I was chatting on Friday with Heather at What the Rock and she brought up the fact that Columbus (and the Short North more specifically) is really lacking when it comes to Boutique Hotels.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, Boutique Hotels are usually independently run, and typically smaller than your standard chain-operated hotel. They’re often designed and furnished with a specific theme in mind and cater to a more targeted audience than your standard Holiday Inn or Hyatt Regency rooms do.
I decided to do a small bit of internet research, since the only boutique hotel I was aware of is The Lofts located downtown near the Convention Center. Sadly, the only other place I could find was the tiny German Village Guesthouse and a handful of Bed & Breakfast spots that are close, but not quite a cigar.
So all weekend long I’ve been thinking… why doesn’t Columbus have more boutique hotels? We’ve got interesting neighborhoods that they’d fit into well. I’m sure that selling expensive condos in the Short North is probably more profitable in the short term, but wouldn’t running an artsy hotel be a better long-term investment? Is there anyone out there in the hospitality industry who can shed a little insight onto this topic?
Nice thought. A nice collection of boutique hotels concentrated in a small area would do wonders for that area. I’m thinking like South Beach. Of course, a beach would do wonders also.
A while back, I asked what Columbus hotel you’d go to for a quick getaway. The Hilton at Easton was my choice. But, I’d definitely go to a boutique.
Looking at that picture, I can’t think of a building that would come close to that in Columbus.
[...] in August I asked Where are all the Boutique Hotels in Columbus? It looks like my question is finally being answered: Boutique hotel suggested Saturday, January [...]
[...] but I couldn’t help but laugh at this Dispatch article today. I’ve written before about boutique hotels, and the lack of focused-service lodgings in town, and this development sounds like it’s [...]