Skift Take
Why did InterContinental Hotels Group want Kimpton so much? Here's a bit of history to explain where its interest came from.
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While hotels have always been gateways to a destination, the boutique/design/lifestyle hotel surge in the late 20th century elevated the urban hotel into a destination in and of itself.
The idea of a neighborhood hotel acting as a community portal with a strong local following became a market differentiator for an exciting batch of new hotel brands.
Read More: InterContinental Hotels Group to Acquire Kimpton Hotels for $430 Million
Within the last decade, the large global hotel brands have jumped on the trend, and there’s also a new wave of mid-market brands reimagining the localism trend for middle income brackets and secondary markets. Now, throughout the hospitality industry, there’s widespread realization that delivering a more immersive, layered travel experience for today’s more educated and connected traveler is, if not a necessity, a competitive advantage.
In the Beginning: Kimpton and Morgans Hotels
When Bill Kimpton launched his first Kimpton Hotel in San Francisco in 1981, and Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell unveiled their Morgans Hotel Group three
