For the Boutique Hotel-Obsessed...
A twice-a-month newsletter all about boutique stays by Hotels Above Par's CEO.
Hello, fellow hospitality junkies and friends of our brand—this is Brandon Berkson, founder of Hotels Above Par (HAP). I’m thrilled to welcome you to your newest read that’ll come straight to your inbox on the second and fourth Monday of the month—Hotel Espresso! ☕️
If boutique hotels are your jam, this newsletter is for you. Every week, I’ll be dishing out hot industry news, expert takes, my personal musings, and a look at the journalist-reviewed stays that have joined our hyper-curated boutique hotel database. Seriously, only the best of the best boutique hotels make it in there.
You might notice that Hotel Espresso now lives on Substack, while Happenings—our irreverent three-minute dive into the world of travel, written by our UK editor, Luke Abrahams—lands in your inbox via a different platform. Simply put, we’re excited about the ways Substack lets us connect with readers, so we’re giving it a go. And don’t worry—our website is still very much alive, serving as a digital archive of everything we’ve ever published. Think of it this way: Hotel Espresso is our cozy little café corner, where the conversation’s always brewing, and everyone’s welcome to pull up a chair and join in.
Go ahead and take a sip—cheers to that every-other-Monday grind. Let’s get going.
- Brandon <3
Industry News for Fellow Hospitality Nerds…
Under Canvas’ New Brand Takes on Michigan
Glamping aficionado Under Canvas announced its new Outdoor Collection, a fresh lineup of properties designed to deliver immersive, nature-focused stays with a strong sense of place and intention. The first featured locations in the collection are The Fields of Michigan and Bar N Ranch.
Kimpton Wants You to Get a Tattoo
We’re all for unique hotel perks, and this one definitely leaves a lasting impression. Kimpton Hotels has teamed up with Tiny Zap, a New York-based studio, to offer free tattoos to guests aged 18 and up. Known for their 30-minute flash tattoos inspired by the local icons of each city, Tiny Zap will bring their artistry to select Kimpton locations starting in April. The limited-time experience will roll out through pop-up events at various properties across the USA.
The World's First Private Membership Club for Dogs
AKA has introduced its first dedicated travel experience for dogs through the new Access AKA Pets program. Now, Access AKA members can indulge their four-legged friends with VIP perks while on the go. After all, if we spoil our pets at home, why not on vacation, too? Imagine your pup being greeted with a personalized welcome note, a fun toy, a chic dog bowl, a custom-designed AKA dog bed, and a thoughtfully crafted guide to the best scenic walks nearby.
Let’s Get Controversial: Would you visit a place if you disagreed with the politics there?
We asked you this question via the Hotels Above Par Instagram. Here’s what some of you had to say. (There are lots of nos here, so this is a friendly reminder not to shoot the messenger, a.k.a. moi).
In conclusion, we are in a polemic epoch. Based on current research, both external and internal, it seems one’s values overwhelmingly dictate whether one visits a destination or not. For example, according to a recent article on the CBC, current U.S. tariff action items have contributed to a decline in Canadians visiting the USA, dropping by almost a third.
For the Reality TV Fans:
Reality TV fans, this is not a drill: There is a website dedicated to the hotels that stars from Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise have stayed at over the years, including Mission Pacific Beach Resort in Oceanside. (If you watched RHOBH this season, it’s where the iconic Kathy Hilton hosted a trip with the girl gang, which segued into a spicy quarrel between Kyle Richards and Dorit Kemsley). Check out the website here.
Recent Additions to THE Boutique Hotel Database
This is your FREE ultimate resource for finding boutique hotels we’ve reviewed and approved around the globe. (It’s what you make of it—you decide if you want to book with us and get VIP perks or simply just surf our curated collection for travel inspiration). To make things easy, you can filter by location, price range, or alphabetically. Start your search here.
Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel (London, England)
London is full of five-star hotels, but Brown’s Hotel truly stands out. As the city’s oldest hotel, it recently marked 193 years and has a history like no other. Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book there, and famous guests like Agatha Christie and Queen Victoria once visited. It’s a place where luxury meets legacy.
Janeiro Hotel (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
In Rio de Janeiro, I don’t think there’s a better spot than Leblon Beach—it’s absolutely top-tier. And sitting right on its golden sands is the Janeiro Hotel, my go-to stay. Also, this is the first Rio de Janeiro hotel we have in the database, so love that for us.
Hotel Yountville (Yountville, California)
An hour and a half from San Francisco, Napa Valley’s treasured town, Yountville, has loads of Michelin-starred restaurants, tasting rooms aplenty, and vineyard views. Hotel Yountville is an excellent base for exploring Napa’s hinterlands.
The Goring (London, England)
Located in Belgravia, a short walk from Buckingham Palace, this polished favorite of Queen Elizabeth II is the only hotel to receive a Royal Warrant for hospitality. It also hosted important historical events, such as meetings between Winston Churchill and Allied leaders during World War II.
Hotel Per La (Corvara, Italy — The Dolomites)
What started as a small six-room house in 1939 by Ernesto Costa, a ski instructor-turned-plumber, has since been transformed into a cozy and stylish 51-key stay.
And that concludes today’s issue of Hotel Espresso—thank you for your stay. To note, if you subscribe or unsubscribe via Substack, it will only pertain to Hotel Espresso, not our other newsletters. To subscribe to our other HAP newsletters, including Happenings, click here.