Asheville's boutique hotels celebrate city's creative vibe

What's better than one contemporary boutique hotel? How about a city full of them? Check out where to check in – today's Mint Pillow has arrived.

In today's newsletter:
🏩 Artsy Asheville welcomes you
🎧 DJ for suite sounds
🏨 Hotel catches the wave
☀️ NE brings summer refresh
💻 Going tech-forward

Asheville's boutique hotels celebrate city's creative vibe 

The Radical, a boutique hotel in Asheville's River Arts District, exemplifies the town's blend of art and hospitality, offering guests an immersive experience with local art installations, a rooftop bar, and community events like live music and art demos. Alongside The Radical, other boutique hotels such as Blind Tiger provide unique stays with a residential feel, personalized with local recommendations from hosts. This evolution in Asheville's hotel scene complements its acclaimed food culture, allowing visitors to fully engage with the town's creative and culinary offerings, including restaurants run by James Beard-nominated chefs and vibrant local breweries. (Travel + Leisure)

Hotels turn up the volume with in-house music experts

Central Station Memphis and Hutton Hotel in Nashville are enhancing guest experiences by hiring resident music curators. At Central Station Memphis, Chad Weekley curates playlists and books live performances to immerse guests in the city’s rich musical heritage. Similarly, Meredith DiMenna at Hutton Hotel brings the local music scene to guests with intimate shows and recording studios, providing an authentic taste of Nashville's musical culture without leaving the hotel. (Thrillist)

Iconic Coca-Cola factory reimagined as boutique hotel

Nestled in downtown Indianapolis, the Bottleworks Hotel, once a Coca-Cola bottling plant, captivates with its Art Deco allure and vibrant community atmosphere. Meticulously restored original features, like the lush, colorful lobby, evoke the building's rich history, while contemporary comforts in the rooms provide a seamless blend of past and present. Designed by RATIO, the hotel offers a hip yet welcoming ambiance, with amenities including Blue Collar Coffee and the chic Sundry and Vice bar, making it a must-visit destination in Indy.  (Hotels Above Par)

New England undergoes a hotel renaissance

As summer beckons, New England unveils a roster of refreshed and new boutique hotels, ranging from picturesque coastal escapes to serene mountain hideaways. Standouts include the grand reimagining of Newport Harbor Island Resort, where a $50 million renovation brings forth modern spa facilities, spacious guestrooms and a  22-slip marina. Additionally, Wequassett Resort and Golf Club emerges anew with a $5 million refresh, catering to cabana enthusiasts with redesigned guest rooms, villas, and suites, promising an unparalleled coastal experience. (Robb Report)

How hotels can unlock their digital prowess

At the Skift Data+AI Summit, Chris Hemmeter, managing director at Thayer Ventures, and Kurien Jacob, partner and managing director at Highgate Technology Ventures, discussed the need for the hotel industry to modernize its technology amidst significant fragmentation and technical debt. Hemmeter and Jacob emphasized that travelers, particularly Gen Z, prefer using social networks and streaming content for travel decisions, demanding more automated and user-friendly hotel tech solutions. Despite the potential of AI to streamline bookings, entrenched industry behaviors ensure that online travel agencies remain dominant. (Skift)

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