has its own lobby, reception and interior design. An interesting example of such a boutique hotel is the Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Modern furnishings and dynamic atmosphere
Boutique hotels rely on bold colors in the rooms and interesting accents in the lobbies.
Due to the presence of young guests, the common areas are designed in such a way that there is an opportunity to socialize between them. This adds greatly to the dynamic atmosphere.
Location in the heart of the city
Many boutique hotels are located in the city center, close to restaurants and bars. For this reason, they are super convenient for immersing yourself in the city's nightlife. As we wrote in a previous article, some of them even organize parties with a DJ.
Focus on local food and drink
Local food and drinks occupy a major part of the menu of the restaurant or bar in the boutique hotel. Also upon departure, guests can receive an authentic local souvenir as a memento.
Doors open for pets
Most boutique hotels are not so strict with pets and open their doors to them. This is due to the appropriate flooring – few of them are furnished with the typical carpet in the rooms of large business hotels.
Some people consider boutique hotels to be a movement, while others consider them to be a separate category.
Whatever it is, it's sure to stick around and evolve over time as it gains more and more popularity. The concept has caught on so much that major hotel chains have their own boutique brands. They occupy an important part in their global portfolio because they are trying to reach the younger demographic segment.
Distinctive features are the colorful motifs in the lobby bars, the non-standard common areas, even the presence of jigs and pool tables, for the purpose of socializing. Some global chains are even betting more and more on boutique hotel brands and accordingly have not one, but two such brands. Examples of this are Marriott and InterContinental. Here is a list of boutique brands of global hotel chains:
Aloft and Moxy, on the Marriott
Indigo and Even, at the InterContinental
Canopy, on Hilton
Tryp, of Wyndham
Bulgaria also has interesting boutique hotels, not only in the big cities, but also in smaller towns and in the mountains. Our recommendations for the most exciting places to stay around the country are as follows:
HillHouse Plovdiv
Address: 27 Soborna St
The history of this house is long and full of ups and downs. It is not by chance that we end with the word "rises" - we believe that the house is in good hands. This is evident from the incredible work that has gone into transforming this cultural monument from a crumbling house into the jewel it is today. You can read more details about the story on the official website of the guest house. What we can say is that the location is unique and the furnishings are wonderful. An extremely impressive detail are the sketches above the beds with sights from the city. A wine cellar is located in the basement of the house, often used for presentations, celebrations and organizing events. The ratings and reviews online speak volumes - this is a place in Plovdiv that must be visited!
Hotel mOdus Varna
Address: 46 Stefan Stambolov St
The name of the hotel is derived from the Latin phrase Modus vivendi, which means "Way of Life". And such a lifestyle is definitely exclusive.
Located at the entrance to the Sea Garden in Varna, 100 meters from Varna's central beach and pedestrian zone, the mOdus hotel building could not be better located.
Each of the 37 rooms is individually furnished with custom-made furniture. The dominant colors are chocolate and ivory, well accented with Egge rugs with original motifs by the designer Marco Piva. The bathrooms are unique, but at the same time very practical.
Boutique hotel Promenade, Burgas
Address: "Knyaz Al" str. Battenberg" 32
The Promenade boutique hotel has a unique location - right next to the Sea Garden in Burgas. The area is home to the city's most popular restaurants. We are impressed by the style of the reception and the design of the bathrooms. And the view from the bathtub in the bathroom to the sea is an advantage that cannot simply be described in a list of amenities. The service and amenities in the rooms are at an extremely high level, which is confirmed by the high ratings and positive comments in the accommodation platforms.
Casa Art Hotel Oreshak, near Troyan
Address: 44 Stara Planina St
Casa Art Hotel in the village of Oreshak, 6 km. from Troyan, in the direction of the Troyan monastery, is a project that intertwines interior design, furniture showroom, art workshops and celebrations. The lovely garden is the perfect place for relaxation and privacy if you want to escape the big city for the weekend. There you can enjoy fresh air and amazing nature, whether you are going for a family vacation, a company meeting or a group training session. Each room has its own distinctive style of furnishing. This place caught our attention for the simple reason that all the activities it combines have been achieved with a lot of love, work and attention to detail.
Amira Boutique Hotel Bansko
Address: 10 Stragite St
Amira in Bansko is a boutique hotel in the classic sense of the word. It is located extremely close to the cable car. After a long day on the slopes, you can jump to the Spa area or the indoor pool. A distinctive feature is the coziness in the common areas of the hotel, as well as the color accents in the rooms. Hotel Amira has a children's corner for free play and an area for creative workshops. It is recommended not only by us but also by hundreds of people in reviews online.
