RogerMurdock

I really hope everything goes well for all my favorite Kimpton peeps. (Susan included.)

jewels421

I was thinking that too. It sounds like a great place to work -- from the outside they seem to have a legitimately attractive employee culture. I've worked for a company like that that ended up being acquired... the culture did not survive. Hoping for the best for Kimpton customers and employees.

thegrailer

edit - had [email protected] questions - deleted. Wow is a better comment.

aussieinsf

Really disappointing news. I have little confidence in IHG's statements below. Indigo hotels in no way convey the atmosphere and local knowledge you get at Kimptons.

Interesting that they plan to maintain and expand the Kimpton brand. I was worried that we'd have 62 new Hotel Indigo properties sooner or later.

From USA today:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...pton/20466189/

IHG hopes to give Kimpton more exposure as well. Thus far, Kimpton has only operated in the USA. Solomons says the acquisition will allow Kimpton to become a worldwide brand.

"We are looking to grow the brand outside of the U.S.," he says.

When asked if such a large hotel company can operate a truly boutique hotel business, which is often thought of as a small company that fits easily into its surroundings, Solomon said IHG has already been able to do that with Hotel Indigo and EVEN.

"They are all about the local city," he said. "They do tell the story of where they're from."

Kimpton will still be based in San Francisco, Solomons said. There will also continue to be a focus on design, technology and drinks and eats.

"We're going to hopefully make it better," he said. "We can help it operate more efficiently."

49er

I guess the CEO needed to finish off the last of his MBOs before the year end.

"
Revamp the rewards program...Done.
Turn a random motel in Goleta into a Kimpton to see what happens...Done.
Sell the company...Oops, it's December already! Let me make a few phone calls today....There! Now done."
*crosses off his list*

Hopefully elites won't get shafted. Ideally our situation improves with more redemption choices, especially outside the USA.

JammingJay

Uh oh. Hoping for the best, but looks like I'll be switching back to Hotel 1000 in Seattle sooner than later.

GUWonder

Shortly after this thread was posted, my guess is that it would be IHG doing the buying, and I'm relatively pleased that it is IHG -- that is because of what it means for my reward night options going forward.

woodyDCA

I think it's basically a given that the reward redemptions will move to the points-based IHG program. This, for me, is definitely a good thing, since: a) IHG has the most lucrative promos; b) IHG has a ton of properties for earning/redeeming; c) Kimpton's reward night redemptions are the worst in the industry.

Here's where it gets interesting. Does Kimpton keep the excellent recognition of elites under the new system? I would like to see them integrated into the Intercontinental Ambassador program, with Kimpton Inner Circle remaining as an invite-only status for Ambassadors who do a considerable number of their IHG stays at Kimpton properties. Royal Ambassador benefits align relatively well with what Kimpton Inner Circle members currently receive (minibar, welcome amenity, guaranteed upgrade, etc).

The new hotel free promo is probably the most likely benefit to be chopped, as I just don't see how Kimpton can possibly justify that in the face of cost-cutting measures.

IHG absolutely does not have the same sort of focus on individualized customer service as Kimpton, but I think they're buying the brand for that very reason.

I'm likely to do more Kimpton stays, moving forward, than I would have done absent the purchase. IHG now makes a lot more sense as my backup program in 2015, and beyond.

kipper

Ugh--why do I fear the pet-friendly culture is going to go away too?

gmax58

First reaction (as a former IC and former RA): Argh. Of all of the major chains I've dealt with, the IHG group is the most challenging to deal with when things go awry (in my experience). I'm curious to see how this will change things, but I cannot imagine it's going to change for the better, especially given the slow (or fast?) devaluation of IHG over the last 5 years.

PotomacApproach

Without this news, was planning to ditch SPG Gold next year. Now I'll be keeping that.

Would like to know more about branding, seeing that there is no hotel called "Kimpton". Do we book the IHG Kimpton Eventi? What happens to the Monaco and Palomar brands?

gator91

I feel worse about this than when Marriott purchased the Ritz-Carlton brand.

Kimpton's brand and service (62 properties) is so consistently great from Seattle to Arizona to Chicago to DC/Virginia - during the same travels it seems clear to me that IHG is consistently mediocre (4,700 properties franchised mostly of which IHG manages about 700).

I was in Atlanta in the '90's when Bass Breweries purchased North American Holiday Inns and sorted through so many mediocre properties only succeeding in 20 years to bringing the brand up to "mediocre" (see 2014 JD Power survey) http://www.jdpower.com/press-release...on-index-study

austin_res

If the way IHG handled the Into the Nights promo is any indication, this is not good news for Kimpton.

I'm close to a free night with Kimpton. Looks like I'm booking a few Kimpton stays in the near future then redeeming my free night award.

JohnMacWW

I agree, I valued Kimpton for everything but their reward system. Customer service was main reason.

Interesting idea(s) but might be wishful thinking. IHG is so much bigger than Kimpton it would be like the tail wagging the dog. Seems more likely that the elite recognition (in terms of benefits) would be made to conform to IHGs'

Yep, I agree. That has to be on the chopping block.

I think you are right, that has to be a good reason, to give them some form of a higher end, boutique product in their chains. But whether it will translate both ways is another question that only time will tell. Kimpton properties could decline or some IHG properties could improve.

I am not there yet and am not sure what this will mean for my plan to use Kimpton more in 2015. I am going to think about this and watch what is going on. I used to be an ICG guy a decade or more ago, but dropped them for low quality of properties and inconsistent service.

Seems to me that this sale/purchase is not enought to make IHG different/better enough to justify going to them if you were not happy with them before the change. But if you were a Kimpton person for certain reasons then your willingness to stay with Kimpton or even use their properties more will turn on how much the brands/ properties change.
I will be watching:
1) Pet friendly policies
2) Elite recognition
3) Loyalty award redemption changes
4) Changes to the brands and what they stand for (Monaco etc)

My biggest fear is that it will be like what Hilton has done to the Doubletree brand: bought it and then watered it down to being just another name for a hotel that might be really upper end, or might be really lame.

Imagine chain-like franchise Monaco's made out of cardboard popping up in towns everywhere and being owned by equity groups that farm out operation to another group and milk the little Monaco brand for every penny they can. That's my fear.

KissFlyGoodbye

Been IC for 4 years now and am quite saddened by this news. I see the whole reward system to drastically change in the coming year. What I would hate to see most is the change to Kimpton's customer service. It wasn't due to the rewards system I had stuck around with them, but because of how personable the staff was to you.

Those "perks" of the yearly CEO dinner, annual kimpton gift you received in the summer, holiday thank you notes from the GM at places you frequented, and even when they invited you to tour the headquarters in sf, I don't see any of that staying around.

I hope for the best and that they just dont gut the whole company into indigo.