Boutique hotels provide people the chance to spend the night in a luxurious, comfortable environment that provides world class customer service. Although they are only a recent addition to the range of accommodation services, boutique hotels are becoming a hit among travelers and vacationers.

History of Boutique Hotels

Ever since the first two hotels of this kind appeared in South Kensington, London (The Blakes Hotel) and Union Square, San Francisco (The Bedford), the concept has increasingly caught the attention of many. The accommodation facility saw a rise in booking demand from both leisure and business travelers. The idea was to make the accommodation an important part of the trip, instead of it as just a place to spend the night. Since then, many entrepreneurs used the concept, and thus boutique hotels were born. In 1984, New York opened its first boutique hotel in Murray Hills.

Their Features

Although all boutique hotels vary in the way they are being operated, they all have things in common, which are what separates them from all the other services in the hospitality industry. Generally, this type of hotel creates an environment that emphasizes and values style and design. And this uniqueness is the key feature in all boutique hotels.

Each boutique hotel aims to stand out and avoid repeating the bland, conventional design of most hotels. Ideally, the chosen style should be consistent throughout all the parts of the building, from the front door to the rooms to the bathrooms. This helps in providing guests a hotel experience they won’t forget. It’s important for designs to match existing structures and features so that there is balance throughout the premises. With a carefully structured atmosphere, guests will feel surrounded by a grand, lush environment and not inside a normal hotel with some stylish additions here and there.

Most boutique hotels tend to be relatively smaller than those belonging to a chain. They also boast of excellent quality and service. Once customers make a request, there will always be someone to assist them. Staff members are trained to be considerate and polite without being pushy and rude.

Luxury for Less

Best of all, rooms at boutique hotels are offered at very friendly prices. So people have the chance to stay in style without having to spend much, which is partly the reason why they’ve become so popular. Travelers and holidaymakers will find the accommodation as fun and exciting as the rest of the trip.

Cagayan de Oro’s Boutique Hotel

It surely is fascinating to stay in this type of hotel. And now, Cagayan de Oro City’s residents and visitors will soon have the chance to stay in a boutique hotel as Ayala Land Inc. plans to build one here.

According to Jose Jalandoni, who heads the company’s new business and hotel division, Ayala is set to open five boutique-type hotels all over the country, including one in the City of Golden Friendship.

Jalandoni further said that the new hotels will provide an average of 150 rooms, all of which will cater mainly to business travelers. Apart from Cagayan de Oro, other sites are Davao, Alabang, Taguig City, Fort Bonifacio and North Triangle, Quezon City.

Aside from shopping malls, Ayala has been successful in other ventures like property development. With Ayala’s experience and expertise in the field, the upcoming boutique hotel in Cagayan de Oro will surely change the city’s urban landscape.

-by Gillian Abonitalla-
(Photos taken from webtradehotels.com and destination360.com)