BLLA’s Stay Boutique Live – Investment Edition
Stay Boutique™ | June 19, 2019
All Things Independent
Educating the Boutique Community: Take-Aways from Stay Boutique Leadership Conference
Frances Kiradjian | December 20, 2017
By Frances Kiradjian In line with our continued efforts to educate the people who make the world of boutique hotels go 'round, BLLA hosts many annual conferences designed to connect and inspire the community. In our first branded 'Stay Boutique' Leadership Conference, the association curated a lineup of speakers that included the CEOs of powerhouse hospitality groups like sbe, Viceroy, The Hospital Club, h.Wood Group, and many others. Major take-aways from the three-day meeting: A leader not only leads his team to success on paper, but fosters an environment where his or her employees feel proud of and invested in the work they are pr...
Hotel Industry Pillars: You Sleep, You Dine
Georges Panayotis | November 7, 2017
By Georges Panayotis The two pillars of the hotel industry are accommodations and restaurants. A fresh wind is also blowing on the catering industry, with newcomers and changes in customer expectations and practices. The days when pubs served a single menu to employees at lunchtime and great dishes of French gastronomy graced starred table are fading. The Food & Beverages sector is emerging in a new light, sometimes with determination. Here again, digital companies such as Deliveroo, are multiplying the catchment area of restaurateurs without forgetting to take a substantial commission - any resemblance to hospitality players is not...
Scent of a Lobby
Benoit Gateau-Cumin | October 26, 2017
By Benoit Gateau-Cumin Have you noticed, in recent years, that little "je ne sais quoi" that feels so familiar when you step into the lobby of a luxe hotel? Is it that all the beautiful women are exquisitely made up and perfumed? Or does it feel more like getting off the elevator at Neiman Marcus' cosmetics floor? Your olfactory senses are hijacked by the cacophony of fragrances at Neiman Marcus: they are there to "perfume" you, hoping you will like and buy. The chic hotel has a totally different approach and goal: it wants to seduce you, to relax you, to make you happy, maybe giddy, to make you feel plush. You feel like inhaling deeply...
BLLA’s 2017 Stay Boutique Awards Presented to Industry Executives & Innovators
BLLA | October 23, 2017
Each fall, the boutique community comes together to honor the finest people and projects on their contributions that are disrupting the industry Los Angeles, October 19, 2017 - The Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) presented the 8th annual Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Awards at a ceremony and celebration on October 5th during the organization's annual Stay Boutique Leadership Conference. The Awards, now branded as the Stay Boutique Awards, recognize leaders, innovators and icons in every corner of the boutique, lifestyle and luxury worlds. Founded in 2010, the Stay Boutique Awards originally served to recognize lea...
BLLA Redefines the Meaning of Boutique Hospitality at Annual Stay Boutique Leadership Conference, in Los Angeles
the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) | October 11, 2017
Industry Powerhouses Come Together to Discuss Future of Luxury, the Boutique Concept and What Hospitality Means for 2018 Los Angeles – Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) successfully closed its 2017 Annual Stay Boutique Leadership Conference held at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center last week. Over 230 attendees and 56 speakers came together to dissect the boutique and lifestyle industries and divulge into the boutique movement, by redefining what the industry means and where it is heading in 2018. At the forefront of this movement, BLLA is redefining what hospitality is by further merging the fashion, lifestyle, ...
Elevate Your F&B Game at the Stay Boutique Leadership Conference!
Frances Kiradjian | October 2, 2017
Once upon a time, planning and budgeting for food and beverage was almost an afterthought in the process of running a hotel. But ever since the sea change brought about by boutique and luxury lifestyle hotels, on-site bars and restaurants have been linchpins of the hotel sector; and today your hotel brand could perhaps be said to live and die on the quality of its food and beverage offering. It's an important factor in attracting potential hotel guests, for whom the quality of these services may well be paramount; but also the increasingly large share of revenue coming from outside patrons, who may be drawn to your establishment as a de...
Small Brands Are Defined by Big Stories
Michael Tall | September 19, 2017
By Michael Tall The boutique hotel customer is looking for a certain type of experience that transcends a bed in a room. This traveler is looking for a broader experience that is driven by authenticity and discovery. These two aspects directly play into a boutique hotel's story. For a hotel to be authentic, it needs to relate to something real and relevant with significant meaning. This can be achieved through its relevance to the local neighborhood, or its representation of a time period or style—if done correctly and genuinely. Defining a fully-developed story behind the hotel's unique brand identity can convey a greater sense o...
Boutique Hotels Driving Trends
Frances Kiradjian | August 24, 2017
By Frances Kiradjian Even for an industry known for being in a constant state of flux, the hospitality industry was barely prepared for the sea change that came over it with the arrival of boutique and luxury lifestyle hotels two decades ago. The repercussions of that change are still being felt today, as the boutique sector has consistently remained a driving force for changing trends in the hotel industry. From design havens to signature restaurants and a focus of local suppliers, many of the big stories of recent years have originated in the boutique and luxury lifestyle environment. This is due in no small part to the independence o...
Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) Launches Stay Boutique™ Leadership Conference in Los Angeles
the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) | August 22, 2017
Inaugural Conference to Connect Boutique Powerhouse Brands and Hospitality Innovators for Three-Day Event, Oct. 3-5 Los Angeles – August 22, 2017 – This October, BLLA is disrupting the boutique space with the launch of the Stay Boutique™ Leadership Conference, replacing the association's annual Leadership Symposium. Designed to congregate the leaders and influencers in the community, the new conference will take the boutique and lifestyle sector to new heights, dissect the "new boutique mindset" and forecast ahead to what boutique means for 2018. Hotel pioneers, lifestyle authorities and hospitality innovators will gat...
Dream Training Programs for Boutique Hotels
BLLA | August 9, 2017
By Frances Kiradjian Training is one of those things that just about everyone agrees is a good idea on paper. But in the hectic day-to-day business of running a hotel, the dream of establishing a formalized training program often takes a back seat in favor of "learning on the job". This latter solution, apparently saving time, is no substitute for a well-formulated staff training program. Let's look at some of the reasons why. BLLA is gearing up to launch the boutique hospitality program in collaboration with UCLA Extension and would love your input on the challenges and needs of the hospitality world. Follow this link to complete a bri...
A Look at the Future of the Boutique Hotel Industry: BLLA’s 2017 Sentiment Survey Results Revealed
Frances Kiradjian | July 7, 2017
By Frances Kiradjian A little insight is a valuable thing in the hospitality industry, and the value of comparing notes and getting an overview on the industry in general and broader trends is huge. These kinds of insights are also one of the reasons BLLA is such a useful organization to be part of for the Boutique & Lifestyle sector. And nowhere is this clearer than in our annual Sentiment Survey, an essential overview of the state of this thriving area of the hospitality industry. We reached out to you, our ever-expanding network of more than 1,000 of the finest Boutique & Lifestyle hoteliers, to find out the truth about the s...
Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs to Make Fall 2017 Debut in California
Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs | June 29, 2017
Soaring to new heights in Palm Springs is Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs, now accepting reservations in anticipation of its opening this fall. The seven-story, 153-room urban desert escape anchors the city's major downtown revitalization project and features Palm Springs' first and only rooftop pool, two restaurants and two bars, serene views of the majestic San Jacinto Mountains, and inspiring spaces for meetings & events. The first full-scale hotel built in the area in decades and Kimpton's first project in the Palm Springs market, Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs is a celebration of the desert's organic, rugged beauty artfully bala...
The Complexities of Boutique Hotel Development
Frances Kiradjian | June 22, 2017
By Frances Kiradjian The complexities of boutique hotel development were discussed by an illustrious panel of hotel-industry luminaries at the fifth annual BLLA Boutique Hotel Investment Conference New York. Moderated by Jay Newman, chief operating officer of The Athens Group, the panel featured Michael Fuerstman, co-founder of Pendry Hotels, a new luxury brand from Montage Hotels & Resorts; Allie Hope, head of development and acquisitions at Virgin Hotels; Matthew Livian, SVP and CIO of Sydell Group; Chris Pardo, co-founder of Arrive Hotels; and Jason Pomeranc, chief executive officer of The Pomeranc Group. The panelists were asked...
Why Are Other Industries Attracted to the Boutique Hotel Sector?
Frances Kiradjian | June 16, 2017
By Frances Kiradjian One of the many exciting things about the boutique hotel world is its ability to absorb exciting elements from disparate areas—from the art world to music, fashion and cuisine—anything it can harness to add character and interest to a hotel's offering. And this diversity of influences was highlighted this week at the BLLA Boutique Hotel Investment Conference, where a panel of luminaries from very different backgrounds converged to discuss their shared interest in the boutique space. Chaired by Gettys Group president Andrew Fay, the panel featured David Bowd, principal of West Elm Hotels; Tony Kurz, CEO o...
Major Hospitality Powerhouses Reveal Key Trends at Annual Boutique Hotel Investment Conference (BLLA)
BLLA | June 12, 2017
Executives from Leading Hotels of the World, Equinox Hotels, Sixty Hotels, PENDRY, West Elm Hotels, Arianna Huffington and More, Converge in New York to Talk Boutique Hospitality New York, June 12 – Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) successfully closed its 2017 Annual Boutique Hotel Investment Conference in New York, June 7, with some of the most influential hospitality powerhouses in the game. Worldwide hotel luminaries, executives and developers gathered at the Times Center in the heart of New York, to discuss major hospitality trends and provide an in-depth analysis of the ever-developing industry. Over 45 sp...
How the Staff of a Midtown Manhattan Boutique Hotel Became Even More Productive Without Radio Communication
ALICE | June 7, 2017
New York, NY -- Luxury Midtown Manhattan boutique, Kimberly Hotel & Suites, has selected hospitality operations platform ALICE to improve staff communication and efficiency at the 194-room hotel. ALICE unites all staff departments together with a shared work management and communication system. The Kimberly Hotel's housekeeping, engineering, room service, front desk, and concierge teams have all been using ALICE since February 2017. Implementing ALICE has had an immediate impact on staff productivity throughout the hotel. Prior to ALICE, the Kimberly ran their operations with pen and paper, walkie talkies, and a fair bit of staff lo...
Embracing New Technologies and Hotel Security in Our World Today
Frances Kiradjian | May 30, 2017
by Frances Kiradjian To the uninitiated, the current fad for virtual and augmented reality technologies might seem to have little overlap with the travel industry. Why go to the trouble of traveling anywhere if you plan to sit in a darkened room wearing a headset and exploring a fantasy world? Such a view is echoed by the sentiments of Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Expedia, in 2016 who told a technology conference, "I hope that VR in travel fails miserably because I want people to go places." But technology has a habit of making itself useful in situations where we least expect it – which can only explain why, a year later, Expedia it...
Other Methods of Garnering Guest Loyalty
Frances Kiradjian | May 22, 2017
by Frances Kiradjian We all know the power of loyalty in the hospitality industry, as our most valued guests are those who stay over and over again. One enticement to promote this behavior is the loyalty discount, which offers guests a financial incentive to return. It also encourages them to book direct, cutting out those hefty online-agency fees and keeping the hotel in direct contact with that all-important customer base. But for hotels, the downside to free loyalty schemes is the cost. If a discount is offered to one customer, it should be offered to all, and so we face a situation where regular revenue streams dip significantly as ...
The New Boutique Hotel Lobbyists
Frances Kiradjian | May 12, 2017
by Frances Kiradjian 'After the party, there's the hotel lobby ….. And round about four you've got to clear the lobby,' R. Kelly once sang in his hit 'Ignition (Remix)', painting a debauched picture of how hotel lobbies functioned at the start of the 21st century. But what are these things called lobbies and how have they changed over the years? In actual fact the lobby's origins couldn't be further than R. Kelly's bumping'n'grinding R'n'B entourage. It's a term that originates in the chaste monasteries of the 16th century, where a lobbia signified a covered walkway or open arcade. The first recorded printed instance of the word ...
Boutique “Soft Brands” Defined
Frances Kiradjian | May 1, 2017
by Frances Kiradjian, Founder & Chair, BLLA Looking at the large online travel agencies recently you might be surprised to spot a few new names among the Starwoods and Marriotts. Tribute? Curio? Quorvus? Could these be new independent David's taking the hotel-world Goliaths by storm? Of course, these aren't new companies by any stretch of the imagination, but fresh incarnations of those same hospitality superpowers that have dominated the industry for decades. Independent in ethos, but multinational in outreach, these are the new hotel 'soft brands', they've come out of the blue, and they're opening up everywhere. But what is a soft...
A Pair of Midtown New York City Boutiques Upgrade Their Operations
ALICE | April 10, 2017
New York, NY -- The Gregory Hotel and The Renwick Hotel - a pair of historic boutique hotels in Midtown Manhattan - are using ALICE's operations technology and guest engagement platform to improve staff coordination and provide convenient communications options to guests. Both hotels have a strong legacy of New York City hospitality. The Gregory opened as the Gregorian Hotel in 1903 and quickly became a popular residence for the famous and well-to-do. The Renwick began its life as a home to artist studios and intellectuals and is a member of Historic Hotels of America®. Both hotels were restored (and, in the case of The Gregory, ren...
The Who’s Who of Boutique Hospitality Industry Come Together in New York City for Distinguished Conference
The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) | March 20, 2017
Arianna Huffington and C-Level Executives of Equinox Hotels, Leading Hotels, Virgin Hotels, Sixty Hotels, Grace Hotels, Valencia Group and More to Speak at BLLA Conference, June 7 New York – Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) announces powerhouse line-up for 2017's annual boutique hotel investment conference. The Times Center in New York will be the backdrop for this year's acclaimed conference that will bring together the industry's most elite hoteliers, investors and developers. BLLA is the leading Boutique & Lifestyle Association aimed at globally connecting independent, upscale hoteliers with fellow indust...
Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) Announces New Board of Advisors for Strategic Alliance with UCLA Extension
UCLA Extension | March 8, 2017
Leading Hospitality Executives and Industry Suppliers Address Strategies for New Hospitality Program Designed to Address the Luxury Boutique Hotel Sector Los Angeles, March 8, 2017 – BLLA's top executive, Frances Kiradjian, brought together leading boutique hotel brand CEOs and the industry's top service providers to participate in advancing hospitality's only boutique luxury-focused educational program, in conjunction with UCLA Extension. The Board of Advisors recently held their first meeting in Los Angeles to announce a new 5-day educational program for hospitality executives and professionals to launch in March 2018. Through ...
The Olympia Companies to Develop & Manage New Hotel for Colby College
The Olympia Companies | February 17, 2017
The 42-room Boutique Hotel will Launch Downtown Waterville's Revitalization Portland, Maine – The Olympia Companies is proud to announce Colby College as the newest addition to its growing portfolio of properties in the campus hospitality sector. Olympia will develop and manage Colby's new 42-room boutique hotel and restaurant in downtown Waterville, Maine. The hotel is owned by Elm City LLC, Colby's development arm, and will be the focal point of Waterville's downtown revival. Ground breaking is expected to commence in 2017. "We are thrilled to partner with Maine-based Olympia Companies, which is known for developing unique h...
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