Media Buzz, Reviews & Articles | Kimpton Boutique Hotels + Restaurants

6 U.S. Cities to Watch in 2017

The 25 Best Workplaces in the Bay Area

Looking beyond free food and ping-pong tables, Fortune partnered with Great Place to Work for a more qualitative analysis of top Bay Area workplaces. Attributes like supportive leadership, thoughtful growth opportunities and a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion lift Kimpton to the top of the list in this employee-driven survey.

April 1, 2017

The Washington Post

There’s Now an Even Better Reason to Steal that Hotel Bathrobe

A trailblazer when it comes to hotel bathrobes, Kimpton updates its legacy by rolling out a new collection of tailored robes all across the nation. Rocky Balboa-inspired, kimono shibori-print, seersucker or herringbone – these are robes with personality and charm, designed as thoughtfully as each and every Kimpton hotel.

April 1, 2017

Condé Nast Traveler

Dive into lake territory vis-à-vis this newly buzzing Midwestern city. Locavore cuisine, summer festivals, a sprawling art museum – and a hip new Kimpton hotel made this Lake Michigan neighbor a 2017 hot spot.

April 1, 2017

36 Hours in Baltimore

Charm City is the place to be like never before, and the Kimpton Hotel Monaco is a convenient and beautiful spot to rest after a day packed with crab pizza, local art and lush botanicals.

April 1, 2017

People

50 Companies that Care

Kimpton made the magazine’s first-ever list of companies “that best show respect, compassion and concern for their employees and their communities” thanks to its heartfelt support of the LGBTQ community. Through annual Pride activations, LBGTQ marketing, a partnership with a non-profit supporting LGBTQ youth and more, Kimpton embraces the community with outstretched arms.

April 1, 2017

National Culinary Review

Design it Right

Providing a memorable guest experience means the restaurant needs a few key supporting players – among them design, which creates ambiance and helps bring the concept to life. Kimpton’s VP of Restaurant Concept Development and industry expert Danny Bortnick offers his insights on design’s crucial role.

March 1, 2017

San Francisco Business Times

9 Luxury Hotels with Over-the-Top Pet Amenities

At the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel in Milwaukee, WI, perks for pooches include brand standards like loaner pet beds, in-room water bowls and a pet-friendly wine hour. A curated list of local pet-friendly restaurants, parks, groomers and pet boutiques rounds out the hotel’s offerings.

March 1, 2017

Skift

Complete Oral History of Boutique Hotels

A comprehensive, well-researched look back at the evolution of boutique hotels in America, the article dives deep into the segment’s West Coast origins while paying homage to Bill Kimpton’s groundbreaking vision and heartfelt leadership.

March 1, 2017

Forty Under 40: Kathleen Reidenbach, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Kimpton is honored by the recognition of Chief Commercial Officer Kathleen Reidenbach as one of 40 outstanding executives who are making a difference in the business committee of Kimpton’s home town, San Francisco.

March 1, 2017

100 Best Companies to Work For - #14, Kimpton

Industry thought-leader and trusted expert Fortune goes to great lengths to ensure their annual rankings are based on real employee insights and true company merits. Kimpton is honored to be ranked in the top 20% of this highly competitive and well-regarded list.

March 1, 2017

Restaurant Business

Concepts From the Power 20

Kimpton’s Senior Vice President of Restaurants & Bars explains the unique, visionary approach the company takes to developing new food and beverage concepts. It’s an approach that pays off: no other company is simultaneously driving both hotel and restaurant/bar innovation in quite the same way.

March 1, 2017

Restaurant Business

The Power 20

March 1, 2017

Savannah Travel Guide

A historic 1860s building, formerly a Coca-Cola bottling plant, comes to life again as the elegantly playful Kimpton Brice Hotel in this charming Southern city. Whimsical touches like oversize couches and trompe l’oeil butterfly wallpaper keep the spaces light yet striking, while Pacci Italian Kitchen serves classic dishes layered with incredibly fresh local ingredients.

February 1, 2017

Skift

How Travel Brands Do Customer Service Right on Social Media

Chief Commercial Officer Kathleen Reidenbach illuminates the benefits of having clear yet flexible guidelines for interacting with guests on social media, in keeping with Kimpton’s broader strategy of offering unique, personalized experiences to every guest in every individual market.

February 1, 2017

The Best New Hotels in the World

Months are spent curating the annual “It List,” a fierce collection of the 44 best new hotels and resorts globally. Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa joins the list’s elite ranks with a spectacular location and eye-catching, locally inspired design.

January 1, 2017

Draft

Where There’s Smoke

Smokey sippers took their place on this look-ahead list of trends. Elegant, masculine lobby bar Vol. 39, at the Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago, IL, drew inspiration from the cigar-and-nightcap tradition through a Negroni infused with sweet, earthy smoke from Palo Santo wood

January 1, 2017

The 9 Best Luxury Spas in Chicago

In a spotlight on the Windy City’s best hotel-based luxury spas, Kimpton Gray Hotel makes the roundup thanks to a focus on sophisticated options for a sometimes-overlooked segment of spa clientele: men. Renowned Chicago hair stylist Ralfino provides exclusive grooming experiences (women are welcome, too) – and post-service, all can enjoy elevated cocktails and bites at Vol. 39 lobby bar, or elegant Latin American small plates at in-house restaurant Boleo.

January 1, 2017

Vogue

Why Alexandria, VA, Is Way More Than Just a Suburb of DC

With all the attention paid to the nation’s capital, its first-class outposts can be overlooked. Inspired cuisine at Brabo Tasting Room helps build the case for making Alexandria not just a stopover, but a destination.

January 1, 2017

CNN

The Best New Restaurants for 2017

Finding the crème-de-la-crème of global gastronomic innovation is a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. The open kitchen at Avecita Restaurant at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa offers a “tasting experience” of small plates created in front of diners, providing a comfortable level of accessibility and interaction between guest and chef that’s rare in the world of fine dining.

January 1, 2017

Denver Business Journal

Taking the ‘Man’ Out of General Manager: Women on the Rise at Denver Hotels

Kimpton’s time-honored tradition of promoting based upon merit, not gender, shines through the perspective of the female general manager of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, a veteran of the company with over a decade of GM experience.

2016 Highlights

December 1, 2016

10 Best Workplaces for Latinos (#7)

Lauded as the #4 workplace nationwide for diversity, alongside the #6 workplace for African-Americans and #7 workplace for Latinos, Kimpton remains steadfast in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion for all employees.

December 1, 2016

50 Best Workplaces for Diversity (#4)

December 1, 2016

10 Best Workplaces for African-Americans (#6)

November 1, 2016

Tour the First New Hotel to Open in Grand Cayman in 10 Years

Grand Cayman’s first new property in over a decade, Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa’s rustic yet polished style is the product of a collaboration between California-based Powerstrip Studio and SB Architects.

November 1, 2016

Huffington Post

The Food Trends You’ll Probably Be Seeing A Lot of In 2017

Sustainability in the culinary world means locally sourced products and minimizing food waste by using all parts of the animal (or plant). Add fermented beverages and charred flavors to the menu, and you’ll have a taste of what Kimpton sees on the horizon for 2017.

October 1, 2016

Wine Enthusiast

Beetle Juice: Insect-Infused Halloween Cocktails

Inspired by a beetle’s diet of fruit, leaves and wood, Bartender Bryan Galligos mixes apple brandy, basil and rosemary into a lime green-hued cocktail. Charred rosemary infuses smokey flavor while an edible beetle garnish adds a crunch of the real thing

October 1, 2016

Conde Nast Traveler

Top Hotels in Miami: Readers’ Choice Awards 2016

Situated where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay–"just the right distance from the craziness"–the Kimpton EPIC Hotel’s tops readers’ lists for its Cheryl Rowley design, floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading to private balconies and Area 31’s Mediterranean-inspired seafood and “exceptional” sommelier.

October 1, 2016

Elle Décor

The Ultimate Travel Guide for a Coastal California Road Trip

Spacious rooms designed by Nicole Hollis meld Asian-inspired accents like Shibori-print pillows or kimono bathrobes with a “rich moody palette” and “urban-chic touches” of leather and brass. The perfect combination for a dynamic location at the crossroads of the Japantown and bustling, on-point Pacific Heights neighborhoods.

September 1, 2016

The Perfect Three-Day Weekend in Philadelphia

Long weekends offer enough time for a quick vacation to the city of Brotherly Love–and a stay at the long-loved Hot’el Monaco Philadelphia. A central location and rooftop bar with views of Liberty Bell center (minus the crowds) mean you’ll be perfectly positioned for exploring and taking in the sunsets.

September 1, 2016

Wallpaper*

The Gray, Chicago, USA

Kimpton’s playful youthfulness enlivens the elegant blue-and-gray interiors of the new Kimpton Gray with tailored amenities like The Tie Bar, a re-imagination of the classic hotel mini bar with complimentary ties and pocket squares, while rooftop lounge Boleo blends Argentinian and Peruvian street snacks with classic South American cocktails.

September 1, 2016

San Francisco Chronicle

The Changing Face of Hotel Food: It’s Getting Healthier

Small plates, veggie-focused dishes and locally sourced ingredients have become mainstays in Bay Area restaurants but many hotels have not yet incorporated “clean eating” in their menus. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, home of fresh carrot juice kombucha and gluten-free entrées, is working to bring that movement to the hospitality sector.

September 1, 2016

New Vermont Hotel Is Perfect For Foliage Season–And Every Season

Manchester, the closest major tourist destination in Vermont to the New York metropolitan area, offers more than its share of hiking, top-notch restaurants and raw natural beauty. And now there’s a chic hotel: Kimpton Taconic, embodying Manchester’s best with hand-carved wooden talking sticks, locally-focused restaurant The Copper Grouse and picture-perfect views of the Green Mountains.

August 1, 2016

Get a First Look Inside Chicago’s New Kimpton Gray Hotel

After careful restoration, a landmark building in downtown Chicago reopens as the elegant Kimpton Gray Hotel. Interiors firm Beleco and global architecture firm Gensler collaborated to bring new life to the early-20th-century structure, a former home to the New York Life Insurance company whose walls and staircases glow with original Georgia Gray marble.

August 1, 2016

Get a First Look Inside Chicago’s New Kimpton Gray Hotel

July 1, 2016

Will Travel for Food: The 9 Most Memorable Ways to Dine Right Now

When this resort—Kimpton’s first foray into luxury—opens later this year, it will…[take] advantage of the Caymans’ reputation for excellent spearfishing. Guests who are certified divers will be able to learn and get certified to spearfish … Back at the beachside restaurant, they’ll make fish tacos in front of other guests for happy hour.

July 1, 2016

6 Must-Go Places For the Perfect Weekend Getaway

Palladian Hotel opened recently in a 1910 building in the city’s Belltown neighborhood. San Francisco–based designer Nicole Hollis was inspired by artists’ lofts, creating laid-back rooms with a mix of reclaimed materials and locally sourced lighting and artworks

July 1, 2016

12 LGBT-Friendly Hotel Brands in the U.S.

#1, Kimpton - A long-time corporate ally, Kimpton has made a commitment to positive change by identifying and supporting organizations that can make a difference for the LGBT community. What’s more, Kimpton was the first hotel company to score a 100 percent on the annual Human Right Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (HRC CEI), and has maintained that score for the past 12 years.

June 1, 2016

Southern Living

10 Things You’re Missing if You Haven’t Been to Winston-Salem

Swank Historic Hotel – The Kimpton Cardinal just opened downtown in the historic, R.J. Reynolds building, an Art Deco wonder that inspired the Empire State Building

June 1, 2016

Fast Company

The Pros and Cons of New Unconventional Leadership Styles

SERVANT LEADERSHIP What it is: In contrast to the top-down leadership styles of the past, servant leadership is a popular one where the leader serves their employees. Mike DeFrino, CEO of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, flips the hierarchy upside down to empower employees so that they’re happy and, in turn, they keep guests happy.

June 1, 2016

20 Best Workplaces for Gen X’ers - #1, Kimpton

Debuting at #1 on Fortune’s inaugural ranking of best workplaces for Gen X’ers, Kimpton is proud to offer a workplace culture where employees are “willing to help” and “empowered to do so”.

June 1, 2016

100 Best Workplaces for Millennials

Reaching #17 on Fortune’s list of top 100, Kimpton is proud to offer a diverse, welcoming culture that recognizes and develops the talents of Millennial employees.

May 1, 2016

Men’s Journal

The 20 Best Hotel Bars in America

The Copper Grouse – This tavern is a fun mix of modern and old-school classics, many influenced by American history and literature. You'll find both local Vermont craft beers and artisanal cocktails here and a cool exhibition-style kitchen. B&O American Brasserie – When you inherit a space as magical as the historic former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad headquarters, you've got to do it justice.

May 1, 2016

People

Iraq War Veteran and Mom to Son with Special Needs Receive Dream Wedding

One week after receiving her son's heartbreaking diagnosis, Reese learned about the Warrior Wedding Giveaway, a contest that gives Pittsburgh-area veteran couples the chance to win a dream wedding at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh, and encouraged Brown to apply. Thousands voted to give Reese and Brown the wedding of their dreams.

May 1, 2016

Inc.

5 Addictive Brand Blogs You Need to Read Now

Boutique hotel collection Kimpton offers "luxury without attitude" at its properties, and carries that credo over into its sleekly designed Life is Suite blog, which relaunched last year. Kimpton speaks to their target audience of savvy travelers in a voice that is approachable, conversational, and down to earth.

April 1, 2016

Wine Enthusiast

Perfect Pan-Seared Sea Scallops

The Katharine Brasserie & Bar, a much-anticipated new restaurant, will be housed in Winston-Salem’s historic R.J. Reynolds building, a 1929 Art Deco skyscraper that inspired the Empire State Building. It merges modern French brasserie style with Executive Chef Ed Witt’s dedication to local ingredients and soulful cooking.

April 1, 2016

AFAR

Hotel Monaco Portland: Divine Downtown Haven

Couched in the center of downtown Portland, Hotel Monaco is a welcoming beacon for travelers of all persuasions. From four-legged Fido, to weary wanderers ducking out of the NW rain, this Kimpton boutique property is destined to delight. The old department store once housed here gives way to one of the city’s most visually eclectic decors, along with a savvy service strategy to match.

March 1, 2016

Town & Country

Vermont’s Newest Luxury Hotel Should Be Your Next Weekend Getaway

Taconic, a new boutique hotel inspired by New England's grand inns of the 19th and 20th centuries, has a multitude of things going for it: lots of plaid (thank gosh), gorgeous, huge bathrooms with brand new fixtures, and beyond tasty cuisine. The best part? Whatever the season, there's something fun for you to do.

March 1, 2016

36 Hours in Austin

Betting on its hometown’s claim as the Live Music Capital of the World, Geraldine’s — the stunning fourth-floor bar and restaurant inside the new Hotel Van Zandt — offers live concerts 365 days a year. (Geraldine’s is named after a neighborhood guinea fowl, who moved on to the great farmyard in the sky after being hit by a car in 2014.) Geraldine’s offers killer views of the downtown skyline, as well as up-close views of musicians performing everything from modern indie-rock to traditional blues and country

March 1, 2016

100 Best Companies to Work For

This chain of boutique hotels and restaurants offers a buffet of benefits that includes six weeks of parental leave, hearing and vision care, backup childcare and elder care, and women's preventive health … The company has been a leader in providing benefits for same-sex couples and transgender employees, and has earned a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for 11 consecutive years.

February 1, 2016

Where to Stay: Washington, D.C.’s Most Exciting Hotels

Kimpton Carlyle - Inside this rebooted Art Deco gem in Dupont Circle, the clubby Riggsby restaurant (Entrées $16–$38) offers strong cocktails and American spins on classic dishes (schnitzel with a fried egg). Kimpton Mason & Rook - Opening in April, this downtown property features cozy décor with lots of leather and tweed. The 130-seat restaurant and bar, Radiator, has a jumbo patio with shuffleboard.

February 1, 2016

Can Your Hotel Make You Healthier?

High-end lodgings have flaunted wellness programs for years … Seattle’s Alexis Hotel has a new CrossFit gym with a rock-climbing wall, monkey bars and more. Hotel Vintage Portland in Oregon holds weekly pickup games with its bellman, a former semi-pro player.

January 1, 2016

SHAPE

Healthy Hotels with Cool Fitness Partnerships

The 63 boutique hotels under the Kimpton name are each decorated in a unique, funky style to complement the city in which they are found, and the brand's free spirit extends to their fitness offerings. Guests at all locations can rent bikes from the hip San Francisco cycling company PUBLIC, and the wheels are customized in a bright cherry red just for Kimpton.

January 1, 2016

Kimpton to Open First Hotel Outside the Americas in Amsterdam

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants will open its first hotel outside of the Americas … The hotel will debut in Amsterdam in 2017. Kimpton started in 1981 as a small boutique chain in San Francisco. It has grown to 59 hotels in 30 U.S. cities.

2015 Highlights

November 1, 2015

Play/Sleep: The Buchanan

Tucked between San Francisco’s Pacific Heights and Japantown neighborhoods, this contemporary retreat artfully incorporates elements of both while creating something altogether new.

November 1, 2015

CNN

Practicing Servant Leadership

Kimpton CEO Mike DeFrino shares how he works to meet the needs of employees and customers: “The leaders in the hotels, the leaders here at the home office, are there to remove barriers for our employees to serve the guests and to make their experiences extraordinary.

September 1, 2015

SELF

Your Do-Anywhere, Total-Body Workout

The CrossFit-style circuit below targets your entire body and spikes your heart rate for an effective and fast workout on the go. The routine was created by Jordan Holland, owner at XPLORE CROSSFIT in Seattle and photographed at the revamped fitness center at Kimpton Seattle’s Alexis Hotel. And while every hotel may not have the luxe equipment and spacious floor plan (a two-room workout center!) as the Alexis, this effective workout is the ultimate no-excuses routine you can do anytime, anywhere.

September 1, 2015

Hotel Room Work Spaces Go Casual

We are certainly moving more toward a residential feel in the guest rooms, and that residential feel often comes with a table rather than a desk,” said Mike DeFrino, chief executive of Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants. Kimpton has bistro tables instead of desks in two new hotels, and is renovating a third, Ink48 in New York, in the same style.

September 1, 2015

100 Best Workplaces for Women

Kimpton is all about celebrating the individual, even its motto, "Free to be me," supports that message to employees. Kimpton empowers its workers to use creativity and good judgment to provide top-notch service, and in return, the company supports employees in and out of the office with tuition reimbursement, job-protected leave for health issues as well as paid sabbaticals. "This company genuinely cares for the employees and there is a sincere belief that there needs to be a work-life balance,"

August 1, 2015

Welcome to Seattle’s Sexy New Hotel Conversion

A local landmark in downtown Seattle, the century-old Palladian building has been converted into a new hotel by San Francisco-based hospitality group Kimpton, making it their fourth property in the city. Entrusting their Northern Californian counterparts Nicole Hollis with the interior design, the guestrooms and common spaces have been dramatically overhauled to pay homage to the city’s maritime history and famously forward-thinking heritage.

July 1, 2015

50 Great Restaurant Gardens Across the Country

Chefs around the country are planting and maintaining their own gardens to promote sustainability, seasonality, local sourcing and freshness. It doesn't hurt that beds of flowers and herbs add to the ambiance at any table. These days, on-site crops come in the form of patio planters, rooftop farms and vertical decor on the walls.

July 1, 2015

Top 10 Hotels for Tech-Savvy Travelers

…the hotel [Nine Zero] makes sure your every wish is taken care of and that no stone during your stay is left unturned. Private jet transportation is offered, and champagne and caviar are always at beck and call, as is the on-site chauffeur. And you never need to worry about losing your room key -- the retinal scan ensures you (and only you, besides the staff, duh) have access to your pricey space.

June 1, 2015

100 Best Workplaces for Millennials

Free to be me" could be the motto at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where staff are not only allowed to be themselves at work, they are actively encouraged to express their uniqueness. It creates a high level of trust between managers and employees. The whole idea is to encourage staff members to use their creativity and good judgment to deliver caring, personal service to guests.

June 1, 2015

CNN

Greener Weddings

local florals and local flavors – two things that Annee Gillett recommends to couples at the Hotel Monaco in Alexandria, Virginia. “Pick something seasonal, pick something that comes from the local farms; an easy thing to do is go to the farmers’ markets and look for what’s happening in season now.”

May 1, 2015

Hotels Are Helping Children Sleep Tight

At the RiverPlace hotel in Portland, Ore., “Bedtime Butlers” pay visits at random, bringing surprises that include books, robes, hot chocolate and stuffed animals from 6 to 9 p.m. four nights a week. The Lorien Hotel & Spa in Alexandria, Va., has a “Dream Service Menu” that includes a library stocked with children’s titles like Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”; guests are free to borrow books along with night lights and humidifiers.

May 1, 2015

10 Best Crazy Hotel Concierges

How do you tie that pesky bowtie? No worries if you’re staying at the EPIC Hotel in downtown Miami. They have multiple staffers who specialize in bowties. The position came about after neither the groom or groomsmen in one wedding party knew how to tie a bowtie properly, and the hotel found it to be a common problem. If you’re getting married on the property, a Bowtie Concierge is guaranteed to be on-site, so there’s one less thing to stress about on the big day.

May 1, 2015

TODAY Show

7 Tips to Travel With Your Pet Like a Pro (And Get a Few Perks!)

If a pet fits the door of a bedroom, you can take it with you for free … They also have director of pet relations at a lot of the hotels, which are on staff dogs who understand firsthand what it’s like to be a pet of the hotel.

May 1, 2015

Shape

Leading Hotels Offering Healthy Food Services

With over sixty hotels in more than thirty cities, the Kimpton brand is taking health and wellness to a whole new level … Kimpton even rolled out a juicing program, incorporating fresh ingredients that are readily available at local farmers markets. When staying at a Kimpton hotel, keep your eye out for the rocket icon that denotes items that will give you the nutrition you’re looking for on vacation without sacrificing the taste.

May 1, 2015

Food & Wine

Boozy Agua Fresca is This Summer’s Sangria

Sorry, sangria. We have a new favorite fruity daytime drink. Agua frescas, the super light and refreshing, lightly sweetened fruit-, herb- or flower-flavored waters often spotted at gyms, in hotel lobbies, in retail stores are now cropping up at cocktail hour. At Outpost in Goleta, California (just outside of Santa Barbara), bar manager Chris Burmeister has made Monday night spiked agua fresca night.

April 1, 2015

Men's Journal

Ask a Chef: How to Cook with Beer

The most important thing to consider is to Match Strength with Strength," says Chef Marron. "Big food wants big beer, delicate food wants a delicate beer." Light, herbaceous food likes a light, herbaceous beer, whether you're cooking with it or pairing it for dinner. Heartier beer likes heartier food. "A good trick is to pair beer and food by country: 'German beer is great with German food. English beer is great with English food. Same with cooking, use an American Lager (preferably Local) to make barbeque.

April 1, 2015

6 Ways Hotels are Keeping Guests Fit Beyond the Gym

Some chains incorporate fitness into their overall brand, such as Kimpton Hotels, which offers complimentary bikes, in-room yoga mats, free on-demand yoga and Pilates channels, and fresh-squeezed juice programs at all 66+ of their properties. Most also offer locally inspired workouts with the general managers — like a “Rocky” Run in Philadelphia or paddleboarding in Santa Barbara — and free fitness classes.

March 1, 2015

ABC News

How to Tweet (and Instagram) Your Way to a Better Hotel Stay

Are you on the fence about selfies and those selfie sticks that are seemingly at every tourist-heavy sight around the world? Well, the Kimpton hotel chain isn't; it's fully embracing the monopod, and recently announced that every Kimpton across the United States now has a selfie stick available for guests to use for free.

February 1, 2015

Color Your World: 10 Best Art Hotels in the U.S.

A Kimpton hotel, Hotel Palomar aims to tell the story of “Art in Motion” and infuse ever-changing art throughout a guest’s stay. Through a program called “Sleeping with the Artists,” the hotel showcases the works of emerging local artists on three floors.

February 1, 2015

Fodor's Travel

2015’s Most Anticipated Hotel Openings

Steeltown gets its own Kimpton, with 248 rooms that feature all of the signature amenities the brand built its reputation on. There’s that hip sense of style, with houndstooth drapes, plush, quilted headboards, and bird cage chandeliers outfitting the rooms; a robust welcome for pets; the standard gratis happy hour nightly; and complimentary cruiser bikes available.

February 1, 2015

Food & Wine

Introducing the Grilled Cheese PB&J

Your 11-year-old self should get ready to get excited, because today we’re talking about a grilled cheese PB&J. No, we're not talking about smashing together Skippy and melted Kraft Singles (although that does sound...interesting). Chef Roger Waysok's version at Chicago’s South Water Kitchen is a lot more sophisticated than that. The "PB" in this case is pear and brie; the jelly, a blueberry jam. And the whole thing has the beautifully butter-crisped bread of every great grilled cheese

January 1, 2015

Glamour.com

Rock Star Home Decor Inspiration: Sleep With a Celeb at This Seattle Hotel

This February, Kimpton will open its newest property in Seattle's Palladian building (which originally opened as the Calhoun Hotel in 1910, but later became apartments). And one of the coolest features of the 97-room boutique destination—which sits in a prime location, within walking distance of some of the city's biggest tourist attractions, including the Space Needle and Pike Place Market— is that when you check in, you'll get to pick a custom celebrity pillow to snuggle with.

January 1, 2015

Elite Daily

I Want Your Job: Emily Wines, Master Sommelier At Kimpton Hotels

In downtown San Francisco on a rainy, dreary cloudy morning, Emily Wines sits comfortably in a gorgeously-styled room, every surface – and much of the floor– hijacked by wines, both red and white, from every region and every corner of the world. For us, it’s a living testament that Wine Heaven does exist, and we’re right here in the thick of it; for Emily, it’s just another day on a fabulously-fun job

2014 Highlights

December 1, 2014

InterContinental to Buy Boutique Hotel Kimpton

The culture and values of both companies are well aligned and Kimpton will bring a wealth of expertise and specialist skills to IHG,” said IHG CEO Richard Solomons. Kimpton’s culture has caught the attention of Fortune, which ranked the company No. 21 on its Best Companies to Work For list in 2014. The privately held company has appeared on the Fortune list for five years now, noting that employees there are rewarded with “Kimpton Moment” tokens that can be redeemed for paid days off.

December 1, 2014

Food & Wine

9 Tips for Cooking Christmas Goose

Chef Harper McClure of Brabo in Alexandria, Virginia wants you to eat goose this Christmas … Here, McClure shares his top nine tips for cooking a show-stopping Christmas goose.

December 1, 2014

Wine Enthusiast

10 Crazy Travel Trends to Watch in 2015

In addition to pouring free wine in its lobby daily from 5–6 pm for guests, the quirky hotel … [employs] a canine director of pet relations (Daphne, pictured), the hotel also hosts Portland’s Next Top Dog Model contest, which benefits the Oregon Humane Society.

November 1, 2014

U.S News & World Report

How to Earn Perks Using Social Media

In its recently retooled rewards program, Kimpton offers vacationers personalized perks for tagging the brand in social media posts. Actions like checking in at a Kimpton hotel on Facebook and posting photos on Instagram while dining at the on-site restaurant can get you spa credits or a welcome amenity the next time you stay at that property. (Kimpton leaves it up to individual properties to decide which perks are appropriate.)

November 1, 2014

Imbibe

Three Ways: The Flip

Otherwise known as the Buffalo Soldier on the menu at Chicago’s South Water Kitchen, this porcine-imbued flip is ready for the breakfast table. Crack on fresh whole egg into a shaker, add 2 oz. of bourbon and shake hard.

October 1, 2014

Lodging

The Secrets of Kimpton’s Success

At the root level, the company relies on a unique, highly intuitive level of customer service, which is embedded throughout the form and functionality of its hotel and restaurant spaces, as well as in the attitude of every staff member. The Kimpton stamp is one of a particular culture evoking an emotional connection with the customer, a concept that seems to come more from the heart or a person’s DNA than any corporate manual or code of conduct.

October 1, 2014

Southern Living

Check In: The Brice

Smiles come at you from every angle – from the bow-front, lavender-and-pale gray check-in desk to the doormen in scrip seersucker suits and checkered shirts. It isn’t forced or cheap, just pure Southern hospitality taking place where it was born,Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar, the on-site restaurant headed by Italian executive chef Roberto Leoci, is a showpiece in itself, It’s simple, warm, and inviting, with a clean and bright aesthetic that is helping Pacci stand out

September 1, 2014

HOTELS

Kimpton, The Unbrand

Kimpton’s sweet spot continues to be the upper-upscale niche … “We’re creating a hybrid that is not a brand in the way that people look at brands,” [COO] DeFrino adds. “We’re trying to brand that Kimpton lifestyle feeling and experience and be very diligent about the execution of that from property to property. That is the key to our future.”

September 1, 2014

Top Hotel Chains for Business Travel

Founded by the man (Bill Kimpton) who helped pioneer the boutique hotel concept, Kimpton continues to renovate funky old buildings into distinctive small hotels. The hotel chain is also notable for its loyalty program, which gives you benefits like free Wi-Fi just for signing up. Recently rebranded as Kimpton Karma, it is putting an emphasis on social media interaction. Is this the future loyalty program for the Millennials?

August 1, 2014

SELF

Crazy Hotel Amenities You’ll Love

Sleep easy knowing your doorman could probably kick any intruders’ butt. At Philly’s Hotel Monaco, you can join the doorman – “T,” also a certified personal trainer – for a free small group boxing class called “TKO with T.” Boxing is also the perfect travel workout, because it requires no equipment and moves can be performed in a small space (just watch those kicks!)

July 1, 2014

Skift

Inside Look: Behind Kimpton Hotels’ Complete Digital Overhaul

Our goal was to ensure that our digital experience really matches and aligns with the hotel experience, or the feeling you have when you walk into one of our hotels,” says Reidenbach. “Anyone can put a great website together that has glossy pictures and cool content, but does the website and blog make you smile? We want to make sure that the love affair that occurs between guests and Kimpton is happening when you plan your next trip.”

July 1, 2014

Conde Nast Traveler

Now You Can Earn Hotel Loyalty Points by Drinking Wine

Kimpton Hotels is shaking up its loyalty program, adding perks for guests who interact with the brand’s boutique properties on social media, book directly with individual hotels (rather than through online metasearch sites), and even do no more than enjoy nightly wine hours in lobbies.

June 1, 2014

Travel Weekly

For Some Hotels, Localism a Matter of Simple Economics

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, an early practitioner of local food sourcing for its food and beverage programs, has moved its local food-sourcing emphasis beyond the company's San Francisco area roots. In the Washington area, where Kimpton has eight hotels, its chefs collaborate on sourcing locally for products such as meat from Virginia farms and oysters from Chesapeake Bay.

June 1, 2014

Food Arts

Hewing to the Vine

Wines, senior director of national beverage programs for San Francisco–based Kimpton Hotels, is one of only 197 Master Sommeliers in the world. Under Wines' watch, Kimpton’s do-good philosophy has extended to the beverage program. She spearheaded the launch of the national "Wines That Care" initiative, in which responsibly made wines are spotlighted at a hosted wine hour each evening in Kimpton hotel lobbies to salute the good they provide.

June 1, 2014

NPR

Beets at the Root of this Honey and Tarragon Cocktail

Chad Phillips tends bar at the Social Club at the Surfcomber Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. On the Miami bar scene, he's known for his culinary and creative approach to bartending. One of his favorite inventions is a unique beet-infused gin cocktail he calls the "Beet Me in St. Louis." He created it for his fiancé on her first Mother's Day.

June 1, 2014

Social Media Tips for Travel

Kimpton guests who are looking for gluten-free restaurant options or noteworthy local concerts can take their questions to Facebook, where an online concierge team awaits. For the best result, send a private message rather than a public wall post – staffers typically respond within 24 hours.

June 1, 2014

Never Underestimate The Power Of Corporate Integrity

Likewise, employees can be your brand ambassadors. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants (#21 Best Company To Work For in 2014) explicitly acknowledges this in its internal motto: ‘What’s good for the customer is good for the employee, and vice-versa.’ And that becomes a powerful virtuous circle.

June 1, 2014

Gay Travel: 22 Companies We’re Proud Of

Kimpton just signed on as the first national hotel sponsor of the Trevor Project, a 24-hour hotline for at-risk LGBT teens. Impressively, each of the brand’s 61 properties is a member of IGLTA and is TAG-approved. With that approval comes yearly staff training sessions on how to make the hotels even more gay-friendly for guests.

May 1, 2014

Real Simple

Choose the Best Hotel Rewards program for You

Not only are Kimpton hotels more luxurious than many other lodging options but the perks are top-notch, too. Program participants enjoy amenities like a $30 in-room spa credit, a $10 minibar credit, pillow preference, newspaper delivery, and free Wi-Fi during every eligible stay.

May 1, 2014

The Evolving World of Gay Travel

When it comes to hotels, some boutique brands, like Kimpton, have already established themselves in the L.G.B.T. market. Now major hotel groups are working to do the same.

April 1, 2014

San Francisco Business Times

Eat Ultra-Local at These Great Garden-to-Table Restaurants

We’ve gathered a slew of kitchens around the country that grow and serve vegetables, fruits and herbs from on-site gardens, usually cared for by the chefs and restaurateurs themselves. Chef Dennis Marron of Poste Moderne Brasserie and Bar in Washington, D.C. cultivates an array of fresh produce and herbs in Poste’s courtyard garden.

April 1, 2014

Best Place to Work in the Bay Area – Large Companies

Our people. It’s that simple. Our employees make Kimpton a best place to work – the culture lives within our employees and more specifically, in the individuality and creativity they bring to the table each and every day. At Kimpton, we put a lot of emphasis on the power of personality, being who you really are, and bringing your true self to work every day.

March 1, 2014

The High Cost of Great Customer Service

At other hotels, employees are rewarded for breaking the rules, as long as it results in a better service experience. At boutique luxury chain Kimpton, going above and beyond for a guest is referred to as a ‘Kimpton moment.’

March 1, 2014

Conde Nast Traveler

What It Takes to Completely Renovate a Hotel Room

When Seattle's Hotel Vintage Park undertook a top-to-bottom renovation, they also installed a time-lapse camera to capture all the work that goes into a refit. With the work now finished, the newly renamed Hotel Vintage has released the video to show off the $6 million worth of work that went into the project.

March 1, 2014

Inc.com

How Kimpton Hotels Scaled Its Culture

Even with 8,000 employees, Kimpton preserves its boutique feel by celebrating employees' individual quirks.

February 1, 2014