The Rush to Build Hotels Around Food

Key Points

• Minor Hotels is expanding its food-centric hotel strategy with two new brands, Colbert Collection and The Wolseley Hotels, aiming to appeal to travelers who value culinary experiences.
• The trend toward culinary-themed hotels is accelerating, with at least 15 such brands emerging post-pandemic, and financial data shows that hotels with acclaimed restaurants can command significant revenue premiums.
• Success for food-led hotel brands depends on market selection, with the best opportunities found in destinations lacking a strong independent restaurant scene, though competition is quickly increasing.

Summary

Minor Hotels is leading a growing trend in the hospitality industry by launching new food-centric hotel brands, such as the Colbert Collection and The Wolseley Hotels, which reposition hotels around culinary experiences rather than treating food as a mere amenity. This strategy is driven by shifting traveler preferences toward local and culturally immersive experiences, and is supported by financial evidence that high-end hotels with acclaimed restaurants outperform their peers. However, success depends on carefully choosing markets where quality independent dining is limited, and the rapid proliferation of similar brands means competitive pressures and operational complexities are rising for hoteliers.