What is the boutique hotel?

Nowadays, there are many boutique hotels in Vietnam. So, what is the boutique hotel and how do they work? This article will explain about the boutique hotel and for example about that.

1. What is the boutique hotel?

According to the Cambridge dictionary, boutique hotel is a small, stylish and fashionable hotel that is not part of a chain (=group of hotels belonging to one company). The boutique hotel is a relatively new concept that popped up in New York in the 1980s, breaking all the rules of traditional accommodation. The first noted as The Morgans Hotel in New York City, The Blakes in London and the former Bedford in San Francisco. As time went on, customers became disenchanted with the similar service they had always received from larger chain hotel brands, and wanted something unique and different, in terms of look, feel and level of personal service delivered. What many customers say when asked what they prefer about boutiques is the connection they as guests have with the hotel staff, a level of personalized service that isn't achieved in larger hotels.

>>> Further information: The best rooftop bars in HCMC

2. What are the characteristics of the boutique hotel

There are 4 characteristics to make a boutique hotel:

The first characteristic is none other than the size of the hotel. It is often questioned as to how many rooms should be there in a boutique hotel? As per the connoisseurs of this business, a hotel with not more than 100 rooms can be pompously called a boutique hotel. However, the fact that a boutique hotel can have more than 100 rooms. So this characteristic is not absolutely right at present.

The second characteristic is the atmosphere of that hotel. It is resolutely believed that the atmosphere is a very significant factor for any boutique hotel. Here, the definition of the atmosphere is the sum of all facilities and ethereal services that make a stay, an outstanding one. When used in the context of boutique hotels, the term atmosphere comprises of decor, ambiance, personalized service, the mindset of hotel staff and most importantly a know-how of how these all can combine and create a sense of closeness among the guests which will further add to the popularity of any hotel.  In the hotel industry, intimacy is defined as professional caring, professional warmness, and professional personalized services. Note that the word professional is included everywhere which means everything is handled very professionally. The term familiarity here means calling guests' by their first name rather than Sir or Madame, hugs, big handshakes, and others. 

The third characteristic which every boutique hotel must have is a great service. It means that the staff of a boutique hotel should predict or should know in advance, the needs and requirements of their guests rather than just responding it when asked to do so. Knowing what your guests want, when they want, how they want and presenting it in that way just before time is what makes a big gap between a good service and a great service.

The last characteristic is its very unique theme. A unique theme has become a very important factor and with time it is gaining more and more importance. 

For example about one of the famous boutique hotel in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam is Bay Hotel. It is a 251-room hotel opened in 2016. With the 16-storey hotel features a bevy of pleasures for minds to unwind from a stylish restaurant, rooftop pool & gym to rooftop dining and bar facing the Saigon River. Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh was built after Singapore-style. Saigonees usually call it is Singapore hotel in district 2.

3. The difference between the resort hotel and boutique hotel

Many people misunderstand that a boutique hotel is a resort hotel. But they are different. A resort is a self-contained facility which caters to its guest’s recreational needs. Resorts have lodging, shopping, food/drink, and entertainment all in one place. For this reason, they are particularly well suited for vacationing.  A stand-alone hotel with its own restaurant does not qualify as a resort. The term resort is reserved for hotel properties providing a variety of recreational activities and other sources of entertainment. While the hotel is the central feature of a resort, some resorts exist which are no hotels at all. Timeshares and condominiums are often present rather than traditional hotel rooms.

Many resorts specifically cater to family vacations. These resorts include family-friendly activities like cycling, local excursions, live performances, and other appropriate entertainment options. This type of resort often includes an all-you-can-eat buffet (multiple times daily). After all, food should be the last thing a guest is worrying about during a family stay at a resort. If guests want to work off all those buffet calories, resorts often provide access to a full gym as well as access to multiple swimming pools. We can see that we have almost everything in a resort hotel, and we must not go outside of the resort area.

A boutique hotel is smaller than a resort hotel. It makes for guests a feel like "home away from home". It encourages guests to go outside of the hotel to visit another destination of the city. 

In Ho Chi Minh city, there have many famous destinations to visit. So why do you take all of the days in a resort without going around Saigon to discovery them? At Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh, they only supply the needest services for guests. It suits for independent travelers, honeymooners, the young and hip, businesspeople and romantic getaways. Because a boutique hotel is a smaller, more intimate than a resort hotel. There are fewer people, giving you a more exclusive feel. Especially, at Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh, we will have a chance to enjoy Asian cuisines by famous chefs in the rooftop bar with classic and electric dance music. 

In addition, the guests can have the inclusive such as free wifi, free drink daily, half day Ho Chi Minh City tour or half day Cu Chi tunnel discovery...

>>> Find more about the boutique hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, please click here