King Chung Huang

Ouch. And, to think that the SF properties were the ones I was most excited about!

Points Scrounger

I don't see how they can avoid giving some sort of Spire recognition at Kimpton/IC, ranking below RA/IC. I'd like to see AMB comped for Spire, but folks here seem to think that won't ever happen.

nicolas75

Well, there are still four Kimpton properties in San Francisco.

davidw70

Two now - another two went today. IHG interim results confirmed today that 7 have left

nicolas75

Well, I am not quite sure to understand all the fuss about Kimpton hotels.
I have never stayed at one of them, but looking at pictures, they look mainly as renovated Crowne Plazas with so-call creative interior design (actually more corporate design than creative one).
In another words: good hotels, but nothing extraordinary.

Is service that great? At IHG hotels, I am generally very well welcomed and never had to complain about service.

Some properties are leaving the Kimpton network, certainly for more financial reasons than anything else.

The point is: Kimpton need to be developped and would certainly receive more from IHG (commercial and marketing power) than what it might lose.

Points Scrounger

If only Inner Circle members count, so that after Jan 1st an IHG Spire means nothing, except perhaps 20 ppd, what difference does it make?

nicolas75

Seven Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants properties located in San Francisco exited the InterContinental Hotels Group system due to union issues, according to Richard Solomons, IHG’s CEO.

http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/mobile/a...rticleid=16375

Eastbay1K

They were a different class of hotel. I don't mean higher or lower. I just mean different. They were a chain of boutique hotels that (although I haven't stayed in one in quite some time) didn't feel anything like staying at a member hotel from a corporate monstrosity. They were founded in San Francisco and them, along with Joie de Vivre did a fantastic job when they started, turning places that needed help from poopoodoodookaka holes into places people wanted to stay and return to. Kimpton did quite fine even with the labor market issues in San Francisco. It was one of the first to make excellent dining a cornerstone of a hotel experience. It will be interesting to see how the departed hotels perform, but I expect quite well. SF has some of the highest average room rates in the US (probably second to NYC, but at times, seasonally first). I'm just surprised so much of the Kimpton portfolio is gone, so quickly.

stimpy

It's not surprising when you think about the union issues and managing a portfolio of over 4000 hotels. Taking aside the existing IHG properties in SF, where the union issues have been accounted for for many years, I'm sure IHG didn't want to deal with the mess of adding new hotels where the staff had significantly higher pay and benefit and overall cost issues. It not only screws up their financial modeling, but also can lead to personnelle difficulties down the road.

Land-of-Miles

It seems crazy that what are as I understand it individually managed hotels under a relatively loose umbrella are deemed to be part of a larger corporate in this way, and I thought that union issues in the UK were screwed up!

stimpy

And the message to the rest of the Kimpton chain is, in the words of the Borg "You Will Be Assimilated. Resistance is Futile"

Eastbay1K

The thing is that the Kimpton portfolio has a large percentage of its properties in labor-friendly cities (some where most if not all hotel workers are unionized). SF, Boston, Chicago, NYC, Seattle, Portland, DC - all labor friendly places. Kimpton was able to make a living with this portfolio. To shed so much so quickly ... perhaps the model was to own the Monaco brand and before we know it, that will be the new IHG sub-brand for the properties that stay, and anything else they want boutiquey.

cocobird

This news is very disquieting. As a Kimpton IC, I have stayed at all the hotels that have left the brand name and enjoyed them. I was not happy when IHG acquired Kimpton, so this just supports my negative thoughts on the acquisition. I am particularly troubled by the lack of notice to IC members. I haven't received any of these defection notices, probably because I have nothing booked there, so this is a complete and very unwelcome surprise.

nicolas75

About international developments:

About the integration within IHG and loyalty program:

- See more at: http://www.businesstravelerusa.com/n...xpansion#.dpuf

davidw70

It certainly seems IHG are taking their time integrating Kimpton into IHG Rewards. Kimpton sent out an email to its members on Friday stating:

"Here's what you can expect in 2016:
Kimpton Karma Rewards will continue to serve as the loyalty program for Kimpton
You'll receive quarterly updates with details on how things are progressing as it relates to bringing the best of Karma Rewards & IHG Rewards Club together."

And for 2017:
"Kimpton will be going global, so get ready. Of course, we'll also have more to share as it relates to marrying Kimpton Karma Rewards and IHG Rewards Club"

It all seems a bit vague to me but indicates that IHG points will not be awarded for a number of months on Kimpton stays, which is too bad as I have a couple of Kimpton stays booked for early 2016 for which I was hoping to get IHG points - I'll probably reevaluate where I stay as as result of this - it seems to have taken a year to get nowhere.