I’ll admit it….I’m a Kimpton fan. I’ve also called myself a Kimpton snob. That’s probably not the best phraseology, but suffice it to say, I LOVE Kimpton hotels. Admittedly, I did not like the idea of IHG buying Kimpton…..AT ALL. I was afraid that the little things that made Kimpton special would go away and Kimpton would become something akin to a fancy Holiday Inn. While I suppose the jury is still out, I’m going to offer a few thoughts several months into the emergence of IHG Rewards in our Kimpton Karma business………

Kimpton, IHG Rewards, IHG

© 2018 – Marshall Jackson

The #KimptonLove Remains

Overall, I think the #KimptonLove is still there. Most recently, I’ve bunked at the Kimpton Surfcomber in Miami and the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco. The Miami stay was leisure and the San Francisco stays were all business. The verdict – things felt exactly the same as before. The Surfcomber is a much smaller hotel than the Sir Francis Drake. Guess what? Just like before, the much smaller hotel felt more personal and the larger hotel was busier. I was welcomed as an Inner Circle member at both. I received a welcome amenity. Bottom line – I was treated exactly as I’ve come to expect from Kimpton.

Kimpton, IHG Rewards, IHG

© 2018 – Marshall Jackson

Kimpton Hotels are Still Special

The things I love about Kimpton are still there. Warmth and caring is universal, but the individual properties still have their own unique feel and style. The people are still the same. They’re “cool” but welcoming. Everyone that I’ve interacted with since the merger has been awesome. In short, Kimpton did not become Holiday Inn.

The Bottom Line

I still love Kimpton hotels!!!  Sure, there are some little nits to work out here and there. But the truth is that Kimpton still feels as awesome as ever to me. The people are still great. The properties are still special. Most importantly, I still feel cared for just like I did before.

-MJ