Kimpton could have been a fabulous acquisition but IHG never understood what to do with it, and they were the wrong chain to pull it off.

No one really talks about the Kimpton brand anymore. It used to be buzzy.

People used to go out of their way to stay at Kimpton. And they’d pay a premium to do so.

Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, Miami Beach

What’s interesting about Kimpton was that they were more than just ’boutique’ they had a sense of place and style. They spoke to the narrative guests have about themselves. People wanted to stay there and felt better about themselves because of it – and as a result they could earn a real revenue premium.

Furthermore, their restaurants were actually good. They were places you’d go eat even if you were a local. I used to brunch at Kimptons when I lived in D.C. (back when they were still independent).

They weren’t just creating spaces to sell food and beverage to guests, offering lowest common denominator food that would work regardless of who at there, sort of like the median airport restaurant.

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