Iconic St. James Hotel Reopens in Selma, Alabama Following Renovation and Expansion
Woodforest CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund | January 26, 2021
Inherit Hotel Group Opens the Colton House Hotel in Austin, Texas
Inherit Hotel Group | January 6, 2021
All Things Independent
How Do You “Boutique” Your Hotel?
Frances Kiradjian | August 14, 2018
Hospitality professionals can apply the best of boutique to any and all lodging accommodations. By Frances Kiradjian While we are the biggest champions of boutique you'll likely come across, at BLLA, we realize the transformation of the term from differentiator to buzzword. Today, it is not uncommon to find a property touting themselves as boutique even though they're a branded chain or an economic lodging solution like a motel. Boutique started as an underdog in the world of lodging solutions, particularly luxury accommodations. Now, after a long climb to legitimacy, professionals and non professionals in the lodging space ofte...
The Evolution of the Hotel Lobby
Frances Kiradjian | August 1, 2018
By Frances Kiradjian Hotel lobbies have evolved from portals where travelers are introduced to their lodging accommodations to places people gather to immerse themselves in culture and merriment. The evolution of the hotel lobby has been gradual, but the proliferation of lifestyle and boutique properties have shifted the design away from clinical hotel lobbies. Much like the sitting room in your childhood home where sitting was forbidden, lobbies formerly existed to curate good first impressions, and not much else. Nowadays, the opposite is true. Highly designed lobbies are more prevalent than ever before, but design has evolved to faci...
BLLA Abroad – the World’s Leading Boutique Association Launches Exclusive Boutique Social Club Dinner Series in London
the Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) | July 12, 2018
July 12, 2018 - New York – Since the beginning, the Boutique and Lifestyle Leaders Association's (rebranded from Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association) presence has been global. From our international members and early conferences in Paris and London, we have garnered support and cultivated communities all around the globe. Two recent excursions over the pond have solidified our foothold on the boutique community and will foster boutique developments in tomorrow's most sought-after vacation destinations. On May 1st, 2018 we successfully launched the first installment of the Stay Boutique Social Club Dinner Series. A s...
Boutique Hotel Group’s Investment Conference Celebrates Sector’s Success, Name Change
BLLA | June 12, 2018
BLLA's Annual New York Event Features Testimonies from Fashion Leader Varvatos, Hotel Pioneer Pomeranc; Hospitality Leaders Tout Influx of Investments New York - Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association's (BLLA) annual Boutique Hotel Investment Conference last week featured testimonies about "staying boutique" from fashion leader John Varvatos, lifestyle hotel pioneer Jason Pomeranc, streetwear guru Jeff Carvalho and high-end coffee roaster Todd Carmichael, while announcing a name change to the nine-year-old trade organization. The conference, which attracted more than 350 hoteliers, lifestyle executives, fashion icons...
Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) Connects All of Boutique Hospitality at 6th Annual Boutique Hotel Investment Conference in New York Ci...
the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) | May 29, 2018
BLLA exists as the go-to resource for all things boutique. Our events and conferences are an extension of our efforts to push the most exciting sector in lifestyle and lodging into the future. In its sixth iteration, the Boutique Hotel Investment Conference now focuses on the hospitality adjacent industries powering the modern boutique movement. NEXT GEN BOUTIQUE MONEY – the concept of a hotel is being redefined. With lodging accommodations being reshaped by industries like wellness, fashion, fitness, nightlife, and food & beverage, it is important to pause and take an aerial view of the direction of our sector. Our agenda inc...
Diversity in Leadership Is Profitable
Frances Kiradjian | May 24, 2018
By Frances Kiradjian Many of you know my passions include helping the underdogs of the hospitality industry. Before the formation of BLLA, the list of underdogs included boutique hotels, and once upon a time, women. Women have made leaps and bounds as a demographic in every single industry in existence. Hospitality is no exception. While only 32 of the Fortune 500 CEOs in 2017 were women, this is an increase from the 21 women who were included the year before. While not an impressive ratio it does show the forward movement of women in the business sector I have long been a champion of. At our annual Executive Women's Conference this pas...
PlumpJack Group and Meriwether Companies Unveil Newly Renovated Carmel-by-the-Sea Hotel, The Getaway
PlumpJack Group | April 24, 2018
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CALIF. (May, 2018) – The Getaway, a 34-room boutique hotel located in the picturesque seaside village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., made its debut mid-April 2018 following an extensive property-wide renovation and external refresh. The latest joint-venture asset between San Francisco-based PlumpJack Group and Meriwether Companies, The Getaway exudes a coastal, casual-chic vibe with design inspired by its surrounding natural environs. Situated at the gateway to Downtown Carmel on Ocean Avenue and Junipero Street, the former Village Inn has been completely transformed into a modern beach retreat. The two-story pro...
BLLA’s Boutique Hotel Investment Conference Returns June 6 With Who’s Who of Hospitality & Beyond
the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) | April 19, 2018
Industry Luminaries Come Together in New York City to Discuss Next Generation of Boutique Money New York – Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association's (BLLA) most acclaimed event of the year, the Boutique Hotel Investment Conference, returns June 6 for a powerhouse lineup at The Times Center in New York. This year's distinguished conference brings together industry's most elite hoteliers, C-level executives, entrepreneurs and investors as well as the most creative minds in the general boutique space for a day of analysis and networking. As the clear leaders in the boutique lifestyle space, BLLA's mission is to g...
The Convergence of All Things Luxury
Frances Kiradjian | April 12, 2018
By Frances Kiradjian The idea of residences in a lifestyle hotel just makes sense. Who wouldn't want all the offerings of their favorite resort, spa, or hotel brand in their home? Although the concept of mixed-use hotel is not a novel one, the renewed vibrancy in the boutique and lifestyle sector of the hospitality sphere is seeing a new focus on branded luxury offerings. In 2016 Daniela Aroche reported "According to Dan August Cordeiro at Maxmakers, a property development advisory firm, the number of hotels offering branded residences increased tenfold during the decade to 2012. The evidence suggests that the rate looks set to continue...
2018 TIEWN Conference Mobilizes Women in Hospitality on International Women’s Day
March 15, 2018
Boardrooms and C-suites are feminizing, but there's more to be done Los Angeles, California – The Travel Industry Executive Women's Network (TIEWN), a global networking association with over 10,000 members, held their fifth annual educational and motivational conference at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on March 8, 2018. Timed to International Women's Day, the event celebrated female leaders across several industries, sharing successes and challenges to motivate and encourage progressive change within the hospitality and tourism sectors. Organized by TIEWN and BLLA Founder and CEO Frances Kiradjian, and her daughter, B...
How the New Airbnb Offerings Impact the Hotel Industry and What Hotels Brands Can Do to Win in the Sharing Economy
Kyle Killion | March 15, 2018
Boutique Hotels Beware: The Hotel Industry Gets a New Frenemy By Kyle Killion Longtime hotel industry rival, Airbnb, continues to make headlines with its latest offering. In an effort to own more vacation accommodation bookings, the company, which built its business on being the anti-hotel alternative, now offers more boutique hotel listings than ever before. But, even as Airbnb adds more hotels into the mix, hotel brands are not featured. Despite this, there is a lot that hotel brands can do to stay competitive in the sharing economy. Why are hotel brands letting Airbnb win? Hotels have experienced strong growth since 2008, but alterna...
Women on Boards in Travel and Hospitality
Frances Kiradjian | March 2, 2018
By Frances Kiradjian Women's equality has been put into the spotlight recently including the subject around the #MeToo movement, and the response has been tremendous, with an increase in the number of female-focused conferences and meetups. While the issue has been taken out of the dark and into the public eye, there is still a need for change within in the corporate setting, primarily within positions of power such as top executives and public and private boards. A lack of women in executive positions is not a new issue or area of focus for some companies. A perfect example of who has been leading the path is Women on Boards 2020; an i...
Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) Announces New Inner Circle Club Members Who Have Joined for 2018
the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) | February 15, 2018
The "Club" members represent major supply networks and hospitality organizations owning and operating some of the world's finest boutique & lifestyle hotels Los Angeles, February 15, 2018 - It is with extreme pride that BLLA announces its newest Inner Circle Club (ICC) members. They join the association in a much-esteemed Club that already contains some of the nations top organizations. They have proven to be a force in the boutique sector and a supporter of the association. This year, they'll be joined by brands we hold in the same regard. 2018 is poised to be a historic year for BLLA as we have grown our network and reach like nev...
Global Connections, Inc. (GCI) Beso Del Sol Resort to Exhibit at Upcoming Bridal Show Beso Del Sol “The Venue” Will Offer Discounts to Attendees
Global Connections, Inc. | February 6, 2018
DUNEDIN, FL— (February 6, 2017) – The Venue at Beso Del Sol Resort (Dunedin, FL) is the place for celebrations ranging from Weddings to Anniversaries to special occasions such as birthdays, holiday parties and corporate meetings. The Venue will be among many high level and innovative exhibitors at the Tampa Bay Bridal Show presented and produced by Tampa Bay Times. "Kiss of the Sun" (Beso Del Sol), a resort owned and managed by Global Connections, Inc. (GCI) is regarded by many to be the best boutique resort in the Tampa Bay area. GCI, the highly respected travel club developer, fulfillment and service provider, owns and man...
Pushing Boutique Forward!
Frances Kiradjian | January 25, 2018
By Frances Kiradjian The Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association, as many of you already know, exists as the official resource for boutique hotel owners, operators, and any hospitality facing businesses. We've garnered a global community over the course of the (near) decade we have been operational, and now we look ahead to the coming trends and innovations that are sure to play pivotal roles in the industry as they're proliferated. While the majority of BLLA members are (and will remain) hotel properties, we've broadened our reach to aid capital investors, technology companies, designers, restaurateurs, PR and marketing experts and ...
Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) Connects Travel and Hospitality Industry Executives for 5th Annual Executive Women’s Conference in L...
the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) | January 10, 2018
Conference to feature hospitality, travel & tourism executives for one-day event, March 8th at the SLS Beverly Hills Hotel Los Angeles, CA, January 10, 2018 – BLLA is pleased to announce the fifth installment of the Executive Women's Conference, focusing on elevating the voice of women in an industry that benefits so much from their impassioned efforts. The event is taking place on March 8th which is International Women's Day. After the Golden Globe Awards Sunday night and the 'Times Up' message and action, this conference is perfectly positioned to bring together professional women who work in travel and hospitality. Internat...
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...
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