IHG unveils five-year expansion plan for Kimpton Hotels

Image credit: Kimpton DeWitt Amsterdam Hotel. Interior Design. Photography. Laure Joliet
800 533 Hamish Kilburn
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Outlook for the luxury boutique brand, Kimpton Hotels, is at its strongest in its 38-year history with more than 25 hotels under development…

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced plans to open more than 25 Kimpton Hotels properties across 20 new global destinations including Mexico City, Paris, Barcelona, Bali and Shanghai, in the next three to five years.

Founded in 1981 in San Francisco by Bill Kimpton, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ heartfelt approach to hospitality has translated to unique, design-led hotels across city centers, beachside resorts, mountain getaways, and more. Since acquiring the brand in 2015, IHG has driven Kimpton’s global growth beyond the U.S. IHG has opened the first Kimpton® hotel in the Caribbean, Kimpton® Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman; the first hotel outside of the Americas, Kimpton® De Witt in Amsterdam and debuted in the UK with a flagship property for the brand, Kimpton® Fitzroy London. The brand continues to grow and is set to make its debut in a suite of new markets around the world from Germany to Grenada, Indonesia, Spain and China.

“With IHG’s scale and network of owner relationships, we’ve unlocked the global growth of Kimpton Hotels & Resorts,” said Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, IHG. “We’ve seen incredible interest from hotel owners around the world, as well as from guests who can now experience the heartfelt service Kimpton is so famous for in new and exciting destinations. We have flagship hotels now open in London and Amsterdam, a series of fantastic hotels slated to open this year including our first in Asia, and a growing pipeline of projects in key markets around the world.”

Upcoming marquee hotel openings include:

Kimpton Da An Hotel – Taipei, Taiwan

Poised for a Spring 2019 unveiling, Kimpton Da An is an urban sanctuary in the heart of Taipei, bridging the historic ZhongShan and DaTong districts with the modern, upscale Xinyl district. The hotel’s interior design will celebrate the area’s heritage with artistic modernity and traditional craftsmanship. Expect lush botanicals, light-filled spaces and a restaurant – The Tavernist, offers playful modern cuisine led by former Noma Chef, James Sharman.

 Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel – Edinburgh, Scotland

Opening in Spring 2019, Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel will consist of seven interconnected Georgian-style townhouses that blend traditional glamour with modern-day Scotland. Overlooking a beautiful private garden square, located in the heart of the city center, everything from the glass-topped central courtyard to the locally-loved Middle Eastern restaurant provides an ideal haven in the Scottish capital.

 Kimpton Kawana Bay Resort – Grenada, Caribbean

Marking Kimpton’s second Caribbean resort and slated to open in early 2020, Kimpton Kawana Bay will be a 220-room luxury hillside retreat located between tropical rainforest cliffs and the world-renowned Grand Anse Beach. All rooms feature spectacular ocean views and a number of suites will have private pools. The name of the resort itself, Kawana Bay, pays homage to the area’s native leatherback turtles, named “Kawana” – a fixture on the Spice Island.

 Kimpton Bali – Bali, Indonesia

The natural beauty of the Nusa Dua coastline and lush volcanic hillsides make for a perfect backdrop to Kimpton Bali, opening in 2020. Here, 50 luxury villas serve as a lifestyle sanctuary that will embrace local Balinese culture while delivering a genuine experience on the Island of the Gods.

These openings reflect the opportunity across the boutique hotel sector, which is among the fastest growing in the industry. Together with Hotel Indigo®, IHG’s boutique portfolio totals almost 170 hotels globally, with nearly 120 more hotels in the development pipeline.

Main image credit: Kimpton Hotels. Photography: Laure Joliet

Hamish Kilburn / 25.01.2019

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