Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 1st Quarter 2019 | Page 80

Kimpton La Peer Hotel – Los Angeles, CA HOW DOES THIS INFLUENCE YOUR DECISIONS AS FAR AS NEW PROJECTS OR CONVERSIONS? We’ve always been strategic with our development, whether it’s expanding into a new market or finding different neighborhoods in an existing one. It’s not about hitting a certain number of dots on a map; instead, our growth is fueled by our guests’ business and leisure travel patterns and needs. When looking at growth, it’s important that we find the right fit in terms of a market as well as with an owner who can be collaborative and a partner with us. Once we have a project in the works, we take an anthropological approach to development – each hotel, restaurant, and bar is uniquely positioned and concepted to complement the community and with a distinct point-of-view. We always look at each market and 80 ILHA neighborhood with a fresh lens and are inspired by local flavors and cultural markers to create a “luxury without the attitude” experience for our guests. The key to Kimpton’s boutique luxury offering is that we’re not formulaic when it comes to introducing a new hotel or restaurant to a new market. We’re committed to creating brands of one. The one commonality is that all of our properties reflect the brand’s commitment to heartfelt care, exceptional food and beverage, compelling design, and experiences that appeal to both business and leisure travelers. DO YOU HAVE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS YOU ARE WORKING ON? We have 25 projects in the works globally with 15 in the Americas alone. From Dallas, Texas to Grenada, Caribbean; we’re bringing Kimpton’s boutique approach to both new owners and new markets which is very exciting. Resorts, in particular, have been a white space for boutiques and with the success of the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman, we know there’s an appetite there. IHG has also been instrumental in helping power our development pipeline and an incredible partner in introducing Kimpton to their guests around the world. HOW DO YOU ENGAGE WITH YOUR GUEST? WHAT ARE YOUR MOST EFFECTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS? Social media has become a powerful relationship building tool and we have an active and thoughtful presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Each platform provides unique opportunities to have an open dialogue and connect with our guests in meaningful ways 365-days a year, not just when they’re on property.