IHG Builds On Kimpton Success, Grows In Europe And Asia

When IHG acquired Kimpton in 2015, the hotel and restaurant hospitality brand had a strong legion of fans. It was known for being quirky, local, entertaining and just plain different.

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Industry novice and founder, the late Bill Kimpton believed that “a hotel should relieve travelers of their insecurity and loneliness,” he once said. “It should make them feel warm and cozy.”

Kimpton was a frequent traveler in his own career. These experiences in hotels, many of which were European bed and breakfasts and sometimes housed within historic homes or buildings with local importance, was the catalyst to build a brand that was unique, especially when it comes to the dining scene.

He valued chef-driven menus that locals would want to visit over a corporate formula. And if they come for the food, they might come even earlier for happy hour. It was this “whole vibe” that he wanted to create with Kimpton, one that was not about a formulaic approach to ticking off boxes.

That’s why when IHG bought the brand, many were skeptical of how a huge hospitality brand would incorporate this intimate collection of hotels and restaurants into the fold.

“I’ve always been a little wary of brands emerging or expanding out of large hotel groups because they can risk overshadowing the true independents,” says Hamish Kilburn, director of Kilburn Communications and @Hotel_Travel_Editor on Instagram. “With Kimpton though, they’ve sensitively expanded into neighborhoods where they can amplify the local economy and character.”

Vikram Singh, CEO, KOA Consulting, Tokyo, acknowledges that “it is challenging to remain fully independent once part of a larger brand.”

He cautions that it is easy for the brand’s history to be lost.

“Kimpton is where the boutique hotel revolution began,” says Singh. “It still strives to maintain its original ethos as much as possible, prioritizing design, personalized service, and a strong focus on food and beverage—these elements make it special.”

Even though some wondered if Kimpton would lose its cachet, many agree that it is the strength of IHG that gave Kimpton the oomph it needed to shine on the global stage.

The IHG influence

Kimpton is now one of six brands within IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio. By bringing Kimpton into the fold, it has expanded its footprint, especially benefiting members of IHG One Rewards, the company’s loyalty program. While Kimpton had its own program, it focused more on instant benefits (like minibar credits) rather than points redemption for future stays.

Now, members can earn points when traveling for work or leisure (or sometimes both with the latest “bleisure” trend) and then redeem those points at iconic hotels that have plenty of regional influence.

IHG has given Kimpton the leeway to maintain its original brand ethos, says Kilburn, who points to the differentiation between each hotel that keeps Kimpton unique.

“They’ve found ways to highlight local culture and collaborate with leading designers to create something memorable, rather than simply replicating a formula,” he says. “The Budapest property is a strong example – working with celebrated designer Marcel Wanders gave it a boldness and sense of elevated design.”

What set Kimpton apart has remained the same

Its commitment to unique art and design, food and beverage that drives local interest, and being pet-friendly have only grown as more hotels open under the brand.

Among its latest offerings is Kimpton Main Frankfurt in the heart of the city’s financial district and its new FOUR Frankfurt development.

It is housed in the former headquarters of Deutsche Bank, complete with a Bauhaus façade that extends to the interiors. Steel and glass blend well with soft textures and velvet fabrics inside that almost make it seem more like cool club rather than hotel, especially at its rooftop restaurant and bar, which has earned a favored spot amid the after-work crowd.

And like all Kimptons, there is a long list of free benefits. Sabi Phagura of TNT magazine, says the extras help set Kimpton apart, after staying at a Kimpton in Manchester. She calls out the evening reception with free wine or beer, bikes to borrow, pet-friendly perks and yoga mats in the room as notable perks.

There is also complimentary coffee and tea each morning in the lobby (dubbed Kimpton Kickstart) and even a collection of travel accessories you can ask for at the front desk.

It goes beyond the traditional toothbrush and shower cap to include things like lip balm, hair straighteners, baby formula, deodorant and TSA-friendly plastic bags. All of the forgotten necessities that may catch you off guard at the last minute are at hand.

There’s even a secret password. If you mention those magic words at check-in, there’s a special gift in store. The treat varies by property and can include everything from a drink in the bar and free parking to a room upgrade or dining credit. The password changes regularly, but a quick online search can pull it up before your stay.

Acknowledging how Kimpton’s spunk has continued to grown, Kilburn wants to see Kimpton lean even more into the spa space. “Given the development that is in the pipeline – opening its first property in Indonesia in 2026 – I’d like to see them explore the spa and wellness space, given how interlinked the demand is for travelers and locals alike.”

Kimpton’s vision continues to grow

Kimpton’s first hotel was the Clarion Bedford in San Francisco where Kimpton himself would host staff meetings by the fireplace with his dog Chianti (named after his favorite wine), which he would also share with his team. It is said that guests kept stopping by to meet Chianti and see what was abuzz that the concept for a complimentary wine hour was born.

Today, every Kimpton around the world follows this tradition by inviting guests to the lobby to mix and mingle over wine and light bites (there’s no pup named Chanti though).

Bill Kimpton’s affection for dogs led the brand to adopt fee-free, pet-friendly standards globally, something that has not changed with IHG’s arrival. Dog bowls and bedding are available upon request. If you aren’t traveling with a pet, there’s even an Adopt a Plant program where guests can ask for a potted plant or local flower from reception to be brought to the room. They can feed and water it during their stay giving them a touch of home in their travels.

And the dining experience that Kimpton felt was integral to the success of a boutique hotel continues. Kimpton chefs are allowed to experiment and showcase their own creativity rather than follow a corporate standard. The goal is for each Kimpton hotel restaurant to be a unique, “buzzy community hub.” This strategy has worked and served the brand well.

Well-known names like Wolfgang Puck, Masa Takayama, Gaston Javier and Luke Mangan have all operated restaurants at Kimpton properties and maintained their own signature style.

Kimpton has no plans of changing from its roots of innovation and doing things differently. This year, it launched a partnership with Tiny Zaps to offer guests the chance to get temporary (or permanent) tattoos free of charge during their stays at five participating U.S. Kimpton hotels. The idea was centered around the budding travel trend (or so says Kimpton) of “tattourism,” which is the idea that people commemorate their travels with a tattoo that reminds them of their trip.

Vicki Poulos, head of luxury & lifestyle brands Americas and global for Kimpton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, calls these types of things “thoughtful, unexpected guest experiences that leave lasting impressions.”

The brand is expanding globally, including Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella and Kimpton Aysla Mallorca in Spain; Kimpton Atlântico Algarve in Portugal; and Kimpton BEM Budapest. In the European pipeline are Kimpton La Mer Crete in Greece, Kimpton Villa Miramare Taormina in Italy and Kimpton De Post Rotterdam, Netherlands.

These hotels tell their own stories about their respective destinations. The Rotterdam property will open in the city’s former post office, which is being redeveloped as a mixed-use project in the heart of the city. Kimpton’s arrival in Mallorca marked its first European resort and is close to golf hot spots like the Mallorca Country Club and the Golf Santa Ponsa complex with two 18-hole PGA European tour courses.

In other parts of the world, Kimpton’s name will appear around notable neighborhoods in Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, and Ubud, Indonesia.

The idea behind Kimpton, says Poulos, is that “every stay is a chance to discover something new.”

Kilburn adds, “The more Kimpton can feel like a catalyst for neighborhood vitality rather than a uniform brand extension, the more it will honor Bill Kimpton’s original vision. And that, it has done.”

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