Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Kimpton Hotels was founded in April 1981 by Bill Kimpton, a former investment banker who created the boutique hotel industry in America. Born in Kansas City in 1935 and raised in Chicago, Bill graduated from Northwestern University, served in the Army, and began his career selling typewriters for IBM before becoming an investment banker in New York. In 1969, he moved to San Francisco as manager of Lehman Brothers, where he worked closely with legendary New York hotelier Harry Helmsley to finance the renovation of the Palace Hotel. Through this experience and extensive international travel, Bill became frustrated with faceless, isolating hotel stays that lacked true human connection. Suffering from depression himself, he envisioned hotels that would be an antidote to the melancholy and loneliness business travelers often experienced on the road. Drawing inspiration from the small, personalized European boutique hotels he had stayed at during his travels, Bill set out to recreate that intimate experience in the United States. With support from investors including actor Vincent Price, he purchased and rehabilitated the aging Bedford Hotel on Post Street in San Francisco, opening it on April 1, 1981 as the Clarion Bedford Hotel – the company's flagship property and America's first boutique hotel. The lobby was styled like a residential living room complete with a fireplace and four-legged friends napping nearby, including Bill's dog Chianti (named after his favorite wine), creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere unlike anything seen in American hotels at the time.

Bill Kimpton's vision was revolutionary in multiple ways. He created hotels that "didn't look like hotels" – they looked like guest rooms in your house, with charming artistic flair and thoughtful personal touches rather than sterile corporate uniformity. Each property was designed with its own unique character, often breathing new life into storied historic buildings. Where other early boutique hotel groups had somewhat elitist attitudes with staff looking at guests like "you don't belong here," Kimpton created an unprecedented culture of warmth and genuine hospitality. Bill joked that his money was in hotels, but his heart was in the restaurants – he loved opening dynamic restaurants that weren't just for hotel guests but drew in locals night after night, led by empowered chefs who didn't have to answer to corporate menus. Renowned chefs including Masa Takayama and Wolfgang Puck took the helm in Kimpton kitchens, defining the San Francisco culinary scene in the 1980s. Wolfgang Puck's 20-year run at Postrio in the Prescott Hotel serving iconic dishes like grilled quail with spinach ravioli in sage brown butter sauce exemplified this restaurant-first philosophy. Kimpton also pioneered the concept of having separate restaurant entities within hotels, with over 80% of restaurant business coming from locals rather than hotel guests – something considered essential for keeping properties busy and highly occupied. The brand introduced numerous hospitality innovations that have since become industry standards: complimentary Wine Hour daily from 5-6pm in lobbies where general managers personally converse with guests, brand-wide pet-friendly policies with absolutely no fees, and locally-sourced food long before it became mainstream.

Kimpton's culture is unlike anything else in the hospitality industry – it started with Bill Kimpton's values and has been carefully fostered no matter how large the company grows. The brand has always prioritized making employees feel they can be their true authentic selves. During the 1980s AIDS crisis that rocked the San Francisco community, Bill personally paid for employees' funerary expenses and launched the Red Ribbon campaign to benefit the National AIDS Fund and honor their memory – a campaign the company sponsors annually to generate awareness and funds for local HIV service agencies. In the 1980s, Kimpton was the first corporate hotel group to publicly support the LGBT community in San Francisco. The company formed K-GLEN (Kimpton Gay and Lesbian Employee Network) to advise on personnel and community outreach concerns, and became the first hotel company to receive a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index – a benchmark maintained ever since. This commitment extends to environmental stewardship through the innovative EarthCare program spanning all hotels and restaurants, which adopted standard environmentally friendly practices and products like eco-friendly cleaning supplies and recycling long before being green was the norm. The company consistently ranks among Fortune magazine's Top 100 Companies to Work For based on employee satisfaction surveys. When employees work extra hours, administrators send flowers or gift baskets to loved ones. General managers lead bike tours for guests through local neighborhoods in cities like Washington D.C. Properties incorporate employee recommendations about local travel experiences on hotel websites, empowering staff to share their authentic knowledge.

Booking through WhataHotel grants you access to IHG Destined benefits at no additional cost – our rates match IHG's best available flexible rate. You'll receive complimentary daily breakfast for two guests served in the hotel restaurant (full buffet or à la carte depending on property, including one main menu item with unlimited non-alcoholic beverages per person), a $100 USD (or equivalent) property credit per stay to be used toward dining, spa treatments, or other eligible services (conversion rate determined by the hotel), priority room upgrade of one category based on availability upon arrival, early check-in and late checkout based on availability, a local welcome amenity thoughtfully curated to reflect the destination, turn-down service as appropriate by brand, and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout your stay. While most hotels offer benefits for single-night stays, some resort properties may require a two-night minimum stay for eligibility, especially during peak seasons or special event dates. All bookings are made at the Best Flexible Rate and earn full IHG One Rewards points and elite qualifying nights that count toward your tier status. IHG Destined benefits cannot be combined with member rates, packages, or pre-paid rates. Note that the $100 property credit is issued once per stay regardless of length, making it relatively more valuable on shorter stays. Two consecutive bookings at the same hotel will be treated as one stay for credit purposes.

The Kimpton Wine Hour takes place at every hotel from 5-6pm daily in the lobbies, when general managers personally converse with guests while complimentary wine and craft beer is served. Bill experienced this tradition in European boutique hotels and wanted to recreate those real interactions between staff and guests. To give everyone something to talk about, concierges place iPads filled with fresh local destination information around the room, facilitating natural conversations and connections. This daily ritual embodies Kimpton's philosophy of creating community and relieving travelers of their insecurity and loneliness. Another signature experience is "Raid the Bar" – IHG One Rewards members receive credits to spend at restaurant bars or in-room honor bars (values vary by status and location, with Platinum Elite receiving $10 USD and Diamond Elite receiving $20 USD per stay). The brand's pet-friendly policy welcomes four-legged friends with no fees whatsoever, as Bill couldn't bear the thought of charging for pets. Properties also offer stay preferences where guests can request specific room characteristics (high or low floor, etc.) and at participating hotels, a $30 in-room spa credit is available. The focus on local experiences extends to concierge services that help guests "eat and travel like locals" – a philosophy Kimpton promoted long before it was cool and trendy. Each hotel maintains its own distinct personality with locally-inspired design, local art and architecture, and chef-driven restaurants that are destinations in their own right for the surrounding community.

After the success of the Clarion Bedford, the concept really took off with the opening of Hotel Vintage Court and the adjacent Masa's restaurant. Bill transformed San Francisco's lodging industry by buying rundown smaller hotels and remodeling them into comfortable, well-decorated establishments with themes and high-profile restaurants attached. Other San Francisco properties followed including Hotel Monaco with Grand Cafe, Prescott Hotel with Wolfgang Puck's Postrio, Hotel Palomar with Fifth Floor restaurant, Harbor Court Hotel, and the iconic Sir Francis Drake Hotel. The boutique concept spread across the country in the 1990s with openings in Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Denver, Vancouver, Whistler, Washington D.C., and New Orleans. In 2005, Kimpton launched two sub-brands: Hotel Palomar and Hotel Monaco. By 2011, the group had become the largest chain of boutique hotels in the United States. Tragically, Bill Kimpton passed away in 2001 at age 65 from complications of leukemia, but his legacy endured. On December 16, 2014, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced acquisition of Kimpton for $430 million in cash, completing the transaction on January 16, 2015. IHG retained the Kimpton brand name and identity while enabling global expansion beyond North America. The brand entered Europe with Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam in 2018, followed by properties in the UK, Spain, Portugal, France, and other markets. Expansion into Asia began with development agreements in 2017, including properties in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Koh Samui, and Bali. As of 2024, Kimpton operates 81+ hotels worldwide with continued growth forthcoming.

IHG One Rewards is the loyalty program for all IHG brands including Kimpton, allowing you to earn points and elite benefits across the entire IHG portfolio. When you book through IHG Destined, you still earn full IHG One Rewards points and elite qualifying nights, and all your elite benefits apply according to your membership level. The program has multiple tiers: Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Diamond Elite, and the invitation-only Inner Circle (an extension of Diamond Elite specifically for Kimpton's most loyal guests). Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members may choose a welcome amenity from options including Raid the Bar credit, complimentary breakfast for two (Diamond Elite and Inner Circle only), or bonus IHG One Rewards points. Diamond Elite members also receive complimentary breakfast as a welcome amenity choice at Kimpton properties. Kimpton Inner Circle is awarded to those who achieve Diamond Elite status (70+ nights annually or 120,000 points) and meet unpublished loyalty criteria based on Kimpton stays throughout the year. Inner Circle members receive enhanced benefits including guaranteed one-category room upgrade, Chef's Taste experiences, and the Inner Circle amenity. The IHG Destined program provides benefits that rival or exceed even the highest elite status – for example, Platinum Elite members don't receive complimentary breakfast, and Diamond Elite members don't get guaranteed late checkout or hotel credits, making IHG Destined particularly valuable for members without top-tier status while still earning points and nights toward status advancement.

IHG Destined bookings through WhataHotel are made at IHG's best available flexible rate and are fully prepaid, including a $10.95 booking fee. While most hotels accept single-night stays, some resort properties may require 2-3 night minimums during peak seasons or special event dates like New Year's Eve. The $100 USD property credit is issued once per stay regardless of length and can typically be used for dining, spa services, or other hotel amenities (specific exclusions may apply by property). Room upgrades are to the next category based on availability upon arrival, with IHG Destined bookings receiving priority consideration. Early check-in and late checkout times are based on availability. Cancellation policies follow standard IHG flexible rate terms, which vary by property and season – check your specific booking confirmation for exact terms. The IHG Destined rate cannot be combined with member rates, promotional packages, or pre-paid discount rates, and benefits are only available on paid cash stays, not points redemptions. Many Kimpton properties currently offer "Get a Free Night" promotions where you can book 3 nights and pay for 2, or book 4 nights and pay for 3 – these special offers can sometimes be combined with IHG Destined benefits depending on property policies. Current promotions include properties in Paris, Grand Cayman, Honduras, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Barcelona, Mallorca, Bangkok, and Koh Samui. Contact WhataHotel to confirm which special offers can be combined with IHG Destined benefits for maximum value.