New trends at boutique hotels

By Robert Aiemens

How much do you know regarding the different hotels in business today? Do you know anything regarding the latest boutique hotel resort trends? Some people have no idea that they have a choice to the kind of hotel room they can enjoy. Why? They are bombarded by commercials from bigger name hotels like the Holiday Inn or Ramada Limited.

Among these big chain name hotels, lie two other choicesthe second most common overnight places are the bed and breakfast inns such as the Holladay House located in Virginia. However, the third kind of hotel is not widely known but offers just as much and more than the other two can provide. These are known as boutique hotels.

Boutique hotels have weathered good times and bad times especially with the boom of affordable hotel renting. However, boutique hotels have a quality that chain hotels cannot match. Like bed and breakfast inns, boutique hotels can give a homey kind of feeling. In fact, these hotels are usually located in older and antique homes. Each boutique home is designed to a theme. Many boutique hotels converted from older homes in New Orleans are designed to emulate the 19th century era. Fashion, indigenous culture, handicrafts arts and decor have a big part to play with boutique hotel resort trends.

The resort surroundings of boutique hotels can be incorporated into the theme. Santa Fe has a boutique that displays a lot of culture associated with Native American Indians. The Anasazi Inn displays handmade rugs, pottery and throws.

Some boutiques decide to choose a page from history to reflect the theme of the hotel. As mentioned above New Orlean boutiques' choose a 19th Century template. The Hotel Union Square boutique in San Francisco uses the Prohibition era to display it's theme. Except of course that alcohol is served legally of couse, and not in shebeens.

These kinds of hotels are not limited to the United States. In fact, there are several in cities around the world including but not limited to: Paris, Istanbul, Cannes and even Seville. Each boutique hotel has something to offers its guests. If you like the idea of opening a boutique, finances are readily available to entrepreneurs and business groups from boutique hotel lenders.

The average hotel sise has 25-50 rooms. You will also find some boutique hotels with 8-10 rooms, with others having over 100 rooms. The smaller sizes of these hotels allow the employees to focus a lot more on customer services, and personalizing their guests stay.

Since there's a limited amount of space in each boutique hotel, it's important to get your reservation in immediately. Waiting until you're about to leave is sure not going to get you a room at the boutique hotel of your choice. In fact, it's unlikely you will get a boutique room anywhere in your vacation/business city if there's a business conference coming up. If you can, call ahead a month or more to reserve your room.

Many boutique hotels regulary update the qualiy of their suites. Little but nice extras such as improved room furnishings can really bring a smile to your face. You can choose between a deluxe or standard room, complete with high speed wireless internet connections, and a private bath. You will also find at larger boutiques the same amenities as a brand name hotels. Large restaurants, spa's and fitness suites, and of course bars. If you are on a company business trip, you can book a room for meetings.

If you are tired of staying in those chain hotels, boutique hotels are an alternative. This alternative may cost a little more but is well worth the money you spend. Remember this saying: you pay for what you get. If you want a unique experience, boutique hotels will give you that and more.